Spiritual Death versus Biological Death and its Aftermath in Islamic Sufism
Negin Saberi, Esq., J.D., M.A., Founder & Principal Attorney, Saberi Law, A Professional Law Corporation
“Die before you die…so your death is not that of ignorance (jahiliat)” said the Prophet of Islam. The lower ego/self (nafs) must die which will allow for one’s return to God, before one’s physical death. If this happens one’s biological death will not be in ignorance (jahiliat), as one will have obtained inner knowledge. Since death is an inevitable truth that will be faced by all living beings, it becomes imperative to know what it will be like and how one can prepare for it, so it is not seen as an awful end to this life but a welcoming milestone in one’s journey. This information will be especially interesting to medical practitioners who deal with death on a daily basis, it will offer a different and positive perspective on the subject.
All the great religious figures of Islam, and those in other religions, embraced death and were not fearful of it. This paper examines why that was and how one can also achieve this positive view towards biological death. It seems the only way to be completely free of fear towards biological death is through the experience of spiritual death before the arrival of the end of one’s time in this world. In this paper I will examine the meaning of Spiritual death and how one can achieve it and why is it critical to be achieved, as noted in the works of some Sufi sages. Further, I will examine what has been said in Islamic mysticism about biological death and how that will be experienced, especially if spiritual death is achieved before that state.
“Die before you die…so your death is not that of ignorance (jahiliat)” said the Prophet of Islam. The lower ego/self (nafs) must die which will allow for one’s return to God, before one’s physical death. If this happens one’s biological death will not be in ignorance (jahiliat), as one will have obtained inner knowledge. Since death is an inevitable truth that will be faced by all living beings, it becomes imperative to know what it will be like and how one can prepare for it, so it is not seen as an awful end to this life but a welcoming milestone in one’s journey. This information will be especially interesting to medical practitioners who deal with death on a daily basis, it will offer a different and positive perspective on the subject.
All the great religious figures of Islam, and those in other religions, embraced death and were not fearful of it. This paper examines why that was and how one can also achieve this positive view towards biological death. It seems the only way to be completely free of fear towards biological death is through the experience of spiritual death before the arrival of the end of one’s time in this world. In this paper I will examine the meaning of Spiritual death and how one can achieve it and why is it critical to be achieved, as noted in the works of some Sufi sages. Further, I will examine what has been said in Islamic mysticism about biological death and how that will be experienced, especially if spiritual death is achieved before that state.