Chapter X: Remembrance of Death
MEANING OF DEATH: The verses of the Quran and Hadis and knowledge gained by experience show that death means change of condition, that when soul is separated from body, it receives reward and punishment and that the separation of soul from body means loss of power of soul over body. The limbs of the body are instruments of soul. It uses them in its works. It catches by hands, hears by ears, sees by eyes and acquire knowledge of all things. Soul without these things can know the relation of everything. For this reason soul suffers sorrows and pangs and enjoys happiness. There is no connection of these sorrows and happiness with the body. The body stripped of powers of works by death is like the limbs which become paralysed owing to rheumatism or serious illness. Soul cannot exercise influence on them. Knowledge and wisdom remain with soul even after death. Death means that all the limbs of the body become disobedient to soul. Each limb is an instrument of soul from which it takes works. By soul I mean that thing which enjoys happiness and feels sorrow. By death, sense of happiness and sorrows remains on soul. By man, we mean his soul which retains the sense.of happiness and sorrow. It does not die and will not die. Since its creation, it is eternal although it is created. Death means separation of body from soul and the body ceasing
Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 41 1
to be an instrument of soul, as the paralysis of a limb means its ceasing to be an instrument of the body. Death means paralysis of all bodily limbs but the main thing of a man that is soul, remains.
CAUSES OF CHANGE OF CONDITION AT DEATH
There are two causes for this change of conditions. (1) The first cause is that all his limbs, ears, nose, eyes, tongue etc. are snatched away from him at death, and that he is snatched away from all his relatives and friends, and from all his wealth Thus there are pangs of separation of dear things of this world and he is shifted to another world where he feels pangs of separation in acute form. Thus there is change of conditions at death.