Barzakh in Islam:
Barzakh (Arabic: برزخ, from Persian Barzakh, “limbo, barrier, partition” is an Arabic word meaning “obstacle”, “hindrance”, “separation”, or “barrier”) designates a place separating the living from the hereafter; a veil between the dead and their return to world of the living, but also to a phase happening between death and resurrection.
Every Muslim knows about Barzakh or the world of Barzakh, but very few people know the full details about it. According to the Ulema, Barzakh means ‘veil’ and ‘barrier or obstruction between two things’. This is the name of the interval from death to the Day of Resurrection, which is stated in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Muminoon: Until, when death comes to one of them, he will say: My Lord! Send me back (to this world) so that I may do some good deeds in this (world) which I have left behind. By no means! This is what he is saying (regretfully) and before them till that day. There is a veil (the barrier) (on which) they will be raised (from the graves). ”It is clear from this blessed verse that the time between resurrection after death is called the world of Barzakh.
The world of Barzakh has something to do with the world and something with the Hereafter. The relationship with the world is such that when a person dies, his loved ones give alms and remembrance for the reward of the deceased. This brings reward and comfort to the deceased. However, the relationship with the Hereafter is such that the reward or punishment that begins in Barzakh is part of the reward that comes in the end. In this regard, Allah Almighty says in Surah Ghafir: “(And also in the world of Barzakh) these people are brought before the fire of Hell morning and evening.
Scholars say about the world of Barzakh that it is a world which Allah Almighty has established till the Day of Resurrection. It is as vast as our world as it is wider than the womb. In this world, the effect of faith and disbelief and obedience and disobedience is visible to the eyes. That is, the things that we cannot see in this world, in the world of Barzakh we will see the things that include our deeds. Scholars say from the Shari’ah references that the world of Barzakh begins with the questions of two angels(Munkir and Nakeer). When relatives and friends return after placing the dead body in the grave and the soul is returned to the human body, the angels come to the grave and ask questions of the deceased.
Their first question is ‘Who is your Lord?’ Then they ask ‘What is your religion?’ If the dying person gives the correct answers to these questions, then a voice from heaven says: My servant told the truth.
Open the gates of heaven for him, then the gates of heaven open and the fragrances and cool breezes begin to come. But if the dying person is a disbeliever or a hypocrite, then he cannot answer the questions of the angels and the gates of hell are opened for him.