Philosophy of Death

Why is it that man is created, and then after a certain period of time, in which he lives in this world, departs from it? If death is total annihilation and man after death becomes totally non-existent, this question is propounded with greater seriousness, meaning that, according to this assumption, the probability of the creation of man being futile and the life being vain and empty increases. But, in the event that we do not consider death to be a `negative entity' and define it to be a transfer or a renewed birth, still the question arises and seeks its answer as to why exactly do we come into the world and why exactly do we get transferred from it?
This very question can be expressed in one of the two possible ways:
i) What aim did Almighty God or the Agent possess in creating his creations, or in other words, what benefit does he wish to avail of by the life and death of man and other creations? If the question is put up in this form, it is necessary to state that the question and its answer is not related to our discussion and it must be deliberated in a discussion related and appropriate to it. All we can say is that Almighty God is an Independent Entity, and he avails of no benefit as a result of his creating his creations. Hence, the exact answer for “Then why did He create?” is related to profound, Gnostic topics.
ii) What purpose did Almighty God or the Agent have for his action? In other words, Almighty God created His creations and among them man, that they travel along which path and to where they reach or what goal they follow? If the above question is expressed in this manner, we must say that according to the Qur'anic verse, Almighty God created the heavens and the creations so that they recognize Almighty God and worship Him: “And I have not created the Jinn and the Men except that they worship me.” (Qur'an 51:56)
In the meaning that, all the creations must, in their journey for perfection, reach a stage that they can, by means of man, become a mirror for the Divine Attributes, because it is in this stage that the worship and cognition of Almighty God can reach a stage which is befitting it.
In short, Almighty God created His creations and amongst them, man so that finally they reach the level of cognition of Almighty God and can understand His Beautiful Attributes and manifest them within themselves, because the real worship and cognizance of Almighty God can take the creation and man to a position and status, the specialties and the grandness of which must be referred to in Gnostic topics.
So according to this view, the philosophy of life and death, which are part of the creation of Almighty God, become clear. The life and death and basically, the changes in the material world and the transfer from one stage of life to another of it or the transfer from one world into another world, all of these play a part in the journey of man and the creations towards perfection. Such changes or the ups and downs must be present, in the light of which, people can be tested, and the pure are separated from the impure. This is what, the Holy Qur'an says: “Who created death and life that He may try you - which of you is best in deeds; and He is Mighty and Forgiving.”(Qur'an 67:2)
According to this verse, firstly, both life and death are part of the creation of Almighty God. Thus, death is a thing which Almighty God has created and hence cannot be a `negative entity', because a negative entity is not capable of being created.
Secondly, tests and trials are considered to be the philosophy of the creation of life and death so that it can be known who is the most righteous.
Of course, it should be known that this “test” is not in its literal meaning that takes place on an appointed time and is taken from one particular group or according to a pre-determined subject-matter, but it possesses a very wide meaning. In other words, the tests and trials here encompass all the moments of the life and death of man, his ups and downs during the span of his entire life, even during his transfer into the next world and after that too.
Basically, these changes and transfers prepare the ground for the development and progress of man. Similar to sportsmen, for whom, not only their competition is a trial and a test, but the pre-competition training is also considered as a form of test and these physic trials and tests, help to prepare them for the original competition.
Life and death and the transfer of man from one world to another world and also the bounties and at times the problems of life, according to the verses of the Holy Qur'an, are trials and tests for man which prepares him, stage by stage, for attaining his ultimate objective.Life and death and the transfer of man from one world to another world and also the bounties and at times the problems of life, according to the verses of the Holy Qur'an, are trials and tests for man which prepares him, stage by stage, for attaining his ultimate objective.

Death according to the Holy Qur'an
In the Holy Qur'an, interesting and varied interpretations have been made, regarding death, the study of all the aspects of which, shall become very elaborate, hence we suffice by mentioning a few of the beautiful and expressive interpretations, which have appeared in some of the verses.

1. Meeting with Almighty God
The Holy Qur'an, in the last verse of the Surah Kahf, has expressed death as a meeting with Almighty God and says: “So whoever desires to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.” (Qur'an 18:110)

2. Return to Almighty God
Another interpretation which the Holy Qur'an has and which makes clear the reality of death is “return to Almighty God”. However, the Islamic philosophers, regarding the manner of the creation of the entities (and amongst them, man) by Almighty God and after then, their return towards Almighty God, have subtle, profound and interesting theories. The Holy Qur'an says: “Verily, we are Almighty God's and verily to Him shall we return.”(Qur'an 2:156)

3. Seizing of the Soul
One of the beautiful interpretations of the Holy Qur'an in the matter of death is. This word means seizing a thing in its entirety. Hence, according to the verse under consideration, the reality of death is that the angels commissioned to take the soul, seize the entire personality of man at the time of death, and remove it from the captivity of the body. They, then carry it to the Divine Presence: “Say: the Angel of Death who is given charge of you shall cause you to die, and then to your Lord you shall be brought back.” (Qur'an 32:11))

Death according to the Traditions
The traditions also contain beautiful, subtle, instructive and interesting interpretations regarding death, some which are mentioned.

1. The bridge of crossing
In some of the traditions, death has been referred to as a bridge, over which people, at the time of transfer from this world to the other world, shall cross and reach their goal, which is the other world. For example, Imam Husayn (pbuh) on the day of `Ashura', speaking to his loyal companions said: “Remain firm, O sons of noble people, because death is just a bridge which will cross you and transfer you from discomforts and troubles, into the extensive gardens of paradise. So which of you does not desire his freedom from prison and entering into a castle; of course, death for your enemies is like their being transferred from a palace and a castle into prison and torture.”
Concerning this Prophet Jesus (Hazrat Esa) (pbuh) has said: “This world is like a bridge, cross it and do not build on it.”

2. Removal of clothes
In some of the traditions, death has been compared to clothes, which of course differs, with respect to a believer and an unbeliever. Death, for a believer is like dirty clothes, which he removes and frees himself from its dirtiness and unpleasant odor, whereas, death with respect to an unbeliever is also like clothes, but beautiful, costly and pleasant-smelling, which he must remove from his body at the time of transfer to the other world.

3. Sleep
In some other traditions, death has been compared to sleep, in which the soul goes out of the body. The only fundamental difference between sleep and death is that the coming out of the soul from the body, at the time of sleep, is only for a short period of time. In addition, the connection between the body and the soul is not completely severed.
On the other hand, researches pertaining to the soul have proved that the soul maintains a connection with the body in a very special manner. While, at the time of death and after that, the severance of this connection is more complete than that during sleep, although, after death too, a weak connection does exist for a certain period.
Another point is that the coming out of the soul at the time of death continues up to the Universal Resurrection. This tradition says: Imam Muhammad Baqir (pbuh) was questioned as to what is death? The Holy Imam (pbuh) replied: “Death is the very same sleep that comes to you every night. However this is a sleep, which is very long, and man shall not wake up from it until the Day of Judgment. Thus one who sees different types of pleasure and happiness in his sleep over which he, (in his wakefulness) has no power and similarly he sees the different types of fear-instilling things, while he has no power over them. Thus, how is the state of happiness and fear in the sleep? (The affairs shall be similarly so in the state of death too). This is death. So be ready and prepared for it.”“Death is the very same sleep that comes to you every night. However this is a sleep, which is very long, and man shall not wake up from it until the Day of Judgment. Thus one who sees different types of pleasure and happiness in his sleep over which he, (in his wakefulness) has no power and similarly he sees the different types of fear-instilling things, while he has no power over them. Thus, how is the state of happiness and fear in the sleep? (The affairs shall be similarly so in the state of death too). This is death. So be ready and prepared for it.”