reading time ~5 mins

1. Barzakh
2. Barzakh in Quran
   1. Direct Mention
   2. Indirect Mention
3. Barzakh in Sunnah
4. Time in Barzakh
5. When the Soul (Ruh) leaves body at night
6. Summary
7. Additional Reading

Barzakh

Barzakh (برزخ ) is the place designated for the soul (Ruh) after death in the world (dunya). It is a period after death and before the day of resurrection

The word barzakh means a barrier. The barrier is between worldly life (dunya) and afterlife (akhira)

We as humans have not been given much knowledge of this period

Barzakh in Quran

Direct Mention

The word Barzakh is directly mentioned three times in the Quran

1. Allah has placed for the Ruh a barrier between its death and the day of judgement (Quran 23:99-101)
2. Allah placed a physical barrier between water bodies (seas) (Quran 55:20)
3. Allah has placed a physical barrier between two bodies of water, one is fresh and sweet, the other is salty and bitter (Quran 25:53)

Indirect Mention

No direct mention of the word Barzakh, but there is indication of a phase between death and day of resurrection (pointing towards Barzakh)

4. There will be Punishment before Resurrection (Quran 9:101) (Quran 52:45-47)
5. Punishment of Firaun before entering Hell (Quran 40:46)

Barzakh in Sunnah

1. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When anyone of you dies, he is shown his place both in the morning and in the evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise; he is shown his place in it, and if he is from the people of the Hell-Fire; he is shown his place there-in. Then it is said to him, ‘This is your place till Allah resurrect you on the Day of Resurrection.” (bukhari 1379)
2. Believers will be peaceful in the grave and disbelievers will have punishment (ibn majah 4268) (bukhari 1338)
3. Believers are greeted by angels of mercy at time of death (Quran 41:30) (nasa’i 1833)
4. Even though all humans fear and despise death, the believers will be pleased immediately after the initial fear of death because they will see angels of mercy. The disbeliever will be in fear and pain and would dislike meeting with Allah. (ibn majah 4264) (Quran 41:30) May Allah protect us

Time in Barzakh

Scholars say the concept of time is different for different people in Barzakh. It is somewhat like having dreams 

1. For the believer the barzakh is a place of quick ease and peaceful
2. For the disbeliever the barzakh will feel like eternity and pain. May Allah protect us

When the Soul (Ruh) leaves body at night

Being in the barzakh can be slightly compared to Ruh leaving the body when we sleep, as sleep is a form of death

1. Allah says in the Quran that our souls (Ruh) leave the body when we sleep and are taken by Allah while we sleep. For those who are to remain alive, souls are returned when we wake up (Quran 39:42)
2. Allah says in the Quran “And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the soul. Say, “The soul is of the affair [i.e., concern] of my Lord. And you [i.e., mankind] have not been given of knowledge except a little.” (Quran 17:85)

Summary

1. Barzakh is an Arabic term (meaning barrier) which is used to describe the phase in which the soul remains between worldly death and the resurrection on judgement day. The barrier is between this world and day of resurrection
2. The Quran explicitly uses the term barzakh to describe this phase. It also uses the word to describe barriers between water bodies
3. The sunnah refers to experiences of the soul after death in the grave
4. The barzakh and soul are matters known to Allah, and we have not been given knowledge except a little
5. The experience of the righteous person is pleasant and easy in the barzakh phase, whereas the experience of the wicked is slow and painful. May Allah Protect us. Ameen 

Additional Reading

1. What is al Barzakh (An article from Islamqa)