Relationship of the Soul With Graves — Essence of Islam Vol. 2

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Relationship of the Soul With Graves, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 15: The Soul
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This process is a deep mystery which points to the real nature of the soul and indicates the strong relationship that subsists between the soul and the body.
[Islami Usul ki Philosophy, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 10, p. 321]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 407]

QUESTION: What is the nature of the relationship between the soul and the grave? ANSWER: Whatever has been said on this subject in the Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is entirely true. It is not for us to probe into its nature. All that we have to establish is that there is such a relationship and that it is not an impossibility.
It is illustrated by an instance in the law of nature. God Almighty has appointed different methods for the discovery of the reality of things. Some are perceived through the eye, others through the ear and some through a combination of the senses. There are many verities which can be perceived only by the heart…. Man is equipped with many faculties and each of them performs diverse functions in the service of man.
The ignorant philosopher seeks to decide everything on the basis of his defective reason, but this is a mistake. Historical events can be gathered only from history. The

clay and that the greeting: 174

is responded to. He who uses the faculties through which the condition of the graves can be viewed, can obtain knowledge of such relationship…. The faculty of seeing visions is needed for appreciating the relationship of souls with the graves. He who denies this is in error. A large number of Prophets and millions of the righteous bear witness to this relationship which cannot be denied, though the nature of that relationship may not be determined through reason. In short, spiritual sight finally settles all these matters. If the ear cannot see, the ear is not at fault because seeing is not its function. I can affirm from personal experience that the soul has a relationship with the grave and it is possible to hold converse with the dead. The soul also has a relationship with heaven where it is assigned a station. This is an established verity which is testified to by the Hindu scriptures also. This is a generally admitted verity except in the case of those who deny the survival of the soul. It is the faculty of seeing visions that indicates the nature of that relationship.
[Malfuzat, vol. I, pp. 287-290]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 407]

The soul is not something in space. The nature of its relationships cannot be determined. After death the soul has a relationship with the grave which is revealed to those who possess the faculty of seeing visions. They can see the dwellers of the graves sitting in their graves and can hold converse with them. This is established by true

Ahadith. A well known Hadith mentions Salat in a grave, it is also mentioned in the Ahadith that the dead can hear the sound of footsteps and respond to Assalamu ‘Alaikum. They also have a relationship with heaven. There are different degrees of their heavenly exaltation. Some arrive at the first heaven, others reach the second or third heaven, but all righteous souls are exalted as is mentioned in true Hadith and is also indicated by the verse: 175

but the nature of their relationship to heaven or to the graves cannot be determined.
[Al-Haq, Mubahatha Delhi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 4, p. 215]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 409]

175 ‘(Those who reject Our Signs and turn away from them with disdain), the gates of the spiritual firmament will not be opened for them.’—Al-A‘raf, 7:41 [Publisher] 411
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 410]

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Introduction