YOUR CHOICE- THE PLEASURES OR PUNISHMENT OF BARZAKH

Feb 7, '13 12:48 PM for everyone

The Pleasures of Barzakh

The pleasures we derive in this world in comparison to those in the state of Barzakh are like one drop in the entire ocean. The tastes of fruits and sweets are immeasurable compared to what we experience here. Ayatollah Shirazi states "if only a part of the face of a heavenly Houri becomes unveiled, it will dazzle the eyes of the whole world; if the entire beauty of that fairy is revealed, it will outwit the shining of the sun." No doubt, absolute beauty lies in Barzakh, and about this world Allah has said in the Holy Qur'an, "Surely We have made whatever is on the earth an embellishment for it, so that we may try them (as to) which of them is best in deeds." (18:7) As believers, we need to make sure not to allow these embellishments to lure us in, and instead strive to attain the real pleasures and real beauty that lie only in Barzakh and beyond.

Shaikh Abbas Qummi states: "One of the peculiarities of Barzakh is that it is eternal and permanent. None of the things of this world are immortal. Youth is overshadowed by the darkness of old age. Until the time the morsel of food remains in the mouth, a person derives pleasure and taste, and then it disappears. Flowers turn dry after a period, and hence nothing remains eternal. But Barzakh and its pleasures are eternal because it is not made up of matter or elements like other things, and hence do not cease to exist."

The Punishment of Barzakh

We must bear in mind that along with the pleasures of Barzakh, the calamities too are eternal and utterly intense. If we were to truly realize the degree of torture and suffering felt there, the problems we face in this world would seem to be nothing in comparison.

It is narrated that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: "Before the proclamation of Prophethood whilst grazing the cattle one day, I suddenly saw that the cattle stopped grazing and looked frightened. I wondered as to what was the reason for such a change, because nothing unusual had happened at that time. When Jibra'il came with the Revelation I asked him the reason for this change. He answered, 'O Prophet of Allah! When the people who are being punished in Barzakh scream with anguish and pain, their voices are not heard by human beings and jinns, but animals can hear them and hence become tense with shock.'" (Bihar al-Anwar)