eople sometimes say, “I will see you on the other side.” But how certain can one be of this other plane of existence? Where exactly is that “other side”, and how can you be sure you will reach it?
What is this realm? Who resides within it? And how does knowledge of this world affect the understanding of our current location? To reflect on the Barzakh is to reflect on our ultimate return to Allah and to reconsider the spiritual path we are on today in a world that is plagued with injustice and confusion.
Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and Professor of Islamic studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA.
In association with
ISBN 978-1-84774-287-2 5US$15.95 1595
51595
9 781847 742872 9 781847 742872
OM AR SULEIM AN
Everything begins with a fundamental truth: those whom we have buried from our loved ones are not truly dead. They have merely passed into a special realm known as the Barzakh, a stage of existence between this life and the Hereafter. In that world, the souls of the deceased continue to live: some in peace, others in torment. The souls of martyrs may dwell in the bodies of green birds, flying freely in Paradise, while others may suffer and drown in rivers of blood. Some are reunited with long-deceased loved ones in beautiful homes, while others are subject to terrifying punishment at the hand of the Angels.
Barzakh and Beyond
Barzakh and Beyond
OM AR SULEIM AN In association with
The Other Side Barzakh and Beyond First published in England by Kube Publishing Ltd Markfield Conference Centre Ratby Lane, Markfield Leicestershire, LE67 9SY United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1530 249230 Website: www.kubepublishing.com Email: info@kubepublishing.com © Omar Suleiman 2026 All Rights Reserved. 1st impression, 2026. The right of Omar Suleiman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patent Act 1988. Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-84774-287-2 Casebound eISBN 978-1-84774-288-9 Ebook Proofreading and editing: Wordsmiths Cover illustration, design and calligraphy: Jannah Haque Printed by: IMAK Ofset, Turkey. ii
Transliteration guide A brief guide to some of the letters and symbols used in the Arabic transliteration in this book. th
ث
ḥ
ح
dh
ذ
ṣ
ص
ḍ
ض
ṭ
ط
ẓ
ظ
ʿ
ع
’
ء
ā
ī
ū
b
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Glorified and Majestic (is He).
May Allah be pleased with her.
May peace be upon him.
May Allah be pleased with them both.
May peace be upon her. iii
May Allah be pleased with him.
t
May Allah bless them both.
May peace be upon them both.
Contents vi
Special tribute
x
Introduction
1 The dead are alive in their graves 11 They are watching your world 23 They may have another name for you 35
What do your dreams really mean?
51
How to see the Prophet in a dream
61 Is Allah speaking to you? 73 How many lives do you really have? 83 What does it feel like when you die? 95 When you meet the souls of Gaza
107 What about the innocent children? 117 How to have a bigger grave 127 Now you can fly 137 Did Allah put you on this special list?
149 We will not fix what you have ruined 157 Watch your mouth 165 Your wuḍūʼ is a serious matter 171 Free yourself from ribā and debt 179 The other forms of zinā 187 When the Qur’an arrives in your grave 195 Deeds that save you from punishment
The most important prayer of your life 203 Why Allah prescribes you bitter medicine 209 Your Loved ones never left you 215
We will be best friends forever 221 People from a past life 229
Your duʿā’ can change the worlds 235 Laylat al-Qadr in the heavens and the graves 241 Your tahajjud could get you into Jannah 249 Everyone will have regrets 255 Having hope in Allah 261
THE OTHER SIDE
soul of the soul
A Tribute to Uncle Khaled and His Granddaughter This book is dedicated to Uncle Khaled Nabhan and his 3 year old granddaughter, Reem, both of whom are “the souls of our souls”. They were both tragically killed by the occupation forces during the Gaza genocide, but their souls remain alive in the presence of their Lord.
vi
A few months after this conversation, Uncle Khaled was killed as well, and he joined his granddaughter Reem in the Barzakh. May Allah have mercy on him and all the martyrs of Gaza. With the permission of Allah , we will join them and see them on the other side. ix
THE OTHER SIDE
Introduction
P
eople sometimes say, “I will see you on the other side.” But how certain can one be of this other plane of existence? Where exactly is that “other side”, and how can you be sure you will reach it? What is its specific nature and make-up? Can you describe it in a logical and understandable way? Will you be recognised there? Have you seen the permanent home that awaits you? And finally, will you be counted among the righteous or the wicked?
The world around us appears tangible and real, yet there exists another realm at the same time—parallel to this one—unseen to us, though it sees us clearly. Allah sees everything, the Angels bear witness to the events of this world and beyond, and the unseen is ever-present. Even the creation surrounding us may perceive that realm more profoundly than we do. And we—each of us—are but one step away from entering it. Everything begins with a fundamental truth: those whom we have buried from our loved ones are not truly dead. They have merely passed into a special realm known as the Barzakh, a stage of existence between this life and the Hereafter. In that world, the souls of the deceased continue to live: some in peace, others in torment. The souls of martyrs may dwell in the bodies of green birds, flying freely in Paradise, while others may suffer and drown in rivers of blood. Some are reunited with longdeceased loved ones in beautiful homes, while others are subject to terrifying punishment at the hand of the Angels. x
Introduction
What is this realm? Who resides within it? And how does knowledge of this world affect the understanding of our current location? To reflect on the Barzakh is to reflect on our ultimate return to Allah and to reconsider the spiritual path we are on today in a world that is plagued with injustice and confusion.
“...so I may do good in what I left behind.” Never! It is only a [useless] appeal they make. And there is a barrier [the Barzakh] behind them until the Day they are resurrected. al-muʼminūn, 23:100
xi
1 The dead are alive in their graves
M
any centuries ago, a soldier trekked in the desert of Kufa, Iraq. His aim was to find the urban centre of the city, but he needed directions from someone familiar with the city’s landscape. At last, he crossed paths with someone who was apparently coming from the city. Unbeknownst to the soldier, this individual was one of the most famous scholars and ascetics of the time: Ibrāhīm ibn Adham . The soldier approached Ibrāhīm ibn Adham and asked him: “Are you a slave?” 1
Have you ever asked yourself what your name is with Allah b? Is it possible that you carry a different name in the unseen realm than the one people use in this dunyā?
4 What do my dreams really mean?
W
hat are you dreaming about these days? Are there deeper messages and meanings in the dreams that you witness from time to time? Have they come to warn you, guide you, or have they left you in a state of confusion? What do your dreams reveal about who you truly are? Are they simply a mirror reflecting what has preoccupied your thoughts by day, or do they comprise a message from the unseen, namely a whisper from a world beyond this one? When you dream of your deceased loved ones, is it they who visit you, or is it your soul that crosses into their realm for a moment? 35
5 How to see the Prophet in a dream
Y
ou can actually meet the Prophet tonight, but only if you choose to live like him today. Imagine feeling his warmth. Picture standing in his presence, and seeing the light of his smile. Envisage your loved ones—those who emulated him and lived like him—now sitting with him. It is likely that they are all waiting for you to correct your vices and mistakes, so that you can join them in the Eternal Garden.
51
8 What does it feel like when you die?
T
here is no doubt that the stages and phases of life can be overwhelming. At times, they pull you in every direction. No matter how much you try to stay grounded, trials can continue to compress you and feel unsurmountable. While temptations tug from one side, hardships and tribulations come from the other. Exhaustion and frustration weigh heavily, and it may feel like you cannot proceed any further. But pause and look within yourself with your inner introspective ‘sight’. There is a firm and unbreakable rope that is stretched before 83
23 Your loved ones never left you
O
ur faith teaches us that our deceased loved ones have not truly left us; in actual fact, they are just a station ahead, waiting for our arrival. When someone you love passes away, it can feel like a painful and final separation. But what if the bond between you was never meant to be severed by death? What if there is still a way to remain connected—spiritually, emotionally, and even through prayer? During the time of the Prophet , a young man from the Banū Salamah clan named Bishr ibn al-Barā’ passed away, leaving his mother 215
Your Loved ones never left you
devastated. In her sorrow, she went to the Prophet and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, with regard to those from the Banū Salamah tribe who are passing away, can I send greetings to my son Bishr through them?” The Prophet comforted her and said, “Yes, indeed! I swear by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, O Umm Bishr, the deceased recognise each other just as birds upon a branch.” From then on, every time someone from her tribe was nearing death, Umm Bishr would rush to them and say:
َ َ�ِإ �ْْق ََر�ْْأ ََعَلَ َب�َ �ْْشٍر الَّسََل اَم ِ ٍ ى
“Convey my salām (greeting) to Bishr.” 244
The following simile is often used as an aid for people mourning their loved ones: think of yourself at a train station. Your loved one has simply boarded earlier, and is just one stop ahead. They do not have phone service anymore, so you cannot speak to them. Nevertheless, they are waiting for you, and the connection—despite being imperceptible—is still very much alive. When your good deeds, especially those of the religion, reach them, they celebrate. A person’s deceased loved ones even wonder who among their living family members got married. Abū Ayyūb said: “When the soul of a believer is taken, the other believers welcome him and ask, ‘What happened to so-and-so? What happened to 244 Ibn Abi ad-Dunya, al-Manamat, 14
216
eople sometimes say, “I will see you on the other side.” But how certain can one be of this other plane of existence? Where exactly is that “other side”, and how can you be sure you will reach it?
What is this realm? Who resides within it? And how does knowledge of this world affect the understanding of our current location? To reflect on the Barzakh is to reflect on our ultimate return to Allah and to reconsider the spiritual path we are on today in a world that is plagued with injustice and confusion.
Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and Professor of Islamic studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA.
In association with
ISBN 978-1-84774-287-2 5US$15.95 1595
51595
9 781847 742872 9 781847 742872
OM AR SULEIM AN
Everything begins with a fundamental truth: those whom we have buried from our loved ones are not truly dead. They have merely passed into a special realm known as the Barzakh, a stage of existence between this life and the Hereafter. In that world, the souls of the deceased continue to live: some in peace, others in torment. The souls of martyrs may dwell in the bodies of green birds, flying freely in Paradise, while others may suffer and drown in rivers of blood. Some are reunited with long-deceased loved ones in beautiful homes, while others are subject to terrifying punishment at the hand of the Angels.
Barzakh and Beyond