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What Does Islam Say about the Spiritual Realm?

26 June, 2024
Q Assalaam Alaykum. The Quran mentions that we all praised Allah before we were born. What I want to know is could'nt this place have been a testing ground to see wether we are worthy of worshiping Allah or not. Some scholars say it would've been a place where we met people that we liked and disliked etc. What is your opinion about the spiritual realm. Thank you for your time. Salaam. Arshad

Answer

Assalamo Alaikom Dear Arshad,

Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam

In think you are referring to the Quranic verse that reads:

{And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes! We testify,” lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: “Verily, we have been unaware of this.} (Al-A`raf 7: 172)

There are various interpretations for the above mentioned Quranic verse. Many scholars incline to the interpretation that the verse is referring to creating people on the pure human instinct (fitrah).

According to Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir:

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“Allah stated that He brought the descendants of Adam out of their fathers’ loins, and they testified against themselves that Allah is their Lord and King and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him.

Allah created them on this fitrah, or way, just as He said,

{So set you (O Muhammad) your face truly towards the religion, Hanifan. Allah’s fitrah with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in creation of Allah.} (Ar-Rum 30: 30)

And, it is recorded in the Two Sahihs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Every child is born upon the fitrah, it is only his parents who turn him into a Jew, a Christian or a Zoroastrian. Just as animals are born having full bodies, do you see any of them having a cutoff nose (when they are born).”

Imam Muslim recorded that `Iyad ibn `Himar said that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Allah said, `I created My servants Hunafa’ (monotheists), but the devils came to them and deviated them from their religion, prohibiting what I allowed.”

Though there other interpretations for the referred to Quranic verse, I believe that a Muslim should concern himself or herself, first and foremost, with maintaining true faith in Allah and acting according to the ethics and values of Islam.

A Muslim should spare no efforts in drawing himself or herself closer to Allah by having sound belief and doing good deeds.

And Allah Almighty knows best.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Salam and please keep in touch.

(First Published: June 2016)

About Maen Khalifa
Maen has many years of experience in dawah work. He formerly worked as the Ask About Islam Editor and a consultant.