The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 412
412. Essence of Islam II tory). In Arabic idiom Barzakh is that which is situated between two things. As this state of existence lies between the first creation and the resurrection, it is called. Barzakh. This expression has always been used for the intervening state. It thus is a great testimony in support of the existence of the intervening state. . . . . Barzakh is the state when the temporary human formation is dissolved and the soul and the body are separated from each other. . . . . Though this mortal body is separated from the soul after death, yet in the intervening state every soul is temporarily invested with a body so that it might experience the result of its actions. That body is not like the earthly body, but is prepared from light or darkness according to the actions of each person. It might be said that in that state a person's actions serve as his body. In the Word of. God, this is mentioned several times and some bodies are described as bright and some as dark, which are prepared from the light or from the darkness of actions. This is a mystery but is not beyond reason. A perfect person can acquire a bright body in this very life, apart from his earthly body, and there are many illustrations of it in the state of visions. It is difficult to explain this to a person whose mind is not keen, but those who have some experience of the state of visions would not look upon a body which is prepared from actions with wonder or incredulity, but would appreciate this explanation. . This body which is created from actions becomes a source of the recompense of good and evil in the state of. Barzakh. I have experience of this matter. I have often, in a state of complete wakefulness, met some dead persons in a vision and I have observed the bodies of some