The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 153
147 of the life after death, which can only be acquired through holy visions, cannot be explained fully on the basis of reason. God Almighty has appointed diverse means for acquiring knowledge in this world of that which is unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to seek everything through its proper means. It is only then that it can be discovered. Another matter that must be kept in mind is that in His Word God has described as dead those people who are involved in vice and error and has declared the virtuous as alive. The reason for this is that the functions of the lives of those who die in a state of neglect of God, for instance, eating and drinking and indulgence of their passions are cut off, and they have no share of spiritual sustenance. They are truly dead and will be revived only for punishment. As God, the Glorious, has said: مَنْ يَأْتِ رَبَّهُ مُجْرِمًا فَإِنَّ لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيي 191 That is, the portion of him who comes to his Lord a sinner is hell; he shall neither die therein nor live. But those whom God loves do not die with their physical death, for their sustenance is with them. After Barzakh there is the third state, of resurrection (‘Ālam-e-ba‘th). In that state every soul, good or bad, 191. Verily, he who comes to his Lord a sinner-for him is Hell; he shall neither die therein nor live. (The Holy Quran, Ta ha 20:75)