In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. May Allah bless Muhammad and his family and grant them peace.

Your help we seek, O Allah; You have no partner.

Book of Funerals

Section on Causing Death and Giving Life

Allah, Almighty and Majestic, says:
“Indeed, you will die, and they too will die.” [al-Zumar: 30]

And He, exalted is He, says:
“Everyone upon the earth will perish.” [al-Rahmān: 26]

And He, exalted is He, says:
“Every soul will taste death.” [Āl ʿImrān: 185]

And He, exalted is He, says:
“It is He who gave you life, then will cause you to die, then will give you life again.” [al-Hajj: 66]

And He, exalted is He, says:
“How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He gave you life, then will cause you to die, then will give you life again?” [al-Baqarah: 28]

He, exalted is He, means that He gave them life in this world after they had been drops of semen in their fathers’ loins and embryos in their mothers’ wombs, then caused them to die in this world, and will then bring them to everlasting life.

As for the words of Allah, blessed and exalted is He:
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, You caused us to die twice.’” [Ghāfir: 11]

The scholars have differed over the interpretation of this verse. It has been said that its meaning is the same as that of the two preceding verses, and that His words here, “You caused us to die,” mean “You made us lifeless.” Thus, there are two deaths and two lives: the first death was not preceded by life, and the final life will not be followed by death. It has also been said that His words in this verse, “You caused us to die twice,” indicate