makes clear that the soul is taken at the time of death. Some souls He retains and does not return to their bodies—those for whom He has decreed death—while others He releases until an appointed term. This can only apply to something that exists in its own right, not to an accident inhering in something else. Thus, it establishes the existence of the soul that departs from the body at death. Authentic hadiths accord with this, such as the Prophet’s saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“In Your name, my Lord, I lay down upon my side, and through You I rise. If You retain my soul, have mercy on it; and if You release it, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants.”

When they slept through the dawn prayer, he said:

“Allah took our souls where He willed.”

Allah, Most High, said:

“It is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have done by day, then awakens you during it so that an appointed term may be fulfilled. Then to Him is your return, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”

“He is the Subduer over His servants, and He sends guardians over you until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they never neglect their duty.”

“Then they are returned to Allah, their true Lord. Surely His is the judgment, and He is the swiftest of reckoners.”

This describes the taking of souls during sleep until the appointed time of death, when they return to Allah. It also states that the angels take them at death, after which they are returned to Allah. Neither the body nor the accidents inhering in it are returned; it is only the soul that is returned.

This is like His saying in Sūrat Yūnus:

“And they are returned to Allah.”

Allah, Most High, also said:

“Indeed, to your Lord is the return.”

And Allah, Most High, said:

“O tranquil soul!”

“Return to your Lord