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The spirit that governs the body and departs from it at death is the spirit breathed into it. It is also the soul that departs from it at death.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, slept through the prayer, he said:

“Allah took our souls wherever He willed and returned them wherever He willed.”

Bilāl said to him:

“O Messenger of Allah, the One who took your soul took mine.”

Allah Most High says:

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die He takes during their sleep. He then keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term.”

Ibn ‘Abbās and most Quran commentators said: He takes them in two ways: at death and during sleep. Then, during sleep, He takes those that die and releases the others for a specified term, until their appointed time of death arrives.

It is established in the two Sahīh collections that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say when going to sleep:

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

It is also established in the Sahīh:

“Allah has placed the souls of the martyrs in the crops of green birds that roam