Where does a person’s ruh (soul) go when they pass away ?

Question:

Where does a person’s ruh (soul) go when they pass away? Answer: ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

This is a matter in regards to which many scholars have differed. Here is a list of some of their opinions: 1) The souls of the believers will be in Illiyeen which is in the seventh sky, and the souls of the disbelievers will be in Sijjeen which is in the seventh Earth. 2) The souls of the believers will be on the right side of Adam (A.S.), and the souls of the disbelievers will be on his left side. 3) The souls of the believers will be in Paradise, and the souls of the disbelievers will be in the Fire. 4) The souls will remain in the courtyards of their graves. Ibn Qayyim (R.A.) in his book “Al-Ruh” reconciles between these differing opinions by saying, “The souls vary in regards to their abode during the life of Barzakh (the period between death and the Day of Resurrection).” [1] Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham

1 Al-Ruh: p. 115-116 & 142 (Maktaba Asriya)