¶ Door Number Ten
¶ The Transmigration of the Soul
¶ “They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.’”
The commonly held belief that people hold about the soul is that every person is born with a soul and that soul remains with a person until death. It is only at death that the soul leaves the body. The reality is that the soul can enter into a human being at birth, during childhood, adulthood, or even old age. A soul can also leave a human being before the death of the human’s body. A soul can leave a human being and they remain alive for a number of years, even decades. This is what the people of old knew. The soul travels from one body to another through the process of reincarnation, or it can travel from body to body through the process of transmigration. In order to make understanding easier for the reader let us define the following terms:
- Reincarnation: Rebirth of the soul into a new human body.
- Transmigration: The movement of the soul from one human body with or without death to another already living human without experiencing the process of birth.
- Maskh: The rebirth of the human soul as an animal.
- Raskh: The transmigration of the human soul from a human to an inanimate object such as a rock or stone.
- Faskh: The transmigration of the human soul from a human to a plant or tree.
Although these concepts are widely rejected by mainstream Judeo-Christian and Islamic schools of thought, these concepts have always been part of the teachings of the Prophets and Messengers (PBUT). These concepts are easily found within the Torah, Gospels, and Qur’an as well as within the narrations of the Prophets of these religions. While the mainstream orthodoxy of each of these Abrahamic faiths have neglected, minimized, or rejected these concepts outright, many Gnostic sects within them have kept these ideas alive.
We plan to present to you here, evidence from the Bible, that Jesus believed and taught the concepts of reincarnation or the return of the soul after death in new bodies as well as transmigration. We will also demonstrate without a shadow of a doubt that the early followers of Jesus (PBUH), as well as the Jews living in that time, were familiar with and believed in the ideas of reincarnation and transmigration. The belief and expectation of certain figures to return in different bodies was prevalent amongst the Jews in that time and amongst the early followers of Christ. First, we look at Matthew Chapter 16:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.” “But what about you?”, he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Here it is demonstrated clearly that the Jews and early followers of Christ had already an understanding that the Prophets and Messengers of the Torah could and would return. For here, when Jesus asks his followers, who do the people (he doesn’t even say the believers, or my followers, but simply the people) say I am, they respond John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets. This without a shadow of a doubt proves that they believed in the return of the Prophets and Messengers (PBUT). What is especially interesting here is the fact that amongst the names mentioned is John the Baptist. Jeremiah and Elijah, the other two names, were Prophets who had passed or disappeared many years before Christ was even born; however, John, on the other hand, was alive during the life of Jesus (PBUH), baptized Jesus, and died during Jesus’ adult years. According to Luke 1:26-38, the age difference between John the Baptist and Jesus (PBUT) was approximately 6 months:
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Now according to Luke 3:21-23, Jesus was 30 years old at the time of his baptism and at the start of his public ministry.
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.”
The baptism of Jesus by John is highlighted in the Bible and serves as an important public marker. It was the passing of the torch of successorship from John to Jesus (PBUT). All those who believed in John and were followers of John bore witness to the appointment of Jesus by God as John’s successor right before John’s martyrdom. Jesus also received the Holy Spirit at this point and his ministry began. We find the same ritual happening right before the death of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) at the event of Ghadir Khum. This is when he appoints Ali ibn Abi Talib (From Him is Peace) as his divine successor.
This means that after delivering his final speech to his followers and appointing his successor Jesus publicly, John the Baptist was arrested and beheaded at the age of about 30 years old. This also means that the Jews and early followers of John and Jesus believed in the transmigration of the soul from a dead adult into the body of an alive adult. Usually, the common understanding amongst those who believe in reincarnation is that when a person dies, he or she is born again as a baby in a new body. This idea was not necessarily the case with the Jews at that time, for when asked who do the people say Jesus was, the disciples responded, some say John the Baptist. Therefore, it is clear and evident that they believed John’s soul could enter into the body of Jesus after death and return in the form of Jesus and carry on living in the new body without the need to wait for a new body to be born and grow up.
This is not the only place where transmigration and/or reincarnation is discussed. If we look at Matthew Chapter 11, we find that Jesus declares John the Baptist to be the return or reincarnation of Elijah.
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
So clearly, we can see that Jesus (PBUH) also believed and taught the doctrine of return or reincarnation. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) confirmed that John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated. Another reference to Elijah being John the Baptist is made in the Bible, during the scene of the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus reveals his light body to his disciples and they fall down into prostration only to lift their heads and lo and behold, Jesus is standing in his light body, and accompanying him are two physically dead Prophets: the souls of Elijah and Moses (PBUT).
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
So we have for a second time, in Matthew 17, Jesus proclaiming John to be the return of Elijah, and we also have the appearance of the souls of Elijah and Moses (PBUT) to the disciples. So we can easily conclude that the souls of Elijah and Moses were traveling around with Jesus (PBUH) and his disciples and learning from him.
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) being the companion of the Seventh Covenant and the reincarnation of Al-Hussein (From Him is Peace) plays a more vital role in this time than any other Prophet and Messenger throughout history. In fact, all of the Prophets, Messengers, and Imams yearned to return in this day and age in order to support him. In one narration, Abi Abdullah (From Him is Peace) was asked:
“ ‘And recite in the Book the account of Ishmael. He was ever true to his promise, and was a Messenger, a Prophet.’ Was this verse concerning Ishmael son of Abraham (PBUT)? For verily the people are claiming it is concerning Ishmael son of Abraham.” So the Imam (PBUH) said: “Verily Ishmael died before Abraham, and Abraham was the Proof of God, a Qaim, a companion of a jurisprudence, so to whom was Ishmael sent?” So it was said to him: “Then who was the verse concerning, may I be your ransom?” So he (PBUH) replied: “That was concerning Ishmael son of Ezekiel the Prophet (PBUH), God sent him to his people and they belied him, murdered him and skinned his face, so God became angry for him, so He sent to him the angel Satatael, the angel of torment, and he said to him: ‘O Ishmael, I am Satatael the angel of torment, the Lord of Glory sent me to you in order that I may torment your people with all kinds of punishments as you wish.’ So Ishmael said: ‘I do not need that O Satatael.’ So God inspired him, saying: ‘O Ishmael, what is your need then?’ So Ishmael said: ‘My Lord, you took a covenant upon us that you are the Lord, and Mohammed is your Messenger, and his vicegerents have authority and Wilayah. You told Your creation what his nation shall do to Al-Hussein son of Ali (PBUT) after their Prophet. And You promised Al-Hussein that he will reincarnate in this world, and will have revenge with his own hands against all those who do this to him. So my need, O Lord, is that you make me too reincarnate in this world so that I may take revenge against all those who did this to me, just as you make Al-Hussein reincarnate.’ So God promised Ishmael the son of Ezekiel that, and he shall reincarnate with Al-Hussein son of Ali (PBUT).”
This wish of Ishmael (PBUH) to return with Al-Hussein (From Him is Peace) was the wish of all the Prophets, Messengers, and righteous ones. Surely, they were all granted this wish by God. Abi Abdullah (From Him is Peace) said:
“And Al-Hussein (PBUH) shall come forth with his companions that were killed with him, and with him also shall be seventy Prophets just as they were sent with Moses son of Imran. The Qaim (PBUH) shall hand over to him the seal, and Al-Hussein (PBUH) shall be the one to wash him, shroud him and place him in his grave.”
On another occasion, Imam Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace) was asked:
“Is the Qaim born?” He replied: “No, and if I got a chance to be with him I shall serve him for the rest of the days of my life.”
The narrations to this effect are many. Clearly, it was every Prophet, Messenger, and Imam’s dream to return with the Riser/Qaim because he establishes God’s government on Earth, a Divine Just State, a return to the Garden of Eden, which is the culmination of the efforts of all the Prophets and Messengers and righteous ones.
If the souls of Moses and Elijah were traveling around with Jesus Christ, learning and listening to him, then they along with the souls of all of the Prophets and Messengers and righteous ones have been traveling around with Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) who is Al-Hussein (From Him is Peace) since the day he appeared on this Earth. They followed him around waiting for an opportunity to transmigrate into a physical body that they could use to serve the Imam (From Him is Peace). At his will and command, these pure souls and angels would enter into the bodies that were around Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace). Thus, many human beings are the reincarnations of the Prophets, Messengers, and angels but not since physical birth, but rather since they were spiritually “reborn” in faith and a soul came upon them. Although this idea might seem foreign to the mainstream public, for centuries, closely guarded circles of Jewish Rabbis and Gnostic Christians knew these truths and would teach it to their students. Rabbi Isaac Luria once taught that it was during Prophet Joseph’s adult life that he received his soul, the soul of Enoch (PBUH), which had descended upon him. The Rabbi said:
This is the secret of, “He appointed it as an eidut [testimony] to Joseph …” (Psalms 81:5) - since Joseph merited to receive the neshama of Enoch which is called “eidie” [My witness], as said. Therefore Joseph was “yafeh to’ar” [handsome], (Gen. 39:6) because he merited Adam’s yafyo [beauty], which came to him from the edge of the neshama of supernal Atzilut…However, Joseph did not merit this until the night of the “end of the two years,” (Gen. 41:1) when it was decreed that he should leave jail - that very day he rose to greatness. So is it written, “[He appointed it as a testimony to Jehoseph] when He went out over the land of Egypt.” (Psalms 81:5) This becomes understandable when you recall what we said in previous chapters, that the ruach or the neshama enters a person at night while he is sleeping…You can also understand what the Sages say based upon the end of the verse, “[He appointed it as a testimony to Jehoseph when He went out over the land of Egypt] when I heard a language unknown to me.” (Psalms 81:5) That night Gabriel came and taught him seventy languages. (Sotah 36b) What actually happened was that the neshama of Enoch/Metatron, the minister over the seventy nations, who knows their seventy languages, entered him that night and immediately he knew the seventy languages.
In the same manner that we have proven that the people in the time of Christ knew that souls could enter upon a person at any time, and they even thought that the soul of the recently deceased John the Baptist entered upon Jesus; the soul can also leave the body of a living person at any time without him necessarily dying physically. Rather in this case, the death would be a spiritual one. There are even examples of people who lost their souls during their life and remained alive physically. Let us look at the story of Saul in the Bible (1 Samuel Chapter 16):
So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Service
Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.” So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
In the Torah, Saul was appointed as King by God, and he had a good soul from God. At some point, due to the sins of Saul, the good soul from God left Saul and was replaced with an evil soul that would torment him. Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) teaches us that holy souls or spirits come upon a human being when they are worthy of receiving one, and not everyone is born with one. Furthermore, if a person with a good soul does not act properly, the good soul in certain circumstances will depart the person and an evil soul will take its place. Another example of a person losing his good soul is the case of Samson. Let us look at Judges, Chapter 16:
When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) said that all success and good fortune come from the good soul. It is what protects, guides, and grants good fortune. Without it, all of a person’s success and blessings will be withdrawn and he will suffer greatly. We see this is exactly what took place with Samson in the book of Judges. Samson lost his soul because of his sinful lust, although it was later restored briefly at the moment of his martyrdom. Others however were not as fortunate. Balaam was a Prophet mentioned in the Bible and the Qur’an. God instructed him to bless Israel and he had a soul from God. In Numbers, Chapter 24, it says:
“When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him.”
However, the Qur’an makes it clear that he lost his soul because he discarded the words and commands of God, and instead the good soul was replaced with an evil devil soul:
“Relate to them an account of him to whom We gave Our signs, but he cast them off. Thereupon Satan pursued him, and he became one of the deviators.”
The good souls are bestowed upon humans when they have built the capacity to receive them. Once they have earned this privilege, they must strive hard to maintain them. If they fail to maintain them, it shall leave them.
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) said to me one day, “Do you know how many were the Prophets and Messengers that were almost erased and removed from the list of Prophets?”
I said, “Three hundred and thirteen?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “Yes, Moses was one of them and Jacob and Mohammed too, at the end of his life.”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) further clarified that hundreds of Prophets failed, were replaced, and lost their souls. For that reason, even the Prince of the Believers Ali (From Him is Peace) could not guarantee himself until the very last moment, not until he was finally struck with the deathblow and exclaimed:
“I have won by the Lord of the Kaaba!”
Before that, he was unsure of his state with God.
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) said to me one day, “Balaam ibn Ba’ura was better than all the Prophets who are with you, and what was his condition? His end was nothing but misery. The soul goes to the closest person appropriate for it, the closest to it. I will give you an example: You have a 1950 model car and a 1990 model car, which one is better?”
I said, “1990.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “But you are in the year 2018.”
I said, “1950, the more expensive one.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “It is not a question of what is more expensive, we are talking about the reality as it is, you have a model of 1950 and 1990 and you are in 2018. What is available for you according to your financial ability are these two cars, but in reality, there is better and that is the modern one, and this is exactly the situation with us right now, the best did not come yet to the Daawa, and this is what is available for us now.”
I said, “Meaning when a better person enters the Daawa, does that mean the soul of this or that Prophet goes to that better person?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “Under one condition, if he does not safeguard this soul and does not discipline his nafs/self, then yes, it will go, but if he fights his nafs/self that commands evil, then, of course, God is Just and Truth, and it will remain.”
I said, “What if in the future an Egyptian with the name ‘Abdullah’ comes who is better than me, and he entered the Daawa and you loved him, and I had committed a mistake or I tired you like I did before?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “My beloved son, and what is it that you have done and what is it that I have done to you? My son, I am disciplining you and teaching you but giving you up, no. Do not compare yourself to the rest of the people.”
I said, “So you will never give me up no matter what? Is this a promise from you, O son of the Messenger of Allah?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “I will never never never give you up as long as you do not give God up.”
I asked, “What is ‘giving God up?’ Apostasy? Intentional disbelief?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “It is losing mercy, what is mercy?”
I said, “Yes.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “Ahlul-Bayt (PBUT). Who are the Ahlul-Bayt (PBUT)? God Almighty. As long as you are with God, do not fear anything. I know with full certainty that you have completely dissolved in the love of God and His Household, I have full, true, and firm certainty about this.”
I said, “Sometimes I fear that if I make a mistake, you will abandon me.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “This is wrong my son, do not think like this, confession of guilt is a virtue. When the human being makes a mistake and then confesses, God Almighty forgives him, but that mistake must be one that was committed unintentionally, meaning, one cannot go forth committing sins and mistakes on purpose and then just expect that they can come and confess. That is called hypocrisy, and you know that. Son, I am saying this to you only for one reason, so you can teach this way of thinking to those around you.”
I said, “But I have a request, Father, do not replace me ever or abandon me.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “You will be replaced in one condition only, if my Father and Master Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) replaces me, and if Mohammed ibn Al-Hassan (PBUH & His Family) got replaced. Only then I can not guarantee this for you. And it is an impossibility that we be replaced, and if you have a different opinion say it.”
¶ Sources
- The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 16, Verses 13-16
- The Holy Bible, Book of Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 26-38
- The Holy Bible, Book of Luke, Chapter, 3, Verses 21-23
- The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 11, Verses 11-15
- The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 17, Verses 1-13
- Bihar Al-Anwar, Al-Allamah Al-Majlisi, Vol. 53, p. 105
- Mukhtasar Basa'ir Al-Darajat, Al-Hassan Ibn Sulayman Al-Hilli, p. 48
- Kitab Al-Ghayba (Book of Occultation), Al-Numani, Vol. 1, p. 250
- Joseph’s Soul, Rabbi Isaac Luria, Gate of Reincarnations: Chapter Thirty-One, Section 7b
- The Holy Bible, Book of 1 Samuel, Chapter 16, Verses 11-23
- The Holy Bible, Book of Judges, Chapter 16, Verses 18-21
- The Holy Bible, Book of Numbers, Chapter 24, Verse 2
- The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 7 (Al-Araf), Verse 175