About the Spirits (Souls) of the Believers

“Once I went out along with ’Amir al-Mu’minin toward the backside of the city of Kufah. He stood on Wadiy al-Salam (valley of peace). He seemed like speaking to certain people. I stood as he was until I became tired. I then sat down until I became bored. I then stood up until I began to feel as it happened before. I then sat down until I became bored again. I then stood up and pulled my gown together and said, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, I have become concerned about your standing for so long. You should rest for a while.’ I then spread my gown so he could sit on it. He then said to me, ‘O Habbah, it was only a conversation with Mu’min (believer) or feeling comfortable with.’ I then asked, ‘Are they such, O ’Amir al-Mu’minin?’ He replied, ‘Yes, were it to be revealed to you, you could have seen them in groups and circles in Ihtiba’ position, speaking to each other.’ I then asked, ‘Are they in the form of spirits or do they have bodily shapes?’ He replied, ‘They are in the form of spirits. Whenever and wherever any believing person dies his spirit is told to leave for Wadi al-Salam. It is a piece of paradise of Eden.’” (Ihtiba’ is when one sits with his thighs against his belly and forms a ring with a piece of cloth for support around his trunk and knees or holds them against his belly with his hands).

I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘My brother is in Baghdad and I am afraid that he may die there.’ He said, ‘Why should you worry about wherever he dies? Indeed, Allah sends to Wadi al- Salam the soul of every believing person who dies in the east or west of the earth.’ I then asked, ‘Where is Wadi al-Salam?’ ‘It is behind the city of Kufah,’ He (the Imam) replied. ‘It is as if I see them in circles and circles, sitting and talking to each other,’ the Imam explained.’”