وَ اِذۡ اَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۡۢ بَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ مِنۡ ظُهُوۡرِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَ اَشۡهَدَهُمۡ عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ​ ۚ اَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡ​ ؕ قَالُوۡا بَلٰى​ ۛۚ شَهِدۡنَا ​ۛۚ اَنۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡا يَوۡمَ الۡقِيٰمَةِ اِنَّا كُنَّا عَنۡ هٰذَا غٰفِلِيۡنَ ۙ‏ ﴿7:172﴾ اَوۡ تَقُوۡلُوۡۤا اِنَّمَاۤ اَشۡرَكَ اٰبَآؤُنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ​ۚ اَفَتُهۡلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الۡمُبۡطِلُوۡنَ‏ ﴿7:173﴾ وَكَذٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰيٰتِ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُوۡنَ‏ ﴿7:174﴾

۱۷۲
 – ^۱۳۳اور اے نبی، لوگوں کو یاد دلاؤ وہ وقت جبکہ تمہارے رب نے بنی آدم کی پُشتوں سے ان کی نسل کو نکالا تھا اور انہیں خود ان کے اوپر گواہ بناتے ہوئے پوچھا تھا ”کیا میں تمارا رب نہیں ہوں؟“ انہوں نے کہا ”ضرور آپ ہی ہمارے رب ہیں، ہم اس پر گواہی دیتے ہیں“^۱۳۴۔ یہ ہم نے اس لیے کیا کہ کہیں تم قیامت کے روز یہ نہ کہہ دو کہ ”ہم اس بات سے بے خبر تھے“، ۱۷۳
 – یا یہ نہ کہنے لگو کہ ”شرک کی ابتدا تو ہمارے باپ دادا نے ہم سے پہلے کی تھی اور ہم بعد کو ان کی نسل سے پیدا ہوئے، پھر کیا آپ ہمیں اُس قصُور میں پکڑتے ہیں جو غلط کار لوگوں نے کیا تھا۔“^۱۳۵ ۱۷۴
 – دیکھو، اِس طرح ہم نشانیاں واضح طور پر پیش کرتے ہیں۔^۱۳۶ اور اس لیے کرتے ہیں کہ یہ لوگ پلٹ آئیں

In Islamic belief, Aalam-e Arwah, or the Realm of Souls, is the pre-material existence of all human souls. This realm is where Allah created and assembled each soul before they were sent into the physical world. It is a metaphysical space where souls exist before their embodiment in human forms. [1, 2]

Here’s a more detailed breakdown: [1]

• Pre-existence: Aalam-e Arwah signifies the period before human birth, when souls existed in a spiritual form. [1]
• Creation and Assembly: Allah is believed to have created and assembled each soul in this realm before sending them into the physical world. [1]
• Covenant: The concept of Aalam-e Arwah is often linked to the “Covenant of Souls” (Al-Alat), where souls are believed to have acknowledged Allah’s sovereignty and agreed to return to Him. [1]
• Connection to the physical world: It is believed that relationships and dispositions established in Aalam-e Arwah can influence interactions and connections in the physical world, says a post on X. [3]
• Not a place of punishment or reward: The realm of souls is not a place of judgment or reward, but rather a state of existence before the human experience. [2]

Key Points

• AalameArwah, likely “Aalam-e-Arwah,” is a concept in Islamic theology about the pre-existence of souls.
• Research suggests it’s the realm where souls made a covenant with God before physical creation.
• Interpretations vary, with some seeing it as a literal event and others as symbolic of human nature.
• The topic is debated among scholars, reflecting diverse theological perspectives.

Overview

AalameArwah, or more commonly referred to as “Aalam-e-Arwah,” is a significant idea in Islamic eschatology, particularly within Sufi and broader Islamic traditions. It seems likely that this concept describes the stage before the physical world, where all human souls were created and gathered by God, making a primordial covenant. This event is known as the “Event of Alast,” referenced in the Quran (Surah 7:172), where God asked, “Am I not your Sustainer?” and souls affirmed, “Yes, we bear witness.” The evidence leans toward it being foundational for understanding human inclination toward monotheism, though interpretations differ on whether it’s literal or allegorical.

Cultural and Religious Context

This concept is rooted in Islamic teachings, appearing in both Sunni and Shia traditions, and is often discussed in mystical contexts. It’s distinct from Barzakh, which is the intermediate state after death, highlighting its unique focus on pre-existence.

Survey Note: Detailed Exploration of AalameArwah

AalameArwah, likely a variant or transliteration of “Aalam-e-Arwah,” is a concept deeply embedded in Islamic theology, particularly within the framework of eschatology and Sufi mysticism. This section provides a comprehensive analysis, drawing from various sources to elucidate its meaning, interpretations, and significance.

Definition and Core Concept

Aalam-e-Arwah, often translated as the “World of Souls” or “Realm of Souls,” refers to the primordial stage before the creation of the physical world. Research suggests that, according to Islamic belief, this is the realm where God created all human souls, from Adam to the last human, and gathered them in a spiritual field. A pivotal event, known as the “Event of Alast,” is central to this concept, detailed in the Quran, Surah Al-A’raf 7:172: “And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we have testified.’ [This]—lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, ‘Indeed, we were of this unaware.'” This verse underscores the covenant where souls acknowledged God’s oneness and sovereignty, forming a foundational aspect of human spiritual identity.

Interpretations and Scholarly Debate

The concept of Aalam-e-Arwah is not without controversy, with scholars offering diverse interpretations. One perspective, supported by sources like A Complete Mystery of Aalam-e-Arwah in Light of Holy Quran, views it as a literal event where souls were physically gathered and interacted with God. This interpretation includes detailed narratives, such as souls being shown visions of the world, Jannah (Paradise), and Hell on a “Noorani Multimedia Screen” to decide their destinies, with their wishes recorded on Loh-e-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet). For instance, it is suggested that most souls initially chose worldly desires, displeasing God, while a select few, such as prophets and saints, chose divine recognition, pleasing Him.

Conversely, another interpretation, highlighted in IslamQuest on Aalam-e-Arwah, sees Aalam-e-Arwah as allegorical, linked to the fitrah (innate nature) of humans. This view posits that the covenant is embedded in every human’s creation, guiding them toward tawhid (oneness of God), rather than a historical event. This interpretation is favored by some scholars, supported by references like Naser Makarem Shirazi’s Tafsir Nemouneh and Muhammad Baqir Majlisi’s Biharul-Anwar, arguing it aligns with free will by paving the path to truth without determinism.

The debate reflects broader theological discussions, with Sufi traditions, as seen in Mystic Mantra: Journey of the soul, integrating Aalam-e-Arwah into the soul’s journey, positioning it as the first stage before descent into the physical world, followed by stages like Barzakh and the Day of Judgment.

Distinct from Barzakh

It is crucial to distinguish Aalam-e-Arwah from Barzakh, another Islamic concept. Barzakh, as noted in What is Aalam-e-Arwah/Barzakh?, is the intermediate state after death, where the soul exists without the physical body, awaiting resurrection. Aalam-e-Arwah, by contrast, is pre-existence, focusing on the soul’s origin and covenant before birth. This distinction is evident in structured overviews, such as the journey of the soul outlined in the Deccan Chronicle article, where Aalam-e-Arwah is the initial stage, followed by the soul’s descent into the womb 120 days after conception, then Barzakh, and so on.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Aalam-e-Arwah holds significant cultural and religious importance, appearing in both Sunni and Shia traditions. It is particularly emphasized in Sufi mysticism, where it is seen as part of the soul’s spiritual journey toward God. The concept is also linked to life stages in Islam, with rituals like whispering the Azaan and Takbeer into a newborn’s ears at birth, reminding the soul of its primordial covenant, as detailed in the Deccan Chronicle article.

Detailed Breakdown of Interpretations

To organize the varying perspectives, consider the following table summarizing key interpretations:

This table highlights the diversity, with the literal event emphasizing a narrative of divine interaction, while the allegorical view focuses on innate spiritual predisposition, and the mystical perspective integrates it into broader spiritual development.

Additional Details and Context

Further details from sources include the division of souls into groups based on their wishes during Aalam-e-Arwah, with initial divisions into 10 groups, most choosing worldly status, leading to further subdivisions until the last group chose divine nearness, pleasing God. This narrative, from the WordPress site, adds a layer of complexity, suggesting hierarchical spiritual destinies. Additionally, the IslamQuest source addresses questions like why people have different religions despite the covenant, attributing it to free will and the soul’s journey post-covenant.

The Deccan Chronicle article also provides a structured life cycle, with Aalam-e-Arwah as the starting point, followed by stages like the soul’s entry into the womb, Barzakh, and the final abode, each with specific spiritual implications, such as the age of 40 being a time for reflection and 70+ for deep meditation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AalameArwah, understood as Aalam-e-Arwah, is a multifaceted concept in Islamic theology, central to understanding the soul’s pre-existence and covenant with God. It is debated among scholars, with interpretations ranging from literal events to allegorical representations, reflecting the richness and diversity of Islamic thought. Its significance extends beyond theology into cultural and mystical practices, offering insights into human spiritual identity and destiny.

Key Citations

• A Complete Mystery of Aalam-e-Arwah in Light of Holy Quran
• CREATION OF ALL SOULS & EVENT OF ALAST
• What is Aalam-e-Arwah/Barzakh?
• IslamQuest on Aalam-e-Arwah
• Mystic Mantra: Journey of the soul