Question 461: Salamualekum. Please, what is the Ahlul bayt view on the fact that every soul shall taste death?
Answer 461: In the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “Every soul shall taste death. Then you shall be brought back to Us”.[1] According to the Holy Quran and traditions, before the judgment day, all of creatures will die. The holy Quran says: “And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those who are in the heavens and those who are in the earth shall swoon, except those who Allah pleases.”[2]
At first, this verse says that all those who are in skies and earth will die including all of the angels, and then there are some exceptions. So, we realize by this verse that some creatures will not die at sound of the trumpet. Who are they? There is a talk among commentators; some groups believe that there is a group of great angles such as: Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Israel.
In another narration when the Holy Prophet Mohammad (s) recites this verse, people asked him who the exceptions are. He answered: Gabriel, Israfil and the angel of death and when all spirits was taken, they will die by order of Allah.[3] Another narration adds the carriers of Allah’s throne besides these angels[4].
In any case, by these narrations[5] and others that said: When the time of first horn comes, Israfil will blow on the trumpet and all creatures that have a soul will die except Israfil who will die later by Allah`s order.[6] And also by some verses like: “All things will die except His face,”[7] It is generally said that all things will die except Allah’s face. We can use this verse to show that this rest group will eventually die as there is not any creatures that will remain alive in any part of the world, except Almighty Allah.
How do angels die? It must be said that what we call death (the spirit leaving the body and the material world) does not have any meaning for angels because they do not have bodies for their soul to leave. For this, there are some possibilities about what the essence of their death is:
The first possibility means death by breaking the relationship between their soul and their mithali existence .[8] The second possibility means, ending their continuous activities and losing their perceptual ability.
Therefore, every soul shall taste death, and you will indeed be paid your full rewards on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is delivered from the Fire and admitted to paradise has certainly succeeded. The life of this world is nothing but the wares of delusion.[9] Everyone on it must pass away, and yet lasting is the Face of your Lord, majestic and munificent.[10]
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answers:
Index: Satan Taste Death / Every Soul Must Taste of Death, answer 217.
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/AskShia/permalink/596059397212038/)
Index: Delaying Death and Called before its Time, answer 505.
(https://www.facebook.com/Ask-Shia-1593139984261577/?ref=bookmarks)
[1] . Surah al—Ankaboot, verse 57.
[2] . Zumar (the companies) verse 68
[3] . Bihar al Anvar, volume 79, page 184
[4] . Ibid, volume 6, page 329
[5]. Ibid, volume 6, page329
[6]. Ibid, volume 6, page 324
[7]. Qasas, verse 88
[8]. Refer to Tafsir Namoneh volume 19 page 541
[9] . Surah Aal Emran, verse 185.
[10] . Surah al-Rahman, verses 26-27.