How Can Resurrection Occur If Human Bones Completely Decay?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If science indicates that all human bones decay over time, how should we understand the hadith stating that a part of the human body remains from which resurrection will occur?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Between the two Blowing of the Trumpet there will be an interval of forty.” The people said, “O Abu Hurayra! Do you mean forty days?” He said, “I cannot say anything.” They said, “Do you mean forty years?” He said, “I cannot say anything.” They said, “Do you mean forty months?” He said, “I cannot say anything.”
The Prophet added:
“Everything of the human body will perish except the last coccyx bone (end part of the spinal cord), and from that bone Allah will reconstruct the whole body. Then Allah will send down water from the sky, and people will grow like green vegetables.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Abu Bakr ibn Abi Dawud narrated in The Book of Resurrection and Rising from the hadith of Abu Sa‘id that it was said: “And what is it, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Like a mustard seed; from it you will be recreated.”
Abu al-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi attributed it to The Book of Resurrection by Ibn Abi al-Dunya, indicating that it is extremely small. This was stated by Wali al-Din (Allah have mercy on him)
And in al-Fath it is said: Ibn al-Jawzi reported that Ibn Aqil said: “Allah has a secret in this which none knows except Allah, for the One who brings existence into being from nothing does not need anything upon which to build.” [Adam al-Atyubi, Dhakhira al-‘Uqba fi-Sharh al-Mujtaba]
How Will The Tailbone Come Into Existence if it Was Cremated?
If we analyze the above hadith, we see that creation and recreation occur through the tailbone. If some human beings were cremated after their death, then Allah Most High would first recreate the tailbone, and then the human beings would grow out of it as they were created the first time, which is easy for Allah Most High.
The Quran is Not a Scientific Book
The Quran is not a scientific book; it is the Divine Speech of Allah Most High that provides guidance for humans to meet their worldly needs, achieve eternal salvation, and serves as a warning for those who transgress. Unless for general interest or scholarly specialization, one should focus on these aspects of the Quran and dedicate their heart to Allah and His Messenger, as ultimately, this is what truly matters—the purpose of the guidance.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, insha’Allah.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Currently, he resides in the UK with his wife and is interested in reading and gardening.
