Allah the Almighty has created the universe and all its creations in such a way that there are countless types within each kind. There are waves upon waves, gusts upon gusts. If one stands on the shore of the sea, the waves seem endless. These are the sea waves that we can see. But in the realms of air and space, there are countless waves as well, and their types and extents are beyond our comprehension. Even within our own existence, scientists are still baffled. The wonders continue to multiply, even though humanity’s greatest need is the survival of its own existence. It is for this reason that medical science came into being, hospitals were established, medical colleges were formed, and specialists for each organ emerged. Surgeons were trained, the most advanced machines were invented, and laboratories were set up. Yet, even today, humans are dying. They are dying from diseases, from wars caused by deadly weapons created by humans, from accidents, or from natural disasters. They are dying due to greed or being killed by others. In any case, humans are dying.

After death, a human is called dead, but now science faces a dilemma. The problem in modern medical science is: when can we declare a person truly dead?

For centuries, or rather for thousands of years, the common observation has been that when a person stops breathing, and their pulse is checked and found to have stopped, it is declared that the person has died. After death, the person is then called dead. If they were a king, their real status now becomes “dead.” Whether they were good or bad, rich or poor, they are now simply dead, and their place is now beneath the ground.

If we start with modern research from November 20, 2019, scientific journals like New Scientist have shown that when ventilators and other life-support machines were introduced, and the heart was provided with oxygen, the heart began beating again, but the brain continued to lose its functionality. So when the patient was taken off the ventilator, they were declared dead.

Dear readers, you may recall my previous articles on this topic. You may also be familiar with the research of renowned American brain scientist and medical researcher Sam Parnia, which showed that after a person dies, the neurons in their brain become significantly more active. This raised the question: when should we truly declare a person dead? The research revealed that even after 30 minutes, the brain’s memory center remained highly active. This means that after the commonly understood concept of death, the brain still plays a “movie” of the person’s life, showing them what they did during their lifetime. In those moments, a person’s brain is capable of reviewing all their good and bad deeds in just a few minutes.

But now, things have progressed even further. In an article by renowned scientific journalist Helen Thomson, published in New Scientist, three key points summarize modern research:

1. “Why the line between life and death is now more blurred than ever.”
   The line between life and death has never been more uncertain than it is now.
2. “For starters, there is no globally agreed definition of death.”
   From the beginning, there has been no global consensus on when death actually occurs.
3. “Brains can be resuscitated hours after.”
   The brain can remain alive for hours after death.

Dear readers, now scientists are grappling with the question: “How should we decide when dead truly is dead?”

The scientists concluded that they should consult with the Christian scholars of the Vatican, the Pope, and priests. They also sought the guidance of philosophers who understood the philosophy of life and death. But even after reaching out, the medical scientists did not receive a satisfactory answer. I was surprised to see that after conducting so much research, the modern scientific societies of the US and Europe, who had once rejected the Christian clergy and their unscientific approach, were now seeking guidance from the same religious leaders. These were the same religious authorities who believed the Earth was the center of the universe and that the Sun revolved around it. When scientists rejected their theories, these Christian priests had killed the scientists, burning them alive. History and science proved that these religious leaders were wrong. Science has now reached its pinnacle, and yet, in matters of life after death, the scientists are returning to these same religious leaders for guidance. Those who once denied the Creator are now seeking answers from the believers of the Creator.

We must acknowledge that although these Christian scholars were wrong about many things, not everything they said was incorrect. One thing they were absolutely right about is that there is life after death. However, today’s versions of the Torah, Psalms, and Bible fail to provide the clear answers that scientists seek. Similarly, Hindu religious texts, the Vedas, and other scriptures, along with their priests and pundits, are also unable to provide satisfactory answers in this regard.

Dear readers, as of October 18, 2023, at Princeton University’s Center for Human Values and other research institutions, the debate has reached the point where it is said, “When our cells and neurons die, we die too.” In response, scientists said: “It would seem.” On the surface, it appears to be so, but “it’s not necessarily as for how this.” Life after death is possible; we are not entirely sure.

Dear readers, you can see that at least 50-60% of medical scientists, especially brain specialists, neuron experts, and surgeons, have now reached the conclusion that life after death is possible. As we said earlier, there are waves upon waves, countless types of light, and endless types of matter. As these layers are peeled away and discoveries are made, eventually, even the most hardened scientists will have to accept the truth of the Quran and the message brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

But how will they find peace? With reasoning, evidence, and scientific discoveries. To be continued…

Written By: Moulana Ameer Hamza