QUESTION

How does Islam view the doctrine of reincarnation?

ANSWER

The doctrine of reincarnation or transmigration of souls incorporates the belief in the cycles of birth, death and rebirth; where the same soul is said to inhabit another living body after the physical death of the host body.

In explaining why Islam totally rejects the doctrine of reincarnation, we must take cognizance of the following:
Islam requires belief in resurrection, in individual answerability for personal deeds, in repentance, in the fact that life has purpose, and Islam acknowledges the uniqueness of each human being.

We believe that life is a test of deeds (Q 67:2), that each living thing amongst creation must ultimately taste death (Q 3:185), that each human being will be resurrected (Q 75:2-4) and will be held accountable for their deeds individually (Q 99:7-8) and to be retributed accordingly.

Problems posed by Reincarnation

• If each individual is supposed to endure a continuous cycle of transmigration in order to attain eternal bliss, then God's promise to institute retribution (rewarding the good and punishing the evil) is nullified.
  
  
• Many people who lived improper lives, reform, repent and sometimes become revered role models for others (such as Malcom X). This indicates that in a short space of one lifetime people could reach the peak from the pit (or visa versa). If we are destined to live an entire lifetime as mere consequence of a previous lifetime, then this would have the effect of lessening incentives to moral efforts.
  
  Repenting and reforming is part of human existence and proves how unnecessary it is for a soul to endure innumerable cycles to realize forgiveness and redemption.
  
  
• If a soul experienced an evil life and at rebirth passes to a lower life form (according to the doctrine of reincarnation), it serves merely as “punishment of a lifetime.” Since the individual does not recall its past existence, the previous life/lives have been of no consequence for moral enhancement at all.
  
  
• If being a human or animal is the consequence of one's deeds in a former life, which first existed, human or animal, the higher or the lower? Advocates of the doctrine cannot decide or agree on any form for the first creature, for every generation implies a preceding generation in order that the succeeding may be considered as the consequence of the former. Why did life begin at all? Plainly, the doctrine leads to absurdity.
  
  
• Finally, if the individual soul passes into different life forms, which “personality” or “being” will ultimately be resurrected, render account, and for which form of its existence will it be rewarded or punished?

Article By
Sheikh Sadullah Khan
Islamic Center of Irvine
The article can also be found at www.icoi.net