What Do Scriptures Say About Rebirth

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Question:

What do the Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible say about rebirth? - A comparative view of rebirth as presented in the Bhagavad Gita, Bible, and Quran. :::

Answer:

As per Islam there is no cycle of birth and rebirth rather there is birth and after that there is death after which the soul remains in barzakh till the day of judgement. On the day of judgement a person will be resurrected & will be judged by his deeds after which he will be sent to heaven & hell where he will dwell forever with some exceptions.

This is beautifully explained by Imam ibn ul-Qayyim & mentioned by Shaikh Salih al-Fawzaan in his explanation of Kitab at-Tawhid under the chapter [The Virtues of Tawhid and that which it Expiates from Sins],

“The places of residence are three” [Ibn ul-Qayyim: one of the great scholars of Islam ]

The First: The residence of this world, and it is the residence of actions and gaining [good deeds].

The Second: The residence of the Barzakh, and that is the residence within the graves, a barzakh between this world and the Hereafter. The term barzakh means a “divider” or “barrier” [i.e. the life within the graves is the seperator between this world and the Hereafter], and the life within the graves is [therefore] termed as the life of the barzakh. Within it are amazing affairs; in it is blessing or punishment, either a pit from the pits of the Hell-Fire, or a garden from the gardens of Paradise. The dead remain in their graves until Allah the Mighty and Majestic wishes to resurrect and gather them for accountability and recompense…[and so] this residence is a waiting station [until resurrection].

The Third: The residence of recompense, which is the Day of Judgement, [either] Paradise or Hell; and this residence does not perish nor cease ever. If a person believes in these two abodes [Paradise and Hell], then indeed that will cause a person to perform righteous actions and [seek] repentance from sins and wrong-doing. So if he is certain that Paradise exists, and that he cannot enter this Paradise except with righteous actions – then [surely] he will act [upon righteousness]. [Similarly] if he is certain that Hell exists and that he will enter it [if he performs] sins, disbelief and evil actions – then [surely] he will be wary and cautious of that and repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic.

Therefore, eemaan in Paradise and Hell causes the slave to perform righteous actions and to seek repentance from sins and evil actions, as for the one who does not believe in the Hereafter, then this one will act in accordance to what his desires dictate to him and what his soul craves and he will not hold himself accountable [and reflect] ever”.

Also, the proof is evident from the following verses of the Quran:

Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, (Al-Mu’minun 23:99)

“So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. (Al-Mu’minun 23:100)

Everyone shall taste the death. Then unto Us you shall be returned. (Al-‘Ankabut 29:57).

Regarding what Gita & Bible say on this subject - I don’t have much idea.

ISLAMIC Explanation for “Life before Life: children’s memories of previous life”

The fact that jinn can enter human bodies is proven in the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic teachings), and by the consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah (main body of Muslims who are united upon the sunnah), and by real-life events. As per Islam there are 2 kinds of creatures.

Ibn Taymiyah said:“The fact that jinn can enter human bodies is proven by the consensus of Ahlal-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):‘Those who eat riba will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing ofa person beaten by Shaytan leading him to insanity. That is because theysay: ‘Trading is only like riba’…’ [2:275].

And in as-Saheeh it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)said: ‘The Shaytan flows through the son of Adam as the blood flows throughhis veins.’”‘Abd-Allah ibnal-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: “I said to my father, ‘There are some people who say that the jinn do not enter the body of the epileptic.’ He said: ‘O my son, they are lying; the jinn could speak through this person.’” Commenting on this, Ibn Qudamah said: “What he said is well known, because a person may suffer an epileptic seizure and speak in a language that no one understands, and his body may be beaten with blows that would fell a camel, but the epileptic does not feel them at all, and he is also unaware of the words he is saying. The epileptic and others may be dragged about, or the carpet on which he is sitting may be pulled, and utensils may be moved about from place to place, and other things may happen. Anyone who witnesses such a thing will know for sure that the one who is speaking through the person and moving these things is not human.” And he said, may Allah have mercy on him: “There is no one among the imams (religious leaders/scholars) of the Muslims who denies that jinn may enter the body of the epileptic and others.Anyone who denies this and claims that Islam denies it is lying about Islam.There is nothing in the proofs of sharee’ah (Islamic law) to show that it does not happen.”

It was narrated that‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, “Even me, but Allaah helped me withhim and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins meto do that which is good.” According to another report, “… There is assigned to him acompanion from among the jinn and a companion from among the angels.” Narrated by Muslim, 2814

So based upon above it is evident that these people who speak abut previous lives are basically being inspired by the jinns and these jinns outlive human beings and are associated with people over long periods of time and know their life history.