Religious Experience of Death's Agonies (Sakarat) and Pangs (Ghamarat) and Its Educational Role in Spiritual Health
Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat (i.e., Research on Religion & Health),
Vol. 11 No. 3 (2025),
11 November 2025
,
Page 72-86
https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v11i3.47565
Abstract
Background and Objective: The religious experience of near-death states, referred to in religious texts as Sakarat (agonies) and Ghamarat (pangs) of death, is a reviving and often non-repeatable experience that can play a significant role in human spiritual health and anthropology. However, the unknown nature of these states and their causes instills fear of death itself. This study seeks to examine the educational effects of Sakarat and Ghamarat as a religious experience on spiritual health as specified by Islam.
Methods: This is a library-based descriptive-analytical study. First, essential definitions serving as the groundwork for the study were outlined. The main body of the research was developed in several stages to answer the primary research question. First, Sakarat and Ghamarat were introduced as near-death states framed as a religious experience. Then, the reasons for and the significance of understanding this religious experience in relation to spiritual health were explored. Finally, the educational effects and benefits of contemplating this religious experience were examined. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Results: Sakarat and Ghamarat, occurring immediately before death, represent an extremely sensitive moment accompanied by intense hardships. Since religious experience involves perceiving these states within oneself and witnessing them in others, and given the fact that there are numerous Quranic verses and narrations on this issue, they collectively represent and point to a supernatural experience with significant effects on individuals' spiritual health and balance. A proper definition and understanding of Sakarat and Ghammarat, as well as awareness of ways to eliminate or mitigate their effects, are deeply connected to spiritual well-being.
Conclusion: With the onset of death’s preliminaries, an agitation and upheaval overwhelm human. At times, this stupefying state overpowers reason, creating severe anxiety and unrest, referred to in the Quran as Sakarat and Ghamarat of death. This study's approach contrasts with non-revelation-based spiritual methodologies. The key conclusion is that the only way to gain knowledge of unseen realms, including Sakarat and Ghamarat, and to identify their causes, elimination, or mitigation is through divine revelation.
- Near-death state
- Religious experience
- Sakarat and Ghamarat
- Spiritual health
How to Cite
References
Akbarzadeh F, Dehbashi M, Shanazari J. A Comparative Study and Analysis of Death and Its Relationship with the Meaning of Life in Rumi and Heidegger. Comparative Theology. 2014;5(11):1-20. (Full Text in Persian)
Fatemi Amin N. Dar Emtedad-e Roshd. Tehran: Adineh;2021. (Full Text in Persian)
Javadpour G. An Assessment of the Nonmorality-Approach to Life after Death. Philosophia and Theologia: Dialogues in Criticism and Reflection. 2021;26(101):37-63. (Full Text in Persian)
Abdoljabari M, Karamkhani M, Fani M, Dolatshahi F. Euthanasia and Assisted Death. Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va salāmat. 2015;1(1):56-64. (Full Text in Persian)
Rahmani M, Zarvandi N, Abdoljabari M. The Jurisprudence Sentence for Euthanasia Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat. 2018;4(4):104-17. (Full Text in Persian)
Mohammad Rezaei M. Jostarhaei dar Kalam-e Jadid. Tehran: Samt; 2002. (Full Text in Persian)
Shirvani A. Theoretical principles of religious experiencel: A comparative and critical study of the views of Ibn Arabi and Rudolf Otto. Qom: Boostan-e Ketab-e Qom; 2002. (Full Text in Persian)
Yusofian H. New theology. Qom: Samt; 2010. (Full Text in Persian)
Shirvani A. Din-e Erfani va Erfan-e Dini. Qom: Dar al-Fekr; 1992. (Full Text in Persian)
Fatemi Amin N, Soleimani S. The Religious Experience of Fear of Death and its Developmental Effects on Spiritual Health. Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat. 2024;10(2):93-105. (Full Text in Persian)
Majlesi MB. Bihar al-Anwar. Beirut: Dar al-Maktab al-Islamiyeh; 1986. (Full Text in Arabic)
The Holy Quran. Translated by: Hossein Ansarian. Tehran: Dar al-Quran al-Karim.
Makarem Shirazi N. Tafsir Nemooneh. Tehran: Dar al-Kotob al- Eslamyeh Publication; 2007. (Full Text in Persian)
Motahari M. Majmooeh Asar. Tehran: Sadra; 2004. (Full Text in Persian)
Al-Arusi Al-Havizi A. Tafsir Noor al-Saghlain. Qom: Ismaeilian; 1994. (Full Text in Persian)
Sharif al-Radi, Nahj al-balagha. Editor. Qom: Feyz al-Islam. (Full Text in Persian)
Tamimi Amadi AM. Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim. Eramoui, MJ, editor. 5 ed. Tehran: University of Tehran Press; 1994. (Full Text in Persian)
Makarem Shirazi N. Payam-e Quran.Tehran:Dar al-Kotob al-Islamiyah; 2002. (Full Text in Persian)
Javadi-Amoli A. Tafsire Mozooei Quran Karim. Qom: Asra. (Full Text in Persian)
Sobhani J. Manshoor-e Javid. Qom: Imam Sadig (PBUH); 2009. (Full Text in Persian)
Haqi Brosway I. Tafsīr-e rūḥ al-bayān. Beirut: Dar al-Fekr. (Full Text in Arabic)
Rababni Mianji H. Maad az Didgah-e Quran, Hadith va Aghl: Moalef; 1994. (Full Text in Persian)
Hoseini Tehrani MH. Maad-shenasi. Mashhad: Noor-e Malakoot Quran; 1995.
Koleini MY. al-Kaafi, Corrected by: Ali Akbar Ghaffari and Mohammad Akhondi. Tehran: Dar-al-kotob Al-Islamiyah; 1986. (Full Text in Persian)
Khomeini R. Maad az Didgah-e Imam Khomeini. Tehran: Moasseseh Tanzim va Nashr-e Asar-e Imam Khomei. (Full Text in Persian)
Noori H. Mostadrek al-Wasail. Qom: al-Albayt; 1987. (Full Text in Persian)
Tabatabai SMH. Tafsir-e al-Mizan, translated by Mousavi Hamedani Qom: Islamic Publications Office (affiliated with the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom); 1995. (Full Text in Persian)
Vahedian A, Azimi, Akrami F, Hajiesmaeili MR, Abbasi M, Safaiepour L, et al. Spiritual Health Concept in Iranian Society: Evolutionary Concept Analysis and Narrative Review. Journal of Medical Ethics. 2016;10(35):77-115. (Full Text in Persian)
Atashzadeh-Shoorideh F, Karamkhani M, Shokri-Khubestani M, Fani M, Abdoljabbari M. Searching the concept of spiritual well-being and the indices of healthy individuals in different religions and creeds. Journal of Pizhuhish dar din va salamat. 2016;2(4):63-71. (Full Text in Persian)
Kafami I. Al-Balad Al-Amin and Al-Dara Al-Hussein. 1 ed. Beirut: al-Alami Publishing House; 1997. (Full Text in Arabic)
Tousi M. Misbah al-Mutahjad and Selah al-Mutabbad. 1 ed. Beirut: Shia Fiqh Foundation; 1990. (Full Text in Arabic)
Tousi M. Tahdhib al-Ahkam. 4 ed. Tehran: Dar al-Kuttub al-Islamiyya; 1986. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Babawayh M. Al-Amali (Lel-Sadouq). 6 ed. Tehran: Kitabchi; 1997. (Full Text in Persian)
Tousi M. al-Amali (Lel-Tousi). 1 ed. Qom: Dar al-Taqwa; 1993. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Babawayh M. Man la Yahzaro al-Faghih. 2 ed. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Qom Seminary Teachers' Association; 1992. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Babawayh M. Savabo al-A'mal va Eghabo al-Amal. Qom: Dar al-Sharif al-Radi 1985. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Babawayh M. Fazael Ashhor al-salasah. Qom: Davari; 1976. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Babawayh M. Fadhail al-Shi'a. 1 ed. Tehran: al-Alemi. (Full Text in Persian)
Ibn Qolwayh J. Kamil al-Ziyarat. 1 ed. Najaf Ashraf: Dar al-Mortazawiyya; 1937. (Full Text in Arabic)
Naraqi A. Jame' al-Saadat. Beirut: Scientific Institute of Press; 2004. (Full Text in Arabic)
- Abstract Viewed: 150 times
- pdf (فارسی) Downloaded: 53 times