Will Resurrection Be Physical or Spiritual?
According to the verses of the Quran, the body that has disintegrated and turned to dust will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection by the command of God.
The proofs for physical resurrection are numerous. The closing verses of Surah Yaseen clearly point to this fact: “He questions Our Resurrection of him, but has forgotten his own creation. He has said, ‘Who will give life to the bones which have become ashes? Say: ‘He will quicken them who originated them the first time; He has knowledge of every creation.’” (Verses 78-79 of Surah Yaseen)
What seemed unbelievable to the unbelievers and made them oppose the resurrection was how we will be made alive again after we die and our dust disappears into the earth.
“They have said, ‘How can we be brought to life again after we have been lost in the earth?’ In fact, they have no faith in the Day of Judgment.” (Verse 10 of Surah As-Sajdah)
They wondered, “Does he (the Prophet) promise you that after you die and become dust and bones you will be brought back to life again?” (Verse 35 of Surah Al-Muminoon)
It seemed so unbelievable to them that they considered it a sign of insanity to mention such a thing. “The unbelievers say: ‘Shall we direct you to a man who will tell you that when you have been utterly torn into pieces you will be raised in a new creation?’ What, has he forged a lie about Allah, or is he mad!’ No, those who do not believe in the Everlasting Life are in the punishment and in far error.” (Verse 7-8 of Surah Saba)
Therefore, the arguments mentioned in the Quran about the resurrection are generally about the physical resurrection.
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In addition, the Quran frequently points out that on the Day of Resurrection, people will come out of the graves. (Verse 51 of Surah Yaseen and Verse 7 of Surah Al-Qamar)
This clearly points to the resurrection of the body.
And then there are the stories of Abraham (AS) and four birds, the story of Uzair who was made alive after 100 years and the story of the Bani Isra’iI man who was murdered. They all clearly highlight the physical resurrection.
There are also many descriptions of the spiritual and physical blessings given to people in paradise that show that the resurrection takes place in both the body and the soul.
Therefore, anyone who has the slightest knowledge of the Quranic culture and arguments will not deny physical resurrection. In other words, to deny the physical resurrection is to deny the resurrection in principle.
