The genius of Soul is its ability to bring up abstract and spiritual concepts in simplified ways that can be easily consumed and used for discussion. Conversations like these can help foster maturity, critical thinking, and love for the deen (religion) for both teens and tweens alike.
Although many of the concepts or representations offered in Soul may not be in complete alignment with our Islamic tradition, the movie can still serve as a tool to discuss and reflect on topics like death, life’s purpose, community, and gratitude. Our inclination may be to run from the different entertainment sources that our youth are using nowadays. However, taking the time to analyze, assess, and reflect on entertainment allows us to model for our children (or mentees!) that we should not be passive consumers. Using Islamic tradition as our moral compass, the new fad, song, movie— or TikTok challenge, for that matter— will not be emulated or enjoyed because it is “in” or cool, but because we have critically thought it to be worthwhile.
In an attempt to jumpstart your discussions, we have written this Movie Guide, a 4-part series, in which we present some common themes, along with reflections and discussion questions. The series covers the following themes:
Theme 1: The Blessing of Knowing about the Afterlife
- Death is a conveyor belt that takes you to a bright light.
- Angels are bumbling bumpkins that “mess up the death count” or make mistakes
- Imaginative labels like “The Great Before” and “The Great Beyond”
- Detailed account of how our souls are taken from our bodies, the soul’s journey to the grave, and how we will be held accountable.
- The role of Angels. They never disobey Allah’s commands and do as they are ordained [66:6].
- The names Allah (SWT) has blessed us with in the Qur’an: The Day of Reckoning, Day of No Doubt, Day of Eternal Life, Day of Truth, and many more.
- The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Remember the destroyer of pleasures.” When asked what that was, he replied, “Death. Whenever one of Allah’s servants remembers this when he is wealthy, this world is constricted for him. Whenever he remembers it in hardship, it is expanded for him.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2307)
- We should not shy away from talking about death, as Ibn Umar reported: A man said, “Which of the believers is the wisest?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Those who remember death often and have best prepared for it with good deeds; those are the wisest.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah 4259)
- When we open up the conversation for our families to freely discuss their feelings about death and God’s description of the afterlife, we give ourselves the opportunity to mature and grow in wisdom in our daily actions.
Death is not the end. While Joe Gardener scrambles to escape his fate, death is depicted as the end of his journey. Contrary to this belief, we do not see death as an end, but the beginning.
- We understand that life on this Earth is a temporary home. It is referred to in the Qur’an as “hayat adunya” or “the lower life.” We know that there is an everlasting life that we should strive for.
- We cannot escape death, but as the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Prepare yourselves for death before it comes to you.” Allah (SWT) names The Last Day as Yawmun la Maradda Lah, or The Day Which No One Can Avert.
- As the Prophet (PBUH) teaches us, we must live in this life as a traveler (Bukhari: 6416), and focus on what’s important. We can encourage this shift in perspective with our children.
It was said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, does hating to meet Allah mean hating to meet death? For all of us hate death.”
He said, “No. Rather that is only at the moment of death. But if he is given the glad tidings of the mercy and forgiveness of Allah, he loves to meet Allah and Allah loves to meet him; and if he is given the tidings of the punishment of Allah, he hates to meet Allah and Allah hates to meet him.”
Bukhari: 6026
- What do you think about Soul’s depiction of the afterlife? How does it compare to our Islamic tradition?
- How do you feel about dying and death?
- How do you imagine the grave or the afterlife to be? What do you worry about most? What are you most looking forward to?
- Discuss how we can live in this life as a traveler. What are you doing to prepare for the true life to come?
In part 2 of this series, we will be discussing what it means to live in the present and make most of the journey.
