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We often wonder, "Where were we before we were born?"

In our tradition, the answer lies in Alam al-Arwah, the realm of souls.

It’s the place where our souls were first brought to life, and we testified to Allah's oneness.

This realm isn’t just a spiritual concept; it’s an unseen reality that still exists today, though it remains beyond our complete comprehension.

At certain moments, we even reconnect with it, especially in our sleep.

When we sleep, our souls partially leave our bodies and enter Alam al-Arwah.

This is why dreams sometimes feel otherworldly—our souls are touching a spiritual reality beyond this world's limitations.

Dreams and Soul Connections

One of the fascinating aspects of Alam al-Arwah is the possibility of our souls interacting with each other.

Scholars have said that when we sleep, our souls may meet with other souls, including those of loved ones who have passed away.

While not every dream of someone who has passed is an actual encounter, the possibility exists, especially when we dream of righteous figures.

It is empowering to realize we are so much more than our physical forms, that our souls are far more active than we imagine.

They travel between this world and the next, connecting with other souls in ways we might not fully understand.

Souls That Knew Each Other Before This Life

There’s a beautiful teaching from the Prophet ﷺ that explains how some souls knew each other before entering this world, and they still recognize one another today.

He said, “The souls are like recruited soldiers. Those that knew each other before this life are inclined toward one another and those that didn’t are repelled from one another.”

Many of us have experienced this—meeting someone for the first time and feeling an instant connection as if we’ve known them for years.

This isn’t random; our souls were likely familiar with one another in Alam al-Arwah.

On the other hand, when we feel an inexplicable aversion to someone, that, too, could be rooted in a prior connection from the world of souls.

In fact, throughout our lives, we often encounter the same people repeatedly, even though there are so many of us in the world.

This repetition isn’t just coincidence—it’s often tied to these deeper connections.

By being open and present in these moments, we allow ourselves to fulfill our own lives and contribute to their completion.

These relationships, like friendships, are part of our rizq (sustenance) from Allah.

Just as our provision is allocated according to our needs, so are the people we are meant to meet and build bonds with.

Understanding this helps us let go of relationships that no longer serve us while guiding us toward others, purely for the sake of Allah.

The Story of the Woman Who Made Everyone Laugh

A wonderful story shared by Aisha (RA) illustrates this point beautifully.

She tells us about a woman in Mecca who was famous for making all the women laugh.

Known for her humor and joyful spirit, she would gather the women of Mecca, bringing smiles to their faces.

Eventually, this woman embraced Islam and made the migration with the Prophet ﷺ and the early Muslims from Mecca to Medina.

When they arrived in Medina, the Prophet ﷺ paired each migrant from Mecca (the Muhajiroun) with a resident of Medina (the Ansar), to help them settle in their new homes.

Amazingly, the woman from Mecca, known for her humor, was paired with another woman in Medina, who was also famous for making people laugh.

The Prophet ﷺ, noticing this remarkable coincidence, commented, “The souls are like recruited soldiers.” 

He acknowledged that these two women had likely known each other in the realm of souls, and their bond carried over into this life.

They became close friends and remained close until the end of their lives.

The Bonds We Share in This Life

This story reminds us of the deeper connections we share with others.

Allah Himself facilitates these divinely appointed friendships.

In Surah Maryam, He says: “As for those who believe and do good, the Most Compassionate will ˹certainly˺ bless them with ˹genuine˺ love. (19:96).

This verse reassures us that Allah brings certain people into our lives for a reason.

Understanding Alam al-Arwah and the nature of our souls gives us a deeper perspective on our relationships in this life.

The friends we cherish, particularly those who remind us of Allah, might be companions from before this world, whom Allah has brought back into our lives.

And just as Allah connected us in this life, we pray He will reunite us in the next.