________________
Philosophy and Religion
Art & Science of Meditation sends (their souls back to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who contemplate. - Qur'an 39:42
JUDAISM
The fruit of a righteous man is the tree of life, and the wise man acquires souls.
The Hebrew terms nephesh (literally "living being"), ruach (literally "wind"), neshama (literally "breath"), chaya (literally "life") and yechidah (literally "singularity") are used to describe the soul or spirit. In modern Judaism the soul is believed to be given by God to a person by his/her first breath, as mentioned in Genesis, "And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7. Judaism relates the quality of one's soul to one's performance of mitzvot and reaching higher levels of understanding, and thus closeness to God. Therefore Judaism embraces nahala and not Birthdayas a festive of remembrance, for only toward the end of life's struggles, tests and challenges human souls could be judged and credited for righteousness and holiness.
(70)
