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The question

What is the difference between life and spirit (soul)? And how can a human possess life without a spirit (soul), similar to a sperm or a plant?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The confusion regarding the distinction between types of life can be resolved as follows: the life of an animal is characterized by sensation and voluntary movement, whereas the life of a plant is characterized by growth and nourishment. Thus, hair has a life similar to that of a plant; it grows and is nourished, but it lacks sensation or voluntary movement. Therefore, it does not become impure upon the departure of life. As for the questioner’s statement, "a human may move, eat, and drink without a soul," it is incorrect, because a human’s voluntary movement, eating, and drinking in this world can only occur with the presence of the soul and its attachment to the body.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Where this answer came from
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Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
111803
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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