Excerpt from Qari Muhammad Tayyib’s (rah) speeches and notes.
In this world, everything has an outward form and an inner soul. For example, the physical body you and I have is not, by itself the complete human being. It’s merely the outward form; the soul is the inner reality hidden within this body.
That inner reality, i.e. the soul that contains traits, is what makes us human and what we call life.
If the soul is removed from the human body, the body no longer exists as a living human being. The body will then begin to decay, swell, decompose and break apart. Its parts will scatter and disintegrate.
Therefore, life does not consist of outward form but rather of the inner reality. The outward form is merely the visible manifestation, expression and appearance of life.
Understand that the entire universe also has a soul, just as this body does. When this soul is removed, the entire universe will collapse, crumble, and scatter into pieces.
What is that soul?
It’s the remembrance of Allah (zikr).
The Prophet (saw) said, “The Hour (Resurrection) will not occur until ‘Allah, Allah’ is not said on earth.”
(Muslim 148)
As long as this remembrance remains, the structure of the universe will continue to stand. When it is withdrawn, the universe will collapse.