Paradise and Hell

-------------------Al-Jannah wa An-Naar-------------------------
These reprehensible ideas which go against the muttawaatir sahih hadith, emerged while the Sahabah were sti
reports in his sahih from Yazeed al-Faqeer, who says: "I was infatuated with one of the ideas of the Khawaarij,
of us went out, intending to go for Hajj and then go out to fight the people. We came to Madinah, where we fo
'Abdullaah sitting by a pillar, narrated hadith to the people. When he mentioned al-Jahannamiyyoon, I said, "
Messenger of Allaah, what is this that you are narrating, when Allaah (swt) says: "And who You admit to the
cover with shame." [3:192] and "....everytime they wish to get away therefrom, they will be put bac
thereto.." [32:20] So what is it that you are saying?" He said, "Have you read the Qur'aan?" I said, "Yes." He
heard about the [exalted] position of Muhammad [i.e. the position to which Allaah swt would raise him]
"That is the honoured position of Muhammad by which Allaah (swt) will bring out whosoever He wishes to bring
described as-Siraat [the bridge over Hell] and the passing of the people over it, then said, "I am afraid that I m
remembered exactly what he said. But he said that people would be brought out of Hell after entering it. He m
would come out looking like the wood of the ebony tree; they would enter one of the rivers of paradise and bat
would come out looking [white] like sheets of paper". We turned back and said, "Woe to you! Do you think this
lies about the Messenger of Allaah (saw)? We turned back [from the views of the Khawaarij] and by Allaah (sw
abandoned this group except for one man". [Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab adna Ahl al-Jannah Manzilat
The Khawaarij and Mu'tazilah went ot extremes with their claim that people guilty of major sins [al-Kabaair] w
out of Hell, and that the intercession of those who interceded would be of no avail for them. The Murji'ah went
extreme by stating that no-one who was guilty of major sins would necessarily enter Hell, and believing that al
would enter Paradise without being punished at all. Both groups are in conflict with the well-known muttawaati
the consensus of the Salaf and Imaams of this ummah. Allaah (swt) has guided Ahl as-Sunnah walmatter
where others have erred, by His Will. They [Ahl as-Sunnah] believe that hose who are guilty of major s
the will of Allaah (swt); if He wills, He will forgive them, out of mercy, and If He wills, He will punish them for H
them to Paradise by His Mercy.
"Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives anything else, to whom
pleases." (4:48)
"Say: O My Slaves who have transgressed against themselves [by committing evil deeds and sins]!
the Mercy of Allaah, verily Allaah forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-forgiving, All-Merciful". (39:53)
Shirk will not be forgiven, but any other sin is subject to the Will of Allaah. The one who repents will be as if he
aayaat that the Khawaarij use to prove that intercession will not be accepted actually refers to the kinds of inte
in by the mushrikeen. They think that interceding with Allaah is like interceding with rulers or authorities on ea
person may intercede with someone (an authority figure) without that person's permission and even if the one
displeased with the one on whose half intercession is made. This is not so in the case of Allaah (swt) may He b
texts reject this type of intercession, for example:
"Then guard yourselves against A Day when one soul shall not avail another, nor shall intercession
him nor will compensation be taken from him nor shall anyone be helped [from outside]" (2:48)
"Then will no intercession of [any] intercessors profit them". (74:48)
"..No intimate friend, nor intercessor will the wrongdoers have, who could be listened to".
Several texts explain that no-one can intercede with Allaah except with His permission and unless He is please
intercessor and the one for whom he seeks to intercede:
"Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission?" (2:255)
"and they cannot interceded except for him with whom He is pleased" (21:28)
"And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allaa
for whom He wills and pleases". (53:26).