Those Who Will Not Remain in Hell Forever
(1) Definition: Those who will enter Hell and be brought forth at a later time are the monotheists who did not associate anything with Allah (swt) but they committed many sins that far outweigh their good deeds. They will enter Hell for a period known only to Allah (swt), then they will be brought forth through the intercession of those who intercede, and Allah (swt) will bring forth, through His Mercy, people who never did any good at all.
(2) The Sins for which Allah (swt) has promised Hell -
Here we will mention some of the sins which the Qur'an and Hadeeth state will earn the punishment of Hell:
(i) Following groups and sects that go against the Sunnah
Abu Dawood, ad-Daarami, Ahmad, al-Haakim and others narrate that Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan said:
"The Messenger of Allah (swt) stood up among us and said: "There were some among the People of the Book before you who divided into seventy-two sects. This nation will divide into seventy-three sects, seventy-two of whom will be in Hellfire, and only one in Paradise. (This group) is al-Jamaa'ah"
This is a sahih hadith. After mentioning its various asaanid (chain of narrator), al-Haakim remarked, "These asaanid prove that this hadith is sahih". Adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said, "It is a mashhoor sahih hadith al-Shatibee said in al-I'tisaam that it is sahih. Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani listed its asaanid and stated that it is without a doubt sahih. (See Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Saheehah, hadith no. 204)
Siddeeq Hasan Khan suggested that the extra wording in the hadith, "all of them are doomed except one" or "seventy two are in the Fire", was a da'eef addition. He transmitted this opinion from his Shaykh, ash-Shawkaani, who narrated it from Ibn al-Wazeer and Ibn Hazm before him. He approved the opinion of one who said, "This addition is one of the fabrications of the atheists because it puts people off Islaam and scares them away from embracing it." (Yaqadhaat ul al-I'tibaar, p.206)
Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani refuted the opinion that this addition is da'eef on two counts:
(a) Scholarly critical examination of the hadith indicates that this addition is Sahih so the opinion that it is da'eef carries no weight.
(b) Those who say that it is sahih are greater in number and more knowledgeable than Ibn Hazm, who is well-known among the scholars for being extremely strict in his criticism. His opinion should not be taken as evidence if he is the only one who says so, even if there is no conflict, so how can it be taken as evidence when it differs from everyone else's view?
Ibn al-Wazeer rejects the hadith on the grounds of its meaning rather than its isnaad. Siddeeq Hasan Khan spoke on this in Yaqadhaat uli al-I'tibaar explaining that the indication of this addition is that those of this ummah who will enter Paradise are few in number, whereas well-proven Sahih texts indicate that those of this ummah who will enter Paradise are very many, so many that they will be half the population of Paradise:
This may be reconciled in the following ways:
a) Dividing the ummah into seventy-three sects does not mean that most of this ummah will be in Hell, because most of its ummah are `awaam ("rank and file") who are not counted among those sects. Those who deviated and established rules that contradict the Sunnah are few in number when compared to those who avoided falling into that trap.
(b) Not everyone who differs from Ahl as-Sunnah is SOME issue is counted as contradicting the Sunnah. What is meant is those people who adopted rules that made them a separate, independent group and caused them to abandon many texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah, like the Khawaarij, the Mu'tazilah and Rawaafidh.
As for those who adopt the Qur'an and Sunnah and do not deviate from them, if they differ in some matter it does not mean that they are counted as one of the (doomed) sects.
(c) This addition indicates that all other sects will enter Hell, but that does not necessarily mean that they will abide therein forever.
It is well known that some of these sects are kuffar and will abide eternally in Hell, like the extreme Baatinis who make a show of faith whilst concealing kufr in their hearts, and the Ismaa'ilis, Druze, Nusayris and so on.
There are others who differ from Ahl as-Sunnah in some serious issues, but that does not mean they are kuffaar. They have no definite guarantee of entering Paradise. Allah (swt) may forgive them or punish them as He wills. They made do some righteous deeds that will save them from Hell, or they may be saved by the intercession of those who intercede, or they may enter Hell and remain there for as long as Allah (swt) wills, then be brought forth through the intercession of those who intercede and the Mercy of the Most Merciful.
(ii) Refusing to Migrate for the Sake of Allah
Muslims are not permitted to remain in Daar al-Kufr if there are Muslim countries to which they could migrate (NB: or if it becomes waajib on them to make hijrah) especially when staying in Daar al-Kufr exposes them to trials and temptations. Allah (swt) will not accept any excuse from those who refused to migrate:
"When the angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what [plight] were you?" They reply, "Weak and oppressed were we in the earth". They [the angels] say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away from evil?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil refuge [or destination]! Except those who are really weak and oppressed - men, women and children, who have no means in their power, nor [a guide post] to direct their way". (4:97-98)
Allah (swt) will not excuse any of them (NB: upon whom hijrah was OBLIGATORY) except those weak and oppressed person who had no means of migrating and could find no way of moving to Islaamic lands.
(iii) Judging Unjustly
Allah (swt) revealed the Shari'ah to establish justice among mankind, and He commanded His slaves to be Just:
"Verily Allah commands the justice [and] the doing of good.." (16:90)
He has made it obligatory for rulers and judges to be just and never to be unfair:
"Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between man and man, that you judge with justice". (4:58)
Allah (swt) threatens Hell to those who do not judge with justice. Buraydah ibn al-Husayb narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
"There are three types of judges: one will be in Paradise and the other two in Hell. The one who will be in Paradise is the one who knows the truth and judges according to it. As for the one who knows the truth but is unjust in his judgement, he will be in Hell, as will the one who judges between people without understanding or knowledge". (Abu Dawood - Jaami' al-Usool, 10/168)
(iv) Lying about [falsely attributing words to] the Messenger of Allah (saw)
Ibn al-Ithir included in his famous book, Jaami' al-Usool a chapter in which he quoted many hadith that warn against lying about the Prophet (saw). These include the report by al-Bukhaari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib who said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said to me: "Do not lie about me (or falsely attribute anything to me) for whoever lies about me will enter Hell".
al-Bukhaari reported that Salaman ibn al-Akwa' said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: "Whoever attributes to me words that I did not say, let him take his place in Hell".
al-Bukhaari and Abu Dawood reported that 'Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr narrated from his father, az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwaam: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: "Whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell".
al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said "Lying about me is not like lying about anybody else. Whoever lies about me, let him take his place in Hell". (Jaami al-Usool, 10/211)
(v) Pride
One of the major sins, al-Kabaa'ir, is pride. Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said that Allah (swt) said, "Pride is My cloak and greatness is My robe. Whoever competes with Me in respect of either of them, I shall admit him to Hellfire". (according to another report, "I will make him taste Hellfire") - Muslim.
Ibn Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "No one who has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will enter Paradise". A man said, "But what if a man likes his clothes and shoes to look good?" He said, "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride is rejecting the truth and looking down on people". (Muslim).
(vi) Killing a person for no legitimate reason
Allah says: "If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein [forever] and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful Penalty is prepared for him". (4:93)
It is not permitted for a Muslim to kill another except in three cases, as explained in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud (ra) who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "It is not permitted to shed the blood of any Muslim person who testifies that there is no god but Allah (swt) and that I am His Prophet, except in three cases: a soul for a soul (i.e in the case of murder), the married man who commits adultery, and the one who forsakes his religion and abandons the jamaa'ah". (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 2/355)
al-Bukhaari narrates from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "The believer has a chance so long as he does not spill blood that it is forbidden to spill". Ibn Umar (ra) said, "One of the situations from which there is no escape for the one who falls into it is the shedding of blood for no legitimate reason". (Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ad-Daayaat, Baab Qawl Allah ta'ala wa man yaqtul mu'minan muta'ammidan, Fath ul-Baari, 12/187)
The Prophet (saw) warned the Muslims against fighting one another and stated that the killer and his victim will both be in Hell. Abu Bakrah said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "If two Muslims face one another with swords, both the slayer and the slain will be in Hell". I asked, or it was asked, "O Messenger of Allah (it is clear about) the slayer, but what about the slain?" He said, "He was trying hard to kill his counterpart". (Muslim, Kitaab al-Fitan, Baab idhaa tuwajaha al-Musliman bi sayfayhimaa 4/2213)
Hence the righteous slave of Allah (swt) refuses to fight his brother, for fear that he may be among the people of Hell, for the slayer will carry his own sins and those of his slain brother:
"Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Aadam. behold, they each presented a sacrifice [to Allah]: it was accepted from one but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay you". Said the former: "Allah does not accept the sacrifice of those who are righteous. If you do stretch your hand against me to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against you to slay you, for I fear Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. For me, I intend to let you draw on yourself my sin as well as yours, for you will be among the Companions [or dwellers] of the Fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong". (5:27-29)
(vii) Consuming Ribaa
One of the sins that will condemn a person to Hell is consuming ribaa. Allah (swt) says of those who indulge in this sin after they have come to know that He has forbidden it:
"..but those who repeat the offence (ribaa) are Companions (dwellers) of the Fire - they will abide therein [forever]" (2:275)
"O you who believe! Devour not [interest, ribaa] doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may [really] prosper. Fear the Fire, which is prepared for those who reject Faith". (3:130-131)
According to a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon, the Prophet (saw) counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that would doom the one who committed them to Hell. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:
"The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Avoid the seven sins that will condemn the one who commits them to Hell". They asked, "What are they, O Messenger of Allah (saw)?" He said, "Associating anything in worship with Allah (swt); magic and witchcraft; killing anyone whose killing Allah (swt) has forbidden, except in the course of justice; consuming ribaa; consuming the wealth of the orphan; running away from the battlefield; and slandering the reputation of innocent, chaste believing women".
(viii) Consuming people's wealth or property unjustly
As Allah says: "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities; but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good will. Nor kill [or destroy] yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you All-Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire, and easy is it for Allah" (4:29-30)
The one who consumes the wealth of people unjustly also consumes the property of orphans unjustly. Allah (swt) made specific mention of the property of orphans because of their weak position and the ease which their property may be consumed, and the particular ugliness of this sin:
"Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire! (4:10)
(ix) Those Who Make Images of Animate Beings
The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who make images and seek to imitate the creation of Allah (swt). al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrate that 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who make images". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/505)
Ibn 'Abbaas said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, "Every maker of images will be in the Fire, and for every image he made Allah (swt) will create for him a soul [i.e. so that the punishment will be multiplied accordingly] and Allah (swt) will punish him in Hell." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
'Aaishah reported that the Prophet (saw) said, concerning a pillow that had pictures on it, "The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: "Give life to that which you have created". (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
'Aaishah also reported that the Prophet (saw) said "Those who will be most severely punished are those who imitate the creation of Allah (swt)" (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh)
Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah says, "Allah (swt) said, "Who is a greater wrongdoer than the one who tries to create something like My creation? Let them create a grain or let them create a seed or a grain of barely" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
(x) Inclining to Those Who Do Wrong
One of the reasons why people will enter Hell is inclining towards and supporting those who do wrong, the enemies of Allah (swt);
"And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you, and you have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall you be helped". (11:113)
(xi) Women Who Are Dressed But Appear Naked, and Those Who Whip the Backs of People
Another type of person who will enter Hell is the corrupt woman who makes a display of herself and tempts men - perhaps this phenomenon has never been quite so widespread as it is now - and never obeys Allah (swt). Abu
Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "There are two types of people of Hell that I have never seen; people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people, and women who are dressed but appear naked, walking with an enticing gait, with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will never enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be discerned from such and such a distance". (Muslim, al-Bayhaqi, and Ahmad - Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Saheehah, 3/316, no. 1326)
Concerning those who have whips like the tails of cattle, al-Qurtubee said, "This type of whip can be seen among us in Morocco until now." Commenting on al-Qurtubee's remark, Siddeeq Hasan Khan said, "Indeed it can be seen in every time and place, and it is increasing day by day among the leaders. We seek refuge in Allah (swt) from all that Allah (swt) despises". (Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibaar p.113)
And I say: we still see such people in many places, striking the people. May they and their like perish.
(xii) Those Who Torture Living Beings
Muslim reports in his Saheeh from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
"I was shown Hell and I saw a woman of Banu Israa'eel who was being punished because of a cat that she had owned. She tied it up and did not feed it, or let it eat of the vermin of the earth, until it died of hunger." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/688)
If this is the case for one who tormented a cat, then how will it be for those who use all kinds of methods to torture human beings, especially when it is the righteous who are being tortured for their faith and their Islaam? May Allah curse those who torture the believers - be it in the lands of Chechnya, Kashmir, Maluku, Philippines, Palestine, or in the jails of the Muslim lands.
(xiii) Insincerity in Seeking Knowledge
al-Haafidh al-Mundhiri mentions many hadiths that warn the person who seeks knowledge for a cause other than the sake of Allah (swt). We will quote a few of them here. Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought only for the sake of Allah (swt) but seeks it purely for some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection". It was reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah, by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and by al-Haakim who said, "It is saheeh according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim".
Jaabir said, The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Do not seek knowledge in order to compete with the knowledgeable, or to win arguments with the ignorant, or to show off in gatherings. Whoever does any of that will be in Hell." It was reported by Ibn Maajah (ra), by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and al-Bayhaqi.
Ibn 'Umar (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge for a reason other than for the sake of Allah (swt), then let him take his place in Hell." It was reported by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah from Ibn 'Umar via Khaalid ibn Durayk who did not hear it directly from him; the men in their isnaads are thiqaah." (at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb by al-Mundhiri 1/91)
(xiv) Those Who Drink From Vessels of Gold and Silver
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said "The one who drinks from a vessel/utensil of god and silver is pouring the fire of Hell into his stomach". According to a report narrated by Muslim, the wording is "The one who eats and drinks from vessels of gold and silver.." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/462)
Hudhayfah (ra) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, "Do not wear silk or brocade, do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from such platters, for these belong to them [the kuffaar] in this world, and to you in the Hereafter" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
(xv) The One Who Cuts Down Trees that Offer Shade To People
'Abdullaah ibn Hubaysh (ra) said, The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Whoever cuts down shade trees, Allah (swt) will cast him head first into Hell". (Abu Dawud, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/125. Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani mentioned it in Saheeh al-Jaami' 5/431, hadith no. 6352 and ascribed it to Abu Dawud an ad-Diyaa, al-Mukhtarah.)
al-Bayhaqi reported, with a saheeh isnad from 'Aaishah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Those who cut down shade trees will be thrown on their heads in Hell." (al-Bayhaqi in Saheeh al-Jaami' 2/88, al-Albaani said it is saheeh)
(xvi) Those Who Commit Suicide
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever kills himself with iron (a sharp instrument) then his iron will be in his hand, and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever kills himself with poison, then he will be drinking that poison forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will be throwing himself down forever in the Fire of Hell". (at-Tawkheef min an-Naar, p. 148)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in Hell, and the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in Hell". (Saheeh al-Jaami' 5/114)
