The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 191
PT. 12 HŪD CH. 11 With reference to the word (abiding) used in the Quran in connection with Hell some eminent religious authorities think that it does mean "abiding forever". They however, hold that though wicked disbelievers will deserve to be kept in Hell forever, Hell itself will one day cease to exist through God's mercy, and when there is no Hell, there will naturally be no dwellers in it. Among the supporters of this view are Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim (Fath). Judaism denies Paradise to all non- Jews while Jews are regarded as almost free from the torture of Hell, for, according to Judaism, no Jew will remain in Hell for more than 11 months, whereas non-Jews will abide in it forever. According to Christians, both Heaven and Hell are eternal, although some of their sects hold the belief that Heaven will at last come to an end (Tafsir-e-Kabir). Islam, however, fundamentally differs from all these religions. The great leaders of Muslim religious thought in the past have generally believed and Hadrat Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, in our own age has particularly insisted that Heaven is eternal and everlasting, while Hell is temporary and of limited duration. The sayings of the Holy i. e. "There will certainly come Prophet support this view. For instance, Ahmad bin Hanbal quotes a saying of the Holy Prophet, as reported by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'As to the effect: ليأتين على جهنم يوم تصفق فيه ابوابها لیس فيه احد و ذلك بعد ما يلبثون فيها احقابا i. e. "There will come on Hell a day when its shutters will strike against each other and there will be none in it. That will happen after the inmates of Hell will have lived in it for centuries" (Musnad). Thus, according to this tradition, the word (abiding) used with regard to Hell only means "remaining for long centuries". The same view was held by Ibn Mas'ud and Abū Hurairah. According to Ibn Taimiyyah, 'Umar, Ibn 'Abbās, Anas and many commentators are of the same opinion. The saying of the Holy Prophet quoted above on the authority of 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, is also reported by Abu Hurairah, which fact adds to its weight and authenticity. In another tradition Ibn Mas'ud says: s upon Hell a time when its shutters 1399 will strike against each other," meaning that it will be untenanted. Jābir, Abū Sa'īd Khudrī and 'Abdullah bin 'Umar are also reported to have made a similar statement (Fath). Abū Sa'id Khudri quotes a long ḥadīth of the Holy Prophet which clearly shows that Hell is not eternal. According to this tradition the Holy Prophet is reported to have said that on the Day of Judgement God would give permission to different high- placed persons to intercede for sinners. At last common believers also will be given permission to intercede on their behalf. At first, they will intercede for those whom they know. Then, with God's permission, they will also intercede for other sinners who have some faith