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Heaven and Hell

By F. Kamal

What do we know about Heaven and Hell?

While there is much written about Heaven and Hell, one should also always remember that humans’ ability to comprehend is limited.

[In Paradise] will be bounties that the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and no human heart has ever perceived them. Sahih Muslim,Book 040, Number 6783

Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them as a reward for their (good) deeds. Quran 32:17

However, what can be said with certainty is that Heaven is a wonderful place and that Hell is a place to be greatly avoided. One is a place of reward, the other of punishment. It is through Heaven and Hell that we will be called to account for the decisions we have made, decisions that establish who we are.

Do Heaven and Hell have different levels? Will everyone be sent immediately to either Heaven or Hell?

The notions of reward and punishment are far more refined than commonly presented. For example, there are several degrees (or levels) of Heaven and Hell- each degree/level widely separated from the other.

For example, “Firdaus” stands high in the levels of Heaven and the hypocrites lie in the lowest levels of Hell.

The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the fire Quran 4:145

Instead of a stark black and white backdrop, Heaven and Hell are far more layered, having a rich, massively expansive spectrum of varying gray scales. In short, there are nuanced levels of reward and punishment.

There is even a place in between Heaven and Hell! (Between the “Garden” and the “Fire” mentioned below in Surah Al-A’raf of the Quran).

There will be a screen erected between them, and on high places (in between the two groups) there will be men whose (scales of deeds had balanced perfectly in between good and evil). They’ll clearly recognize (both the people of Paradise and Hell) by their features. (The people in the high places) will call out to the companions of the Garden, “Peace be upon you,” and even though they haven’t entered into it yet, they’ll feel confident of doing so. When they turn and gaze upon the companions of the Fire, they’ll cry out, “Our Lord! Don’t send us among the wrongdoers!”

There are also some interesting nuances about Hell. For example, Hell may be textured by a dimension of time for some people. There are individuals who will be sent to Hell–but not forever. After a time willed by God, these particular individuals (the number of which is known to God) may be removed from Hell.

…till when God intends mercy on whomever He likes amongst the people of Hell, He will order the angels to take out of Hell… At that time they will come out of the Fire as mere skeletons. The Water of Life will be poured on them and as a result they will grow like the seeds growing on the bank of flowing water. Sahih Bukhari, 1.770

Will everyone be judged solely by what they did on Earth in determining whether they go to Heaven or Hell?

Not everyone will be judged solely by what they did on Earth, although a great many people will be. However, there are certain cases that are different. Take the case of some children. What if they die when they are very young? How much evidence exists to determine their true nature and where they belong? How about individuals who were not adequately warned or did not live in a country or time when knowledge of Islam was really there?

Some peoples’ fates will actually be determined by God after their deaths. Their nature will yield more evidence after their deaths as God brings it forth.

Anas said: the Messenger of God said: “Four (kinds of people) will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection: the infant, the insane, the one who died during the Fatrah (the period between two prophets) and the very old man. All of them will speak in their own defense. Then the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, will say to a neck of Hell, ‘Come forth!’ and He will say to them, ‘I used to send messengers to My servants from amongst themselves. Now I am the Messenger of Myself to you. Enter this (i.e., the Fire).’ Those who are decreed to be among the doomed will say, ‘O Lord, how could we enter it when we are trying to escape it?’ And those who are decreed to be among the blessed will rush to enter it. And God will say: ‘You would have been more disobedient towards My Messengers.’ So those will enter Paradise and those will enter Hell.” Narrated by Abu Ya’laa, 4224. 1

1 Also see Tafsir ibn Kathir surah 17 “The issue of small children who die” for something similar that also includes a deaf man in one of the classes that will face similar judgment, reported from Al-Aswad bin Sari’.

God will test some people after their deaths to determine their fate. Instead of using a messenger to communicate the test to them during their lifetime, He will Himself be the Messenger and test them after their deaths. Those who pass His test will go to Heaven and those who fail will go to Hell.

And God is just.

(Excerpt from book "Easily Understand Islam")

Click to read sample chapters from the book below

Table of Contents

beginning

Section I: The Basics

What Islam is Not

What Is Islam?

Section II: General Articles

Why is there Evil and Suffering?

Why I Believe in God — A Muslim Speaks

The Quran, Modern Science, and More