Hell and Paradise

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا سَوۡفَ نُصۡلِيهِمۡ نَارٗا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتۡ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلۡنَٰهُمۡ جُلُودًا غَيۡرَهَا لِيَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمٗا ٥٦ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ سَنُدۡخِلُهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۖ لَّهُمۡ فِيهَآ أَزۡوَٰجٞ مُّطَهَّرَةٞۖ وَنُدۡخِلُهُمۡ ظِلّٗا ظَلِيلًا ٥٧

Surely those who disbelieved in Our Ayat, We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All Wise. But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) abiding therein forever. Therein they shall have Azwajun Mutahharatun and We shall admit them to shades wide and ever deepening.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verses 56-57

• Ayat refers to proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations

وَٱلۡوَزۡنُ يَوۡمَئِذٍ ٱلۡحَقُّۚ فَمَن ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٨ وَمَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا يَظۡلِمُونَ ٩

And the weighing on that Day (Day of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing). So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise). And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their own selves (by entering Hell) because they denied and rejected Our Ayat.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verses 8-9

• Man’s deeds will be classified into positive and negative categories. The positive category will consist of knowing the truth, believing in it, acting upon it and striving to make it prevail. It is such acts alone which will have weight in the Hereafter. Conversely, whenever someone follows and goes after lusts or blindly follows other human or Satan, his acts will be reckoned as ‘negative’. Such acts will not only be of no value at all, but will also have the effect of reducing total weight of man’s positive acts.
• As for what will be placed in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection, it has been said that:

1. The deeds will be weighed and Allah shall give them weight (as a physical object)
2. The Book of Records that contains the deeds will be weighed
3. The person who performed the deed will be weighed

It is also possible to combine all three, and Allah knows best

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَآ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٤٢ وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلّٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَقَالُواْ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي هَدَىٰنَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهۡتَدِيَ لَوۡلَآ أَنۡ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُۖ لَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ وَنُودُوٓاْ أَن تِلۡكُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ٤٣

But those who believed and worked righteousness – We tax not any person beyond his scope – such are the dwellers of Paradise. They will abide therein forever. And We shall remove from their breast any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world); rivers flowing under them, and they will say: ‘All praise and thanks are Allah’s, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth’. And it will be cried out to them: ‘This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do’.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verses 42-43

• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Each of the people of Paradise will see his seat in the Fire and he will say, “Had not Allah guided me!” And this will cause him to be grateful. Each of the people of the Fire will see his seat in Paradise, and he will say, “Might that Allah had guided me!” So it will be a cause of anguish for him’
• ‘…for what you used to do’ – Allah shall not impress His bounty upon the righteous; He will rather emphasize that Paradise is granted to them by way of compensation for their righteous conduct, that it is a fruit of their hard labour, that it is not like the crumbs of charity but a fair recompense for their striving. The subtlety involved here is further brought out by the fact that the above recompense will not be made by Allah. It will rather be just announced to them.
• ‘…never could we have found guidance…’ – What is said about the Hereafter may be discerned in the attitude of the righteous in the world itself. The wicked and the arrogant ones take great pride in their worldly attainments and ascribe them to their own efforts. Conversely, the righteous look upon all the bounties which they receive as favours from Allah. The more they are lavished with worldly favours, the humbler and more generous they become. Moreover, they do not suffer from the illusion that their righteousness will certainly earn them their salvation. On the contrary, they consistently repent over their lapses and earnestly turn to Allah in the hope that He will pardon them out of His Grace and Mercy. They are always fearful of Allah’s reckoning lest their evil deeds are found to outweigh their good deeds. According to a tradition the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Know well that none will be able to enter Paradise by dint of his good deeds’ When asked if that would apply to him as well, he replied: ‘Yes, in my case as well; unless Allah covers me with His mercy and favour’

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقّٗا فَهَلۡ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمۡ حَقّٗاۖ قَالُواْ نَعَمۡۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن لَّعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٤٤ ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبۡغُونَهَا عِوَجٗا وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ كَٰفِرُونَ ٤٥

And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): ‘We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true what your Lord promised (warned)?’ They shall say, ‘Yes’. Then a carrier will proclaim between them: ‘The Curse of Allah is on the Zalimun (polytheist and wrong-doers)’. Those who hindered (men) from the path of Allah, and would seek to make it crooked, and they were disbelievers in the Hereafter.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verses 44-45

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٞ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٞ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٞ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِهَآۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَٰفِلُونَ ١٧٩

And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 179

• This does not mean that Allah has created some people for the specific purpose of fuelling Hell. What it does mean that even though Allah has bestowed upon men faculties of observation, hearing and reasoning, some people do not use them properly. Thus, because of their own failings, they end up in Hell. The words employed to give expression to the idea are the ones which reflect deep grief and sorrow

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا وَرَضُواْ بِٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱطۡمَأَنُّواْ بِهَا وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا غَٰفِلُونَ ٧ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ ٨ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ يَهۡدِيهِمۡ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَٰنِهِمۡۖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٩

Verily, those who hope not for their Meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present world, and those who are heedless of Our Ayat (signs, evidences). Those, their abode will be Fire, because of what they used to earn. Verily, those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, their Lord will guide them through their Faith; under them will flow rivers in the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).

Surah 10 Yunus Verse 7-9

• The promise is that Allah will guide them because of their faith, or it may mean through their faith. As to the first interpretation, the meaning is that Allah will guide them on the Day of Resurrection to the Straight Path until they pass into Paradise because of their faith in this world. The other meaning is that their faith will assist them on the Day of Resurrection (by the Will of Allah)
• The verse calls for serious reflection. The sequence of ideas presented here is also quite significant because answers have been systematically provided to a number of highly relevant basic questions, as:

Q: Why will the righteous enter Paradise?

A: Because they have followed the Straight Path in their worldly life

Q: How were the righteous able to know the Straight Path?

A: Allah guided them to it as a reward

Q: Why did Allah reward them?

A: The reward is in consideration for a faith that became the moving spirit of a believer’s character and personality. However, the wholesome results as above can only be produced by a faith which deeply permeates man’s entire being, shaping his mental outlook, even becoming his instinct; a faith which is fully reflected in his character, conduct and outlook on life

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَأَخۡبَتُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٢٣ ۞مَثَلُ ٱلۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ كَٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡأَصَمِّ وَٱلۡبَصِيرِ وَٱلسَّمِيعِۚ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًاۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٤

Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and humble themselves (in repentance and obedience) before their Lord, they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever. The likeness of the two parties (believer and disbeliever) is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal when compared? Will you not then take heed?

Surah 11 Hud Verses 23-24

• Narrated Safwan bin Muhriz: While Ibn Umar was performing the Tawaf (around the Kabah), a man came up to him and said, “O Abu Abdur Rahman!” Or said, “O Ibn Umar! Did you hear anything from the Prophet (pbuh) about An-Najwa?” Ibn Umar said “I heard the Prophet (pbuh) saying: ‘The believer will be brought near his Lord’ (Hisham, a sub-narrator said, reporting the Prophets word) ‘The believer will come near (his Lord) till his Lord covers him with His screen and makes him confess his sins. (Allah will ask him) “Do you know (that you did) such and such sins?” He will say twice “Yes, I know I did commit those sins”, Then Allah will say, “I did screen your sins in the world and I forgive them for you today” Then the record of his good deeds will be folded up (i.e., the record of his good deeds will be given to him). As for the others or the disbelievers, it will be announced publicly before the witnesses: “These are ones who lied against their Lord”’

[An-Najwa: the private talk between Allah and His slave on the Day of Resurrection. It also means, a secret counsel or conference or consultation]

۞فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِۖ فَسَوۡفَ يَلۡقَوۡنَ غَيًّا ٥٩

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا ٦٠

Then there has succeeded them posterity who have given up As-Salat and have followed lusts. So, they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in aught.

Surah 19 Maryam Verse 59-60

• Posterity – refers to later generations (after the Prophets and those who followed them)
• ‘given up As-Salat’ – by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times or by not offering them at all.
• Quran expounds here a general rule: that the corruption in a nation which originally followed a Prophet began the moment that nation abandoned Prayer.
• Repentance – It wipes away that which was before it. In a Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘The one who repents from sin is like he who has no sin’
• Lusts – like:

1. Drinking alcoholic drinks
2. Giving false witnesses
3. Eating unlawful things
4. Taking intoxicants
5. Committing crimes
6. Evil wicked deeds like illegal sexual acts, murdering, taking others right unlawfully, robbing, stealing, betraying
7. Backbiting, slander, telling lies.

إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَأۡتِ رَبَّهُۥ مُجۡرِمٗا فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحۡيَىٰ ٧٤ وَمَن يَأۡتِهِۦ مُؤۡمِنٗا قَدۡ عَمِلَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلدَّرَجَٰتُ ٱلۡعُلَىٰ ٧٥ جَنَّٰتُ عَدۡنٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ ٧٦

Verily, whoever comes to his Lord as a Mujrim, then surely, for him is Hell, wherein he will neither die nor live. But whoever comes to Him (Allah) as a believer and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter). And Paradise, under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, and such is the reward of those who purify themselves.

Surah 20 Ta-Ha Verses 74-76

• And Paradise – Gardens established as a residence
• ‘purify themselves’ – one who purifies himself from dirt, filth and associating partners with Allah. This is the person who worships Allah alone, without ascribing partners to Him, and he follows the Messengers in the good they came with all that they claim

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ غُرَفٗا تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ نِعۡمَ أَجۡرُ ٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ ٥٨ ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ٥٩

And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to them We shall surely give lofty dwellings in Paradise, underneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever. Excellent is the reward for the workers; Those who are patient, and put their trust in their Lord.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verses 58-59

• ‘lofty dwellings’ – It is possible that someone remains deprived of all worldly bounties on account of having followed the course of faith and righteousness and, thus, apparently has had an unsuccessful worldly life. This, however, should not be something about which to worry for this person will certainly be fully compensated for all losses he has suffered

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَبۡشِرُواْ بِٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ ٣٠ نَحۡنُ أَوۡلِيَآؤُكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَا تَشۡتَهِيٓ أَنفُسُكُمۡ وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ٣١ نُزُلٗا مِّنۡ غَفُورٖ رَّحِيمٖ ٣٢

Verily, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allah (alone)’, and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful’.

Surah 41 Fussilat Verse 30-32

• ‘firm’ – The Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions defined steadfastness in the faith mentioned in this verse as follows:

• Narrated Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Many took Allah as their Lord. However, most of them turned later into unbelievers. A steadfast believer is he who adheres to monotheism until his last breadth’
• According to Abu Bakr, faith consists in not taking anyone as partner to Allah and in not turning to anyone, considering him to be the Lord
• Once while reciting this verse from the pulpit, Umar observed: “By Allah! The steadfast are those who firmly adhere to obeying Allah. They do not run from one direction to the other in the manner of foxes”
• Uthman defined the faithful as those who work exclusively for Allah
• According to Ali, the verse speaks of those who sincerely discharge the obligations prescribed by Allah

• ‘We have been your friends…’ – meaning, “We have been your friends i.e., your close companions in this world, protecting you and helping you by the command of Allah, and we will be with you in the Hereafter, keeping you from feeling lonely in your graves and when the trumpet is blown; we will reassure you on the Day of Resurrection and we will take you across the Sirat and bring you to the Gardens of Delight”. It becomes clear from the context of the verse that just as devils and evil ones collude with wicked people, in the same way the angels stand by the side of those in true faith

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١٣ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤

Verily, those who say: ‘Our lord is (only) Allah’, and there after stand firm, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding (therein) forever – a reward for what they used to do.

Surah 46 Al-Ahqaf Verses 13-14

• ‘no fear’ – concerning their future; ‘nor grieve’ – over what they have left behind

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدۡخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوٗى لَّهُمۡ ١٢

Certainly, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise); while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.

Surah 47 Muhammad Verse 12

• ‘eat as cattle’ – which means the disbelievers enjoy their worldly life and eat in it like animals, munching and gnawing (with greed). They have no concern other than that. It has been confirmed in the Sahih, that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘A believer eats with one intestine, and a disbeliever eats with seven intestines’

وَأُزۡلِفَتِ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ غَيۡرَ بَعِيدٍ ٣١ هَٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٖ ٣٢ مَّنۡ خَشِيَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلۡبٖ مُّنِيبٍ ٣٣

And Paradise will be brought near to the Muttaqun not far off. (It will be said): ‘this is what you were promised – (it is) for those oft-returning (to Allah) in sincere repentance, and those who preserve their covenant with Allah. Who feared the Most Gracious (Allah) in the Ghaib (unseen) and came with a heart turned in repentance’.

Surah 50 Qaf Verse 31-33

• ‘in the Ghaib’ – who feared Allah in secret when only Allah the Exalted and Most Honoured could see him. The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘And a man who remembered Allah the Exalted while alone, and his eyes become tearful’

إِنَّهَا لَإِحۡدَى ٱلۡكُبَرِ ٣٥ نَذِيرٗا لِّلۡبَشَرِ ٣٦ لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوۡ يَتَأَخَّرَ ٣٧ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ رَهِينَةٌ ٣٨ إِلَّآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٣٩ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ٤٠ عَنِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٤١ مَا سَلَكَكُمۡ فِي سَقَرَ ٤٢ قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ ٤٣ وَلَمۡ نَكُ نُطۡعِمُ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ ٤٤ وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ ٱلۡخَآئِضِينَ ٤٥ وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤٦ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰنَا ٱلۡيَقِينُ ٤٧ فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمۡ شَفَٰعَةُ ٱلشَّٰفِعِينَ ٤٨

Verily, it (Hell Fire) is but one of the greatest (signs). A warning to mankind. To any of you that chooses to go forward or to remain behind. Every person is a pledge for what he has earned, except those on the Right. In gardens (Paradise) they will ask one another, about Al-Mujrimun (disbelievers, criminals) (and they will say to them): ‘What has caused you to enter Hell?’ They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer Salat (prayers), Nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the needy); And we used to talk falsehood with vain talkers. And we used to deny the Day of Recompense. Until there came to us (death) that is certain’. So, no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them.

Surah 74 Al-Muddaththir Verse 35-48

• ‘go forward or to remain behind’ – meaning, for whoever wishes to accept the warning and be guided to the truth or hold back from accepting it, turn away from it and reject it
• ‘pledge’ – meaning, bound to his deed on the Day of Judgement
• ‘So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them’ – meaning, whoever has these characteristics, then the intercession of whoever tries to intercede for him will be of no benefit on the Day of Judgement. This is because intercession is only useful if the conditions for it are met. However, whoever comes before Allah as a disbeliever on the Day of Judgement, then he will get the Hell Fire and there is no way of avoiding it. He will abide in it forever

فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلطَّآمَّةُ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ ٣٤ يَوۡمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَا سَعَىٰ ٣٥ وَبُرِّزَتِ ٱلۡجَحِيمُ لِمَن يَرَىٰ ٣٦ فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ ٣٧ وَءَاثَرَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا ٣٨ فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ ٣٩ وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفۡسَ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ ٤٠ فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ ٤١

But when there comes the greatest catastrophe (Day of Recompense) – the Day when man shall remember what he strove for. And Hell-Fire shall be made apparent in full view for (every) one who sees. Then for him who transgressed all bounds; And preferred the life of this world. Verily, his abode will be Hell-Fire; But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.

Surah 79 An-Naziat Verses 34-41

• The Day of Judgement has been called the greatest catastrophe because it will overcome every matter, and will be frightful and horrifying
• ‘preferred’ – meaning, he gives it precedence over the matters of his religion and his Hereafter
• The verses succinctly lay down the criteria that will be applied on the Day of Judgement. One may revolt against Allah, transgressing His bounds as His servants, and be engrossed wholly in worldly pleasures, even if procured lawfully. The other option is that of piety, leading life with consciousness of Allah and an acute sense of accountability. A pious person refrains from base desires and illegitimate gains out of the fear of Allah. Every human being will be adjudged on the basis of his outlook on life. Rebels will be hurled into Hell for ever, whereas the pious will enjoy the eternal abode of Paradise

END OF CHAPTER