Question:
How many heavens and hells are there?
How do these levels differenciate?
And what do you need to do to get into each level?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to numbers, there is one Hell and one Paradise, but each of them has degrees and levels. Paradise is sometimes mentioned in the plural in the Sunnah, but this does not mean that there are several types of Paradise; rather this is indicative of its greatness and the various degrees and levels in it, or it is indicative of the greatness of the reward of the one who enters it, as it says in the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik that Umm al-Rubayyi€ ¦’² bint al-Bara€ ¦’² , who was the mother of Haarithah ibn Suraaqah, came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: O Prophet of Allaah, will you not tell me about Haarithah?€ ¦’´ € ¦’¶ who had been killed at the battle of Badr by a stray arrow. € ¦’³If he is in Paradise I will bear it with patience but if it is otherwise then I shall weep long and hard for him.€ ¦’´ He said: € ¦’³O Umm Haarithah, there are gardens in Paradise € ¦’¶ according to another report: many gardens € ¦’¶ and your son has attained the highest Firdaws.€ ¦’´
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2809.
Secondly:
The levels of Hell differ according to the extent of their inhabitants€ ¦’² kufr in this world. The hypocrites will be in the lowest level of Hell, as our Lord has told us (interpretation of the meaning):
€ ¦’³Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them€ ¦’´[al-Nisa€ ¦’² 4:145]
The least severe (in torment) of its levels € ¦’¶ from which we seek refuge with Allaah € ¦’¶ was mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the hadeeth reported by al-Nu€ ¦’²maan ibn Basheer who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³The least severely punished of the people of Hell will be a man who has two shoes and shoelaces of Fire € ¦’¶ according to another version: two live coals will be placed on the soles of his feet € ¦’¶ because of which his brains will boil as a pot boils. He will not think that anyone is being punished more severely than him, but he will be the one who is punished most lightly.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6562; Muslim, 212.
The person is named specifically in a report narrated by Muslim, where it says that this is Abu Taalib, the paternal uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), for whom Allaah will reduce the punishment because of the role he played in protecting Islam at the beginning.
Thirdly:
We know of no limit to the number of degrees and levels in Paradise. It was said that their number is equal to the number of verses in the Qur€ ¦’²aan, based on the hadeeth of € ¦’±Abd-Allaah ibn € ¦’±Amr, who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³It will be said to the companion of the Qur€ ¦’²aan: € ¦’±Recite and rise in status as you used to recite in the world, and your position will be at the last verse you recite.€ ¦’²’´ Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1646; al-Tirmidhi, 2914; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Al-Mundhiri said in al-Targheeb: al-Khattaabi said: It said in the report that the number of verses in the Qur€ ¦’²aan is the number of degrees or levels of Paradise in the Hereafter, and it will be said to the reader: € ¦’±Rise through the levels to the extent that you used to read the verses of the Qur€ ¦’²aan. Whoever recites all of the Qur€ ¦’²aan, will reach the highest degree of Paradise in the Hereafter, and whoever recites part of it will reach a level commensurate with that, and the limit of his reward will match the limit of his reading. Al-Targheeb wa€ ¦’²l-Tarheeb, 2/228
But this idea is subject to further discussion, because the hadeeth speaks of the manaazil (status, position) of those who memorized Qur€ ¦’²aan, not of their darajaat (degrees, levels). The darajah (degree or level) varies according to their efforts in this world, just as there are other acts of faith in which people vary in status, such as sincere faith, jihad and others. So we cannot say that the one who memorized the entire Qur€ ¦’²aan will be in the highest degrees of Paradise in absolute terms.
The highest of the degrees of Paradise is al-Firdaws, as it was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³’¥ When you ask of Allaah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is in the middle of Paradise and is the highest part of Paradise, and above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2637; Muslim, 2831
What is meant by the € ¦’³middle of Paradise€ ¦’´ is the best of it, as when Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
€ ¦’³Thus We have made you a just (and the best) nation (lit. a middle nation)€ ¦’´[al-Baqarah 2:143]
The Sunnah also describes the position of those who do certain actions. For example:
1 € ¦’¶ Faith in Allaah and belief in the Messengers:
It was narrated from Abu Sa€ ¦’²eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³The people of Paradise will be able to see the people in the apartments above them as you see the shining stars on the horizon in the east and the west, because of the differences in their status.€ ¦’´ They said: € ¦’³O Messenger of Allaah, is that the status of the Prophets which no one else will reach besides them?€ ¦’´ He said: € ¦’³No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, they are men who had faith in Allaah and believed in the Messengers.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2082; Muslim, 2831.
2 € ¦’¶ Jihad for the sake of Allaah:
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³In Paradise there are one hundred degrees which Allaah has prepared for those who strive in jihad for the sake of Allaah. The distance between each two degrees is like the distance between the heavens and the earth.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2637.
3 € ¦’¶ The one who sincerely desires martyrdom may also attain that.
It was narrated from Sahl ibn Haneef that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³Whoever asks Allaah sincerely for martyrdom, Allaah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1909.
4 € ¦’¶ Spending for the sake of Allaah.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The poor came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: € ¦’³The rich people have taken all the highest positions. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they have surplus wealth with which they perform Hajj and strive in jihad and give in charity€ ¦’¥’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 807; Muslim, 595.
5 € ¦’¶ Doing wudoo€ ¦’² properly even when it is difficult, taking many steps towards the mosque and waiting for prayer after prayer.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³Shall I not tell you of something by means of which Allaah erases sins and raises you in status?€ ¦’´ They said: € ¦’³Yes, O Messenger of Allaah.€ ¦’´ He said: € ¦’³Doing wudoo€ ¦’² well even when it is difficult, taking many steps to the mosques and waiting for prayer after prayer. That is (equivalent) to guarding the frontier.€ ¦’´ Narrated by Muslim, 251.
6 € ¦’¶ Memorizing Qur€ ¦’²aan
€ ¦’±Abd-Allaah ibn € ¦’±Amr narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³It will be said to the companion of the Qur€ ¦’²aan: € ¦’±Recite and rise in status as you used to recite in the world, and your position will be at the last verse you recite.€ ¦’²’´ Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1646; al-Tirmidhi, 2914; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
The one who is keen should set his sights on the highest position in Paradise and strive to earn the pleasure of Allaah and enter the Paradise of al-Firdaws, which is the highest that Allaah has promised.
And Allaah knows best.
Showing posts with label Paradise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paradise. Show all posts
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Will children who die young go to Paradise or Hell?
Question:
Will ALL children that died before the age of account go to jena OR will only the children of the muslim parents?
Praise be to Allaah.
We may divide this issue, in sha Allaah, into two parts:
Firstly: the fate of the children of the Muslims.
Secondly: the fate of the children of the kuffaar.
With regard to the first part, the fate of the children of the Muslims:
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: With regard to the children of the believers, there is no dispute among the scholars. Al-Qaadi Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa ibn al-Farraa€ ¦’² al-Hanbali narrated that Imaam Ahmad said: there is no dispute concerning the fact that they will be among the people of Paradise. This is what is well known among people (i.e., the majority of scholars) and this is what we are definitely sure about, in sha Allaah. (Tafseer al-Qur€ ¦’²aan al-€ ¦’±Azeem, 3/33).
Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: who has any doubts that the children of the Muslims will be in Paradise?!
He also said: there is no difference among them on this matter. (Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/83).
Imaam al-Nawawi said: the reliable Muslim scholars agreed that any Muslim child who dies will be among the people of Paradise, because he was not responsible (i.e., had not yet reached the age of account). (Sharh Muslim, 16/207).
Al-Qurtubi said: the view that they will be in Paradise is the view of the majority. And he said: some scholars denounced any dispute concerning them. (al-Tadhkirah, 2/328).
With regard to the second part, the fate of the children of the kuffaar:
The scholars differed concerning this matter, and there are several views:
That they will be in Paradise. Some of them said, they will be in al-A€ ¦’²raaf [a place between Paradise and Hell]. And the reason why it was said that they will be in Paradise is because this is the ultimate destiny of the people of al-A€ ¦’²raaf. This is the view of the majority of scholars, as reported from them by Ibn € ¦’±Abd al-Barr in al-Tamheed, 18/96.
Their evidence (daleel):
The hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw the children of the Muslims and the children of the Mushrikeen with Ibraaheem (peace be upon him). Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6640.
Hasnaa€ ¦’² bint Mu€ ¦’²aawiyyah from Bani Suraym said: my paternal uncle told me: I said, O Messenger of Allaah, who will be in Paradise? He said: Prophets will be in Paradise, martyrs will be in Paradise, infants will be in Paradise and baby girls who were buried alive will be in Paradise. Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 5/409; classed as da€ ¦’²eef by al-Albaani in Da€ ¦’²eef al-Jaami€ ¦’², 5997.
That they will be with their parents in Hell. Al-Qaadi Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa attributed this view to Ahmad! But Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) pointed out that this was a grave error. See Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/87.
Their evidence (daleel):
Salamah ibn Qays al-Ashja€ ¦’²i said: my brother and I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said that our mother had died during the Jaahiliyyah, and that she had honoured her guests and upheld the ties of kinship, but that she had buried alive a sister of ours during the Jaahiliyyah who had not reached the age of puberty. He said: the one who was buried and the one who buried her are in Hell, unless Islam reached the one who buried the child alive and she became Muslim.
The hadeeth was classed as hasan by Ibn Katheer in al-Tafseer, 3/33, and before him by Ibn € ¦’±Abd al-Barr in al-Tamheed, 18/120.
There are other ahaadeeth, but they are da€ ¦’²eef (weak).
Not giving any opinion on this matter. This is the view of Hammaad ibn Zayd, Hammaad ibn Salamah, Ibn al-Mubaarak and Ishaaq ibn Raahawayh.
Their evidence (daleel):
According to Ibn € ¦’±Abbaas, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about the children of the mushrikeen, and he said, € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1383, and Muslim, 2660.
There is a similar hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1384, and Muslim, 2659.
Some scholars say that they (the children of the mushrikeen) will be the servants of the people of Paradise.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: there is no basis for this view. (Majmoo€ ¦’² al-Fataawaa, 4/279)
I say: concerning this there was a hadeeth narrated by al-Tabaraani and al-Bazzaar, but it was classed as da€ ¦’²eef by the imaams € ¦’¶ including al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in al-Fath, 3/246.
That they will be tested in the Hereafter, and whoever obeys Allaah will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys Him will enter Hell. This is the view of the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah wa€ ¦’²l-Jamaa€ ¦’²ah, as transmitted by Abu€ ¦’²l-Hasan al-Ash€ ¦’²ari, and it is the opinion of al-Bayhaqi and many other researchers. It is also the opinion favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah. He said that this is what is implied by the texts of Imaam Ahmad, and is the view regarded as most correct by al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer. He said: this view reconciles all the reports, and all the ahaadeeth quoted above support one another. Al-Tafseer, 3/31.
Their evidence:
Anas said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³Four (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 defence, then the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, will say to a neck of Hell, € ¦’±Come forth!€ ¦’² and He will say to them, € ¦’±I used to send Messengers to My slaves from amongst themselves. Now I am the Messenger of Myself to you. Enter this (i.e., the Fire).€ ¦’² 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?€ ¦’² And those who are decreed to be among the blessed will rush to enter it. And Allaah will say: € ¦’±You would have been more disobedient towards My Messengers.€ ¦’² So those will enter Paradise and those will enter Hell.€ ¦’´ Narrated by Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa, 4224. There are corroborating reports which were
mentioned by Ibn Katheer in al-Tafseer, 3/29-31.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: this is the most reasonable of the opinions, which reconciles all the reports and brings all the ahaadeeth into harmony. On this basis, some of them will be in Paradise, as in the hadeeth of Samurah, and some of them will be in Hell, as in the hadeeth of € ¦’±Aa€ ¦’²ishah. The reply of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) indicates this, as he said: € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done, because He created them.€ ¦’´ It is known that Allaah does not punish anyone on the basis of what He knows, unless what He knows actually comes to pass.
The phrase € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done€ ¦’´ indicates that Allaah knows what they would have done if they had lived. The ones who obey Him at the time of the test are the ones who would have obeyed Him if they had lived in this world, and those ones who disobey Him at that time are the ones who would have disobeyed Him if they had lived in this world. This indicates that He knows about what does not happen and how it would have been if it had happened. And Allaah knows best. (Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/87).
The ahaadeeth quoted above stating that they will either be in Paradise or in Hell do not contradict what we believe is more likely to be correct. Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: the ahaadeeth about them being tested is more specific. Whoever Allaah knows will obey Him, He puts his soul in al-Barzakh with Ibraaheem and the children of the Muslims who died in a state of Fitrah, and whoever He knows will not obey Him Him, his case rests with Allaah, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be in Hell, as is indicated in the ahaadeeth about the test and as reported by al-Ash€ ¦’²ari from the scholars of Sunnah. Al-Tafseer, 3/33.
The phrase € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done€ ¦’´ does not mean that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was not giving an opinion.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The evidence used by this group needs further examination. The answer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) does not mean that he did not want to give an opinion; rather, he was attributing the knowledge of what they would have done if they had lived to Allaah. This was the answer to the question of how they could be with their fathers when they had no deeds in their records € ¦’¶ which is part of the hadeeth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) attributed the knowledge of what they would have done to Allaah; he did not say, Allaah knows best where they will be. This evidence does not support the opinion of this group. And Allaah knows best.
Will ALL children that died before the age of account go to jena OR will only the children of the muslim parents?
Praise be to Allaah.
We may divide this issue, in sha Allaah, into two parts:
Firstly: the fate of the children of the Muslims.
Secondly: the fate of the children of the kuffaar.
With regard to the first part, the fate of the children of the Muslims:
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: With regard to the children of the believers, there is no dispute among the scholars. Al-Qaadi Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa ibn al-Farraa€ ¦’² al-Hanbali narrated that Imaam Ahmad said: there is no dispute concerning the fact that they will be among the people of Paradise. This is what is well known among people (i.e., the majority of scholars) and this is what we are definitely sure about, in sha Allaah. (Tafseer al-Qur€ ¦’²aan al-€ ¦’±Azeem, 3/33).
Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: who has any doubts that the children of the Muslims will be in Paradise?!
He also said: there is no difference among them on this matter. (Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/83).
Imaam al-Nawawi said: the reliable Muslim scholars agreed that any Muslim child who dies will be among the people of Paradise, because he was not responsible (i.e., had not yet reached the age of account). (Sharh Muslim, 16/207).
Al-Qurtubi said: the view that they will be in Paradise is the view of the majority. And he said: some scholars denounced any dispute concerning them. (al-Tadhkirah, 2/328).
With regard to the second part, the fate of the children of the kuffaar:
The scholars differed concerning this matter, and there are several views:
That they will be in Paradise. Some of them said, they will be in al-A€ ¦’²raaf [a place between Paradise and Hell]. And the reason why it was said that they will be in Paradise is because this is the ultimate destiny of the people of al-A€ ¦’²raaf. This is the view of the majority of scholars, as reported from them by Ibn € ¦’±Abd al-Barr in al-Tamheed, 18/96.
Their evidence (daleel):
The hadeeth of Samurah (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw the children of the Muslims and the children of the Mushrikeen with Ibraaheem (peace be upon him). Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6640.
Hasnaa€ ¦’² bint Mu€ ¦’²aawiyyah from Bani Suraym said: my paternal uncle told me: I said, O Messenger of Allaah, who will be in Paradise? He said: Prophets will be in Paradise, martyrs will be in Paradise, infants will be in Paradise and baby girls who were buried alive will be in Paradise. Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 5/409; classed as da€ ¦’²eef by al-Albaani in Da€ ¦’²eef al-Jaami€ ¦’², 5997.
That they will be with their parents in Hell. Al-Qaadi Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa attributed this view to Ahmad! But Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) pointed out that this was a grave error. See Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/87.
Their evidence (daleel):
Salamah ibn Qays al-Ashja€ ¦’²i said: my brother and I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said that our mother had died during the Jaahiliyyah, and that she had honoured her guests and upheld the ties of kinship, but that she had buried alive a sister of ours during the Jaahiliyyah who had not reached the age of puberty. He said: the one who was buried and the one who buried her are in Hell, unless Islam reached the one who buried the child alive and she became Muslim.
The hadeeth was classed as hasan by Ibn Katheer in al-Tafseer, 3/33, and before him by Ibn € ¦’±Abd al-Barr in al-Tamheed, 18/120.
There are other ahaadeeth, but they are da€ ¦’²eef (weak).
Not giving any opinion on this matter. This is the view of Hammaad ibn Zayd, Hammaad ibn Salamah, Ibn al-Mubaarak and Ishaaq ibn Raahawayh.
Their evidence (daleel):
According to Ibn € ¦’±Abbaas, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about the children of the mushrikeen, and he said, € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done.€ ¦’´ Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1383, and Muslim, 2660.
There is a similar hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1384, and Muslim, 2659.
Some scholars say that they (the children of the mushrikeen) will be the servants of the people of Paradise.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: there is no basis for this view. (Majmoo€ ¦’² al-Fataawaa, 4/279)
I say: concerning this there was a hadeeth narrated by al-Tabaraani and al-Bazzaar, but it was classed as da€ ¦’²eef by the imaams € ¦’¶ including al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in al-Fath, 3/246.
That they will be tested in the Hereafter, and whoever obeys Allaah will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys Him will enter Hell. This is the view of the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah wa€ ¦’²l-Jamaa€ ¦’²ah, as transmitted by Abu€ ¦’²l-Hasan al-Ash€ ¦’²ari, and it is the opinion of al-Bayhaqi and many other researchers. It is also the opinion favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah. He said that this is what is implied by the texts of Imaam Ahmad, and is the view regarded as most correct by al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer. He said: this view reconciles all the reports, and all the ahaadeeth quoted above support one another. Al-Tafseer, 3/31.
Their evidence:
Anas said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: € ¦’³Four (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 defence, then the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, will say to a neck of Hell, € ¦’±Come forth!€ ¦’² and He will say to them, € ¦’±I used to send Messengers to My slaves from amongst themselves. Now I am the Messenger of Myself to you. Enter this (i.e., the Fire).€ ¦’² 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?€ ¦’² And those who are decreed to be among the blessed will rush to enter it. And Allaah will say: € ¦’±You would have been more disobedient towards My Messengers.€ ¦’² So those will enter Paradise and those will enter Hell.€ ¦’´ Narrated by Abu Ya€ ¦’²laa, 4224. There are corroborating reports which were
mentioned by Ibn Katheer in al-Tafseer, 3/29-31.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: this is the most reasonable of the opinions, which reconciles all the reports and brings all the ahaadeeth into harmony. On this basis, some of them will be in Paradise, as in the hadeeth of Samurah, and some of them will be in Hell, as in the hadeeth of € ¦’±Aa€ ¦’²ishah. The reply of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) indicates this, as he said: € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done, because He created them.€ ¦’´ It is known that Allaah does not punish anyone on the basis of what He knows, unless what He knows actually comes to pass.
The phrase € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done€ ¦’´ indicates that Allaah knows what they would have done if they had lived. The ones who obey Him at the time of the test are the ones who would have obeyed Him if they had lived in this world, and those ones who disobey Him at that time are the ones who would have disobeyed Him if they had lived in this world. This indicates that He knows about what does not happen and how it would have been if it had happened. And Allaah knows best. (Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim € ¦’±ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/87).
The ahaadeeth quoted above stating that they will either be in Paradise or in Hell do not contradict what we believe is more likely to be correct. Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: the ahaadeeth about them being tested is more specific. Whoever Allaah knows will obey Him, He puts his soul in al-Barzakh with Ibraaheem and the children of the Muslims who died in a state of Fitrah, and whoever He knows will not obey Him Him, his case rests with Allaah, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be in Hell, as is indicated in the ahaadeeth about the test and as reported by al-Ash€ ¦’²ari from the scholars of Sunnah. Al-Tafseer, 3/33.
The phrase € ¦’³Allaah knows best what they would have done€ ¦’´ does not mean that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was not giving an opinion.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The evidence used by this group needs further examination. The answer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) does not mean that he did not want to give an opinion; rather, he was attributing the knowledge of what they would have done if they had lived to Allaah. This was the answer to the question of how they could be with their fathers when they had no deeds in their records € ¦’¶ which is part of the hadeeth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) attributed the knowledge of what they would have done to Allaah; he did not say, Allaah knows best where they will be. This evidence does not support the opinion of this group. And Allaah knows best.
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