and he also saw the Fire then (1). The Quran likewise indicates this, as Allah Most High says: “Prepared for the disbelievers.” [Al-Baqarah 2:24] Preparation here means making ready, and the verb is in the past tense; this indicates that it has already been prepared.

The second question: Is it everlasting or temporary? That is, will it cease to exist, or will it endure forever and ever?

The definitive answer is that it is everlasting. Hardly any view other than this is known from the Salaf. For this reason, the scholars have included it among the matters of creed: we believe and affirm that the Fire will endure forever and ever. There is no doubt concerning this, for Allah Most High has explicitly mentioned everlastingness in three places in the Quran.

The first is in Surat al-Nisaʾ, where Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrongdoing—Allah will never forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way, except the way of Hell, abiding therein forever.” [Al-Nisaʾ 4:168–169]

The second is in Surat al-Ahzab, where Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a blazing Fire, abiding therein forever.” [Al-Ahzab 33:64–65]

The third is in Surat al-Jinn, where Allah Most High says:

“Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then for him is the Fire of Hell, wherein they will abide forever.” [Al-Jinn 72:23]

Had Allah mentioned everlastingness in only one place, that would have sufficed; so how then when He has mentioned it in three places? Astonishingly, a small group of scholars held that it will cease to exist, based on feeble arguments that contradict the implications of the Quran and the sunnah. To support these arguments, they distorted the Quran and the sunnah, saying that “abiding therein forever” means: for as long as it exists. How can this be?!