understand anything.’ As for the man who died during an interval between messengers, he will say: ‘My Lord, no messenger from You came to me.’

Then He will take their solemn pledges to obey Him and send them the command to enter the Fire. He said: ‘By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, had they entered it, it would have been cool and safe for them.’”

Through the same chain of transmission, from Qatādah, from al-Hasan, from Abū Rāfi‘, from Abū Hurayrah, a similar hadith is narrated, except that its ending reads:

“Whoever enters it will find it cool and safe, while whoever does not enter it will be dragged into it.”

Several reports traced back to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as well as reports from the Companions and Successors, state that the children of the polytheists and others whom the message did not reach in this world will be tested in the Hereafter. This explains the words:

“Allah knows best what they would have done.”

This is the view that al-Ash‘arī attributed to the people of the Sunnah and hadith in al-Maqālāt, and which he stated he himself adopted.

This distinction resolves the disputes that led some to disapprove of delving into this matter. For those who assert categorically that all of them will be in the Fire are contradicted by scriptural texts, as are those who assert categorically that all of them will be in Paradise.

Then, if it is said, “They will be with their fathers,” this entails punishing those who have committed no sin, opening the door to debate over divine commands and prohibitions,