Al-Radd ʿalā man qāla bi-fanāʾ al-Janna wa-al-Nār - Ibn Taimiya - (72)

Al-Radd ʿalā man qāla bi-fanāʾ al-Janna wa-al-NārIbn Taimiya

Even in recent times—indeed, up to this very hour—I have not come across a single Companion who maintained that the Fire will never come to an end; what is transmitted from them is, in fact, the opposite. Among the Successors, however, both opinions are found.

Proofs for the Fire’s eternity drawn from the Book

As for the Qur’an, it contains nothing that states outright that the Fire will never perish. What its outward wording does indicate is that its people will abide therein forever, as Allah, Mighty and Exalted, informs us in several passages (1). He also tells us that they will plead for death (2), beg to be let out (3), and implore that the punishment be lightened (4)—yet none of these requests will be granted, neither this nor that. He further states that they will remain there (5), and He says: “A judgment will not be decreed for them so that they die, nor will its torment be lightened for them” (6).

He, Exalted is He, also says: “Therein they will shriek” (7); and: “Our Lord, bring us out of it. If we return (to sin) then indeed we will be wrongdoers.” He will answer, “Begone therein, and do not address Me” (8).

And He says: “Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding therein. It will not be lessened for them, and they will be in utter despair. We did not wrong them; rather, it was they who were the wrongdoers. They will call out, ‘O Mālik, let your Lord finish us off,’ but he will say, ‘You shall remain.’ Surely We brought you the truth, yet most of you detest the truth” (9).

(1) The original word was “dhalika” (that), and the form here is retained as it fits the context. (2) As in Allah’s statement: “And they cried, ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us.’ He said, ‘Indeed, you are to remain [here].’” (Quran 43:77). The author’s citation of this verse will follow shortly. (3) The author’s citation of this verse will follow shortly. (4) Verses 49–50 of Surah Ghafir (Quran 40), which the author will cite shortly. (5) As in Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:77. (6) Surah Fatir 35:36. (7) Surah Fatir 35:37. (8) Verses 107–108 of Surah al-Mu’minun (Quran 23). (9) Verses 74–78 of Surah Az-Zukhruf (Quran 43).

وحديثا، بل إلى الساعة لم أعلم أحدا من الصحابة قال: إنها لا تفنى، وإنما المنقول عنهم ضد ذلك ولكن التابعون نقل عنهم هذا وهذا. [أدلة خلود النار من الكتاب] وأما القرآن، فالذي دل عليه وليس في القرآن ما يدل على أنها لا تفنى، بل الذي يدل عليه ظاهر القرآن أنهم خالدون فيها أبدا، كما أخبر الله - عز وجل - (١) في غير موضع، وأخبر أنهم يطلبون الموت (٢) ، والخروج منها (٣) ويطلبون تخفيف العذاب (٤) ، فلا يجابون: لا إلى هذا ولا على هذا، وأخبر أنهم ماكثون فيها (٥) ، وأخبر أنهم {لا يُقْضَى عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِهَا} (٦) . وقال تعالى: {وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا} (٧) ، {رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ عُدْنَا فَإِنَّا ظَالِمُونَ قَالَ اخْسَأُوا فِيهَا وَلا تُكَلِّمُونِ} (٨) . وقال تعالى: {إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدُونَ لا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا هُمُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ مَاكِثُونَ لَقَدْ جِئْنَاكُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ لِلْحَقِّ كَارِهُونَ} (٩) .

(١) بالأصل "ذلك" وما أثبته هو الموافق للسياق. (٢) كما في قوله تعالى: {وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ مَاكِثُونَ} سورة الزخرف، الآية: ٧٧ وسيأتي ذكر المؤلف لها، قريبا. (٣) سيأتي ذكر المؤلف للآية قريبا. (٤) الآيتان ٤٩-٥٠ من سورة غافر، وسيأتي ذكر المؤلف لهما قريبا. (٥) كما في آية الزخرف ٧٧. (٦) سورة فاطر، الآية ٣٦. (٧) سورة فاطر، الآية ٣٧. (٨) سورة المؤمنون الآيتان: ١٠٧-١٠٨. (٩) سورة الزخرف، الآيات: ٧٤-٧٨.