and others being saved, followed by intercession for those who affirm Allah’s oneness, until whoever has an atom’s weight of faith in his heart is brought out of the Fire. They will enter Paradise and be called “the people of Hell.” Does not all of this apply equally to men and women? Or are those who cross the Bridge, some of whom fall into the Fire and subsequently receive intercession, men alone? If someone were to demand a text explicitly mentioning women in a matter like this, would he not plainly be demanding more than is warranted?

Likewise, Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abū al-Zubayr that he heard Jābir being asked about coming to the Fire. He said:

“We shall come on the Day of Resurrection from such-and-such—consider which of these is above the people.” He continued: “The nations will then be summoned with their idols and whatever they used to worship, one after another. Then our Lord will come to us and say, ‘Whom are you waiting for?’ They will say, ‘We are waiting for our Lord.’ He will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘Not until we look upon You.’ Then He will reveal Himself to them, laughing.” He continued: “He will set off with them, and they will follow Him. He will give each of them—whether a hypocrite or a believer—a light. Then they will follow Him. Upon the bridge over Hell will be hooks and thorn-like spikes that seize whomever Allah wills. Then the hypocrites’ light will be extinguished, and the believers will be saved.”

He then related the remainder of the hadith concerning entry into Paradise and intercession. Does this not clearly show that He reveals Himself to the entire nation? Just as the nation is given its light, so all “the believers,” male and female, retain their light. Likewise, everything described in the hadith most certainly applies to both groups.

This hadith is traced back to the Prophet. Imam Ahmad and others narrated it with a chain of transmission like Muslim’s