to the River of Life, where they sprout as seeds sprout amid flood-borne debris. This meaning is widely transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—indeed, it is established through mass transmission in numerous hadiths in the two Sahīh collections and elsewhere, narrated by Abū Saʿīd, Abū Hurayrah, and others.

These reports refute two groups. They refute the Khawārij and the Muʿtazilah, who say, “Monotheists will remain therein forever.” This verse is evidence against them, and against those extreme Murjiʾah who are reported to have said, “No monotheist will enter the Fire.” For the Prophet’s report that monotheists will emerge from it after entering it disproves the claims of both groups.

It also refutes those who say, “It is possible that Allah will not admit any monotheist into the Fire,” as maintained by a group among the Shīʿī Murjiʾah and the Murjiʾah among speculative theologians who profess adherence to the Sunnah. These are those who suspend judgment among the followers of Abū al-Hasan and others, such as al-Qādī Abū Bakr and others. For the mass-transmitted texts establish that some monotheists will enter the Fire and subsequently leave it.

As for the claim that “No monotheist will enter it,” I do not know it to be reliably established from any particular individual such that I could attribute it to him. It has, however, been reported from Muqātil ibn Sulaymān