What is the reality of the Sirat, what is the ruling on one who denies it, when is it permitted for those who cross it to enter Paradise, and what is the authenticity of the hadith
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The questioner : We know that the Sirat is a reality without doubt, and that it is necessary to cross it, but we heard a hadith about its description saying: that its length is a journey of a hundred years in the level part, a hundred years in the ascent, and a hundred years in the descent, and that it is over the back of Hellfire. Is this hadith authentic? And if it is not, what is its reality? When is it permitted for those who cross it to enter Paradise? And what is the ruling on one who denies its existence?
The Shaykh : The Sirat, as the questioner mentioned, is a reality, and believing in its existence is obligatory. It is what the people of the Sunnah and the community believe in. The Sirat is a bridge stretched over the back of Hellfire, thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword. As for its length being as the questioner mentioned, I do not know of an authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
And this Sirat is crossed by people according to their deeds. Some are swift, and some are slow, according to their conduct on the straight path of Allah in this world. So whoever was upright on the path in this world, racing to do good, will be upright on the path of the Hereafter, racing in it. And whoever was less than that will be less than that. And perhaps some people will pass by it and be thrown into Hellfire and punished therein according to their deeds, then they will be saved.
As for the disbelievers, they do not cross this Sirat; rather, they are gathered to Hellfire as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said, without crossing that Sirat, because they were not crossers of the Sirat in this world. So their recompense is that they are gathered to the Fire without crossing this Sirat. The first to pass with his ummah (Muslim community) is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Then, after this Sirat, they are stopped at a bridge between Paradise and Hellfire, and retribution is taken from some of them by others. Then they enter Paradise after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intercedes with his Lord to open the gates of Paradise. He intercedes with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that the gates of Paradise be opened, so they are opened. And the first to enter it is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : And he asks: What is the ruling on one who denies its existence?
The Shaykh : The ruling on one who denies its existence: if he is ignorant, he is taught until it becomes clear to him. If he is informed of the hadiths that have come regarding it, it is obligatory for him to believe in it. If he denies it while knowing that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed about it, he is an apostate and a disbeliever for his lying to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad. May Allah reward you with the best reward.
The Shaykh : The Sirat, as the questioner mentioned, is a reality, and believing in its existence is obligatory. It is what the people of the Sunnah and the community believe in. The Sirat is a bridge stretched over the back of Hellfire, thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword. As for its length being as the questioner mentioned, I do not know of an authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that.
And this Sirat is crossed by people according to their deeds. Some are swift, and some are slow, according to their conduct on the straight path of Allah in this world. So whoever was upright on the path in this world, racing to do good, will be upright on the path of the Hereafter, racing in it. And whoever was less than that will be less than that. And perhaps some people will pass by it and be thrown into Hellfire and punished therein according to their deeds, then they will be saved.
As for the disbelievers, they do not cross this Sirat; rather, they are gathered to Hellfire
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وِرْدًاThe questioner : And he asks: What is the ruling on one who denies its existence?
The Shaykh : The ruling on one who denies its existence: if he is ignorant, he is taught until it becomes clear to him. If he is informed of the hadiths that have come regarding it, it is obligatory for him to believe in it. If he denies it while knowing that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed about it, he is an apostate and a disbeliever for his lying to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad. May Allah reward you with the best reward.