A Doubt Concerning the Eternity of the Fire
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Some scholars argue for the annihilation of the Fire by citing the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Hud: 106-107] How do we respond to this doubt?
We respond to them with a very easy response from two angles: The first point: Allah said something similar regarding Paradise, stating: [Hud: 108] Do they say that Paradise is not eternal? They do not say that;Because Allah said: [Hud: 108] But here He said: [Hud: 107] The difference between the two is clear. Paradise is a favor and a blessing,So Allah made clear in it the effect of the favor and the blessing, and He said: [Hud: 108] , whereas the Fire is retribution and justice, so He concluded it with His saying: [Hud: 107] And He does what He wills, intending to keep these people in the Fire for eternity.
The second aspect: Even if this verse were problematic, and we did not know the aspect of the exception in it, is it the way of those firmly grounded in knowledge to take hold of the ambiguous and leave the clear, or to take hold of the clear and leave the ambiguous? It is the latter.The clear verses for us are three verses from the Qur'an: [Al-Jinn: 23] There are three clear verses in the Qur'an. Why do we turn away from them to something doubtful that admits of multiple interpretations? We do not do this, because this is the action of those in whose hearts is deviation, who follow what is ambiguous therein. Therefore, we find that the people of the Sunnah and the community mention in their books that Paradise and the Fire currently exist, and that they will not be annihilated,If someone were to say: How does Allah, Mighty and Majestic, place this disbeliever in the Fire for eternity?We say: Because this disbeliever spent his entire worldly life in disobedience to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, so Allah spent his entire afterlife in His punishment. Then, did this disbeliever leave without a warning, or was a warner sent to him?Answer: A warner was sent to him: [An-Nisa: 165] with clear signs, such that humans believe in their like. So he has no excuse, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter. The eternity of the Fire and those in it does not contradict wisdom; rather, it is the ultimate in wisdom.
(106) As for those who were [destined to be] wretched, they will be in the Fire. For them therein is [violent] exhaling and inhaling. (107) [They will be] abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will. Indeed, your Lord is an effecter of what He intends.
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ شَقُوا فَفِي النَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ * خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُWe respond to them with a very easy response from two angles: The first point: Allah said something similar regarding Paradise, stating:
And as for those who were [destined to be] prosperous, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا فَفِي الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَa bestowal uninterrupted.
عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍIndeed, your Lord is an effecter of what He intends.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُa bestowal uninterrupted.
عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍIndeed, your Lord is an effecter of what He intends.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُThe second aspect: Even if this verse were problematic, and we did not know the aspect of the exception in it, is it the way of those firmly grounded in knowledge to take hold of the ambiguous and leave the clear, or to take hold of the clear and leave the ambiguous? It is the latter.The clear verses for us are three verses from the Qur'an: