Is it permissible to assert that a Jew or a Christian who dies in a state of disbelief will abide in the Fire forever?
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The questioner : He says: “Honorable Shaykh, it is established in the creed of the people of the Sunnah and the community that they do not testify for anyone regarding Paradise or the Fire, except for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Does this apply to a Jew or a Christian who is killed or dies in that state, such that we do not say that he is among the people of the Fire, or is the matter different? I ask for clarification of the ruling.”
The Shaykh : First, it is necessary for us to know that testifying for someone regarding Paradise or the Fire is only for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Testifying for someone regarding Paradise or the Fire is only for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified to that.
And testimony is of two types. The first type is that the Messenger, may peace and blessings be upon him, testifies for a specific person. In that case, we testify for him, whether regarding Paradise or the Fire. Likewise, if Allah testifies for a specific person that he is in Paradise or the Fire, then we testify for him specifically. An example of one for whom Allah testified specifically that he is in the Fire is Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Messenger, may peace and blessings be upon him. Allah the Exalted said about him:[Al-Masad 111:1-5] An example of one for whom Allah testified that he is in Paradise is Abu Bakr, based on the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Layl 92:17-20] Many of the exegetes interpreted it as referring to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). If this interpretation is correct and it refers specifically to Abu Bakr, but the point is the generality of the wording. Otherwise, the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, testified for him regarding Paradise, and testified that he is a sincere friend when the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, ascended Mount Uhud with Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman after the battle. Do you know what the mountain did? It trembled. A mute mountain trembled at the feet of these four righteous ones: the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman. So he said to him: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3697Sahih (Darussalam) This is the one for whom Allah and His Messenger testified specifically, so we testify for him specifically.
The second type is testimony by description, not by specific identity. So we testify for every believer that he is in Paradise, for every pious person that he is in Paradise, for every criminal that he is in the Fire—criminal meaning criminality of disbelief—and for every disbeliever that he is in the Fire.
As for specifically, we do not testify for him. But one who dies openly declaring disbelief and waging war against Islam, there is no doubt that a person is almost certain that he is among the people of the Fire. However, were it not for the fear of being held accountable for slips of the tongue, he would testify. Then we say: “My brother, did you testify or not? If he is among the people of the Fire, he is among the people of the Fire even if you testified that he was dutiful. And if he is not among the people of the Fire, then even if you testified that he is among the people of the Fire a thousand times, he would not be among the people of the Fire. There is no necessity for this. But there is no doubt that it is more likely, if a person is not certain, that one who dies in disbelief and hostility toward Allah and His Messenger is in the Fire. But a person fears slips of the tongue and testimony, because Allah says:[Qaf 50:18]
The Shaykh : First, it is necessary for us to know that testifying for someone regarding Paradise or the Fire is only for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Testifying for someone regarding Paradise or the Fire is only for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified to that.
And testimony is of two types. The first type is that the Messenger, may peace and blessings be upon him, testifies for a specific person. In that case, we testify for him, whether regarding Paradise or the Fire. Likewise, if Allah testifies for a specific person that he is in Paradise or the Fire, then we testify for him specifically. An example of one for whom Allah testified specifically that he is in the Fire is Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Messenger, may peace and blessings be upon him. Allah the Exalted said about him:
(1) May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. (2) His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained. (3) He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame (4) And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood. (5) Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ سَيَصْلَى نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ فِي جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِنْ مَسَدٍ(17) But the righteous one will avoid it - (18) [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself (19) And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded (20) But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High.
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَى وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىBe firm O Uhud! For there is none upon you except a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.
اسكت أو : اثبت أحد ، فإنما عليك نبي وصديق وشهيدانThe second type is testimony by description, not by specific identity. So we testify for every believer that he is in Paradise, for every pious person that he is in Paradise, for every criminal that he is in the Fire—criminal meaning criminality of disbelief—and for every disbeliever that he is in the Fire.
As for specifically, we do not testify for him. But one who dies openly declaring disbelief and waging war against Islam, there is no doubt that a person is almost certain that he is among the people of the Fire. However, were it not for the fear of being held accountable for slips of the tongue, he would testify. Then we say: “My brother, did you testify or not? If he is among the people of the Fire, he is among the people of the Fire even if you testified that he was dutiful. And if he is not among the people of the Fire, then even if you testified that he is among the people of the Fire a thousand times, he would not be among the people of the Fire. There is no necessity for this. But there is no doubt that it is more likely, if a person is not certain, that one who dies in disbelief and hostility toward Allah and His Messenger is in the Fire. But a person fears slips of the tongue and testimony, because Allah says: