Is there currently any inhabitants in Paradise and Hell, and is the Sirat currently being crossed?
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The questioner : Our esteemed Shaykh, may Allah guide you and benefit us with your knowledge: It is reported in the biography that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was raised to the heavens, he looked upon the people of Paradise and saw that most of them were the poor and the needy. Then he looked upon the people of Hell and saw that most of them were women. It is also reported in the biography of the Tabi'un that Sufyan al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) was seen in a dream, and he was asked: What did Allah do with you? He said: "I placed my foot on the other side of the Sirat in Paradise". So is the Sirat being crossed now? And are there inhabitants in Paradise, and are there inhabitants in Hell as well? What is the detail regarding this? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, I say, may Allah bless you all. Matters of the unseen should not be investigated regarding their modality or delved into deeply, because this is an act of excessive strictness. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Imam Malik was asked how Allah rose above the Throne, and he said to the questioner: "The rising is known, but the modality is unknown". We must believe in these matters and not investigate them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) presented this hadith to his Companions, and not one of them uttered a word asking how that is, O Messenger of Allah. In fact, it was reported that he heard the clatter of Bilal's sandals, and yet they did not say, "How is it, O Messenger of Allah, that Bilal is in the hereafter when he has not left the world nor arrived?" Rather, they believed and accepted it. My advice to you all is that you should believe in such matters as they are presented and say that they are the truth. As for how it is, and whether the people of Paradise are currently in it and the people of Hell are currently in it? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw from the people of Paradise whom he saw, and he saw from the people of Hell whom he saw. He saw 'Amr ibn Luhay dragging his intestines in the Fire. He saw a woman being tortured for a cat she had confined. And he saw in it the owner of the iron hook who used to steal from pilgrims with his hook.
In conclusion, I advise you not to engage in such questions. As for my position in this matter, it is the position of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): I say, "I believe in Allah and His Messenger and in what has come from Allah and His Messenger, and I do not go beyond that." I say that the Messenger (may the prayer and peace be upon him) informed us of what he saw during the Ascension, and it is the truth. Yes, and I say that if we adhere to this path, we will find rest. And if anyone asks us, we explain to them that there is no path to knowledge of this, and that our position regarding it is tafwid, meaning delegating the modality to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the meaning, yes, we know the meaning. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, I say, may Allah bless you all. Matters of the unseen should not be investigated regarding their modality or delved into deeply, because this is an act of excessive strictness. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
The excessively strict ones are ruined, the excessively strict ones are ruined, the excessively strict ones are ruined
هلك المتنطعون، هلك المتنطعون، هلك المتنطعونIn conclusion, I advise you not to engage in such questions. As for my position in this matter, it is the position of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): I say, "I believe in Allah and His Messenger and in what has come from Allah and His Messenger, and I do not go beyond that." I say that the Messenger (may the prayer and peace be upon him) informed us of what he saw during the Ascension, and it is the truth. Yes, and I say that if we adhere to this path, we will find rest. And if anyone asks us, we explain to them that there is no path to knowledge of this, and that our position regarding it is tafwid, meaning delegating the modality to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for the meaning, yes, we know the meaning. Yes.