The sinful believers who enter the Fire: do they die, or what happens to them?
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The questioner : The sinful believers who enter the Fire, meaning, do they die, or do they live in it until they are brought out?
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. However, the narrations state that they will become embers. If they are embers, and they are placed in the Water of Life, and they grow like a sprout, this indicates that they died. This is because they are not like the people of the Fire who are intended to be punished. The people of the Fire do not die and do not live; they do not die a death in which they find rest, nor do they live a noble life. But as for these people, the apparent meaning of the Sunnah is that they die.
The questioner : Until the duration of their punishment ends.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. Meaning, they are punished as long as Allah wills. When they die, they are taken. Allah knows best. We cannot be certain of anything. But the statement that they become embers, and are placed in water called the Water of Life, in a river called the Water of Life, and they grow in it, yes.
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. However, the narrations state that they will become embers. If they are embers, and they are placed in the Water of Life, and they grow like a sprout, this indicates that they died. This is because they are not like the people of the Fire who are intended to be punished. The people of the Fire do not die and do not live; they do not die a death in which they find rest, nor do they live a noble life. But as for these people, the apparent meaning of the Sunnah is that they die.
The questioner : Until the duration of their punishment ends.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. Meaning, they are punished as long as Allah wills. When they die, they are taken. Allah knows best. We cannot be certain of anything. But the statement that they become embers, and are placed in water called the Water of Life, in a river called the Water of Life, and they grow in it, yes.