The Quran states that no amount of gold, even an earthful, could ransom a disbeliever from hellfire on the Day of Judgment. It also describes that all of a person’s deeds, both good and evil, will be weighed on a scale to determine their eternal fate. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The earth of gold as ransom For those who die in a state of disbelief, the Quran makes it clear that worldly wealth, no matter how vast, will not save them from the punishment of hellfire.
- A futile ransom: “Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers—never will the full amount of gold on earth be accepted from one of them if he offered it as ransom” (Quran 3:91).
- The punishment is for eternity: These disbelievers will face a painful punishment with no one to help them, and they will not be given a second chance to return to earth and believe. [1, 5]
The scales of justice (Al-Mizan) On the Day of Judgment, every deed, no matter how small, will be weighed on a scale to determine a person’s final destination.
- The scale’s precision: The scale is said to be so precise that it can measure the weight of an atom, leaving no deed unaccounted for.
- The outcome of the weighing:
- Heavy scale of good deeds: “Then, as for him whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], he will have a pleasant life” (Quran 101:6–7).
- Light scale of good deeds: “But as for him whose scales are light, his refuge will be an abyss” (Quran 101:8–9). This abyss is explained as a fiercely blazing fire. [3, 5, 6, 7, 8]
The outcome for different people The fate of a person depends on their balance of deeds on this scale, with a crucial distinction for disbelievers and believers who have sinned.
- Disbelievers’ deeds: Disbelievers who reject God’s truth, regardless of any worldly good deeds they performed, will find that their actions have no weight on the Day of Judgment. Their deeds are likened to scattered dust and will not save them.
- Believers who have sinned: Believers who have committed sins may face a period of punishment in hellfire. However, their faith (even the weight of an atom) will eventually secure their release and admission into paradise, unlike disbelievers for whom the punishment is eternal.
- The role of good character: According to some Islamic teachings, having good character is one of the heaviest things on the scale of good deeds. Acts of charity, prayer, fasting, and seeking God’s protection are also emphasized as ways to escape hellfire. [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]
AI responses may include mistakes.[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/817245688463002/posts/1026796227507946/[2] https://www.quora.com/A-Hadith-of-Tirmizi-says-that-the-Hellfire-will-not-touch-such-a-one-who-has-kindness-and-sympathy-for-others-Does-this-include-such-acts-as-holding-the-door-open-for-others-picking-up-trash-on-the-street-and[3] https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/quran/nobelquran/nobe099.html[4] https://www.facebook.com/ZakhiraeIsalm/videos/-the-true-weighing-of-deeds-on-the-day-of-judgment/1321858826107197/[5] https://www.learnreligions.com/hell-in-the-quran-2004344[6] https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/47470/how-did-an-atoms-weight-come-to-be-mentioned-in-translations-of-the-quran[7] https://www.facebook.com/groups/qrnalone/posts/10163063503757363/[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2p8GkfMJ0[9] https://quran.com/maryam/71/tafsirs[10] https://www.quora.com/Disbelievers-are-fuel-for-hellfire-and-their-deeds-are-like-ashes-in-the-wind-Quran-14-18-Should-this-content-be-deleted-modified-reviewed-or-properly-interpreted[11] https://www.quranreading.com/blog/these-deeds-can-save-every-muslim-from-hellfire[12] https://www.steps2allahuk.com/deeds-that-will-protect-us-from-hellfire/[13] https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/86124/weighing-of-deeds-on-day-of-judgment[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OlZmKsQAYY