The Quran describes hellfire as eternal for those who enter it, using terms like “forever” (abada) and “abiding therein” (khalidina fiha). The majority of Muslim scholars interpret these verses as a final and everlasting punishment for unbelievers. However, there is a minority opinion that the punishment might be temporary, believing that Allah’s mercy may eventually prevail, or that hell will be emptied of its inhabitants, though this view is considered weaker by most scholars due to the strong textual evidence for eternal punishment. [1, 2, 3]
- Evidence for eternal hellfire: Verses in the Quran explicitly state that those who displease Allah will “abide therein forever”. The Arabic words used, such as abada, are consistently translated to mean “forever” or “non-ending”. [1, 2]
- Arguments against eternal hellfire: Some scholars, particularly in minority views, suggest that a temporary punishment is more consistent with the concept of a merciful God. They argue that the verses could be interpreted metaphorically, or that Allah’s mercy will eventually prevail, leading to the cessation of punishment. [3]
- Distinction between verses: The Quran also contains verses that clarify the punishments are specifically for those who disbelieve. The punishment is not temporary and they will not be able to leave the fire, as stated in the Quran, “Hell is what they will be given, and they will remain in it forever”. [4]
- Misconceptions: Some people may misinterpret the Quran’s descriptions of hell as a metaphorical warning rather than a literal description. They may also misinterpret Hadith that suggest temporary punishments, which are contradicted by the Quran’s explicit statements on eternal punishment. [5, 6]
- No intercession: The Quran also states that there will be no intercession for the wicked on the Day of Resurrection. The punishment is a direct consequence of their actions, and there will be no one to help them escape it. [6, 7, 8]
- Reconciling with mercy: While the Quran describes hellfire as eternal, it also emphasizes the vastness of God’s mercy. Some scholars believe this reflects a belief that even though hell is eternal for some, it is not the final state for everyone. Those who are punished in hell will be subject to their own actions, while those who are saved will enter paradise. [5, 9, 10, 11]
AI responses may include mistakes.[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFga2GQvDYg[2] https://www.abuaminaelias.com/punished-hellfire-forever/[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0r6-UlSLnM[4] https://quran.com/at-tawbah/68[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr8vX6kYhCc[6] https://qurantalkblog.com/2023/05/24/hell-is-forever/[7] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140612115703-117953348-unquenchable-fire-won-t-burn-eternally[8] https://quran.com/13:11/tafsirs/en-tafsir-maarif-ul-quran[9] https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hell-ii-islamic-period/[10] https://blended-learning.resources.wjec.co.uk/en/bl20-21_3-39/0/5[11] https://al-islam.org/media/veil-heedlessness-ghitaa-al-ghafla-23