A BRIDGE SPANS ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF HELL AND THE MONOTHEIST CROSS IT
Ziyad Ibn Aslam narrated from ‘Ata’ Ibn Yasar, from Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (pbuh) stated a lengthy hadith wherein he said: “Then the Sirat (Bridge) will be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say, ‘O Allah, grant safety, grant safety.’” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is this Bridge?” He said: “It is a slippery [bridge] on which there are clamps and [hooks like] a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called Al-Sa’dan. Some of the believers will cross the Bridge as quickly as the blink of an eye,some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. Some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down on their faces into Hell-Fire.” Imam Bukhari mentioned this in his Sahih as well as Imam Muslim’. In one version from Al-Bukhari, itstates, “The last person will cross [the Bridge] by being dragged [over it].” In another version from Muslim, Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (radijiAllahu ‘anhu) said: “I heard that the Bridge is thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword.”
Adam Ibn Iyyas stated in his Tafsir, from Abu ‘Amr Al-San’ani, from Ziyad Ibn Aslam; he then stated the hadith, which said: “The believers pass by the Bridge using their light. Some of them pass as quickly as a blink of an eye.” And he stated the rest of the hadith.
It was also stated in the both in Bukhari and Muslim, from Al-Zuhri, from ‘Ata’ Ibn Yazid, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) stated the hadith, in which he said: “… and the Bridge will be laid across Hell and I (Muhammad) shall be the first among the Prophets to cross it with my followers. Nobody except the Prophets will then be able to speak and they will be saying, ‘O Allah! Save us. O Allah Save us.’ There will be hooks like the thorns of Sa’dan in Hell. Have you seen the thorns of Sa’dan?” The people said: ‘Yes.’ He said: “These hooks will be like the thorns of Sa( dan but nobody except Allah knows their greatness in size and these will entangle the people according to their deeds; some of them will fall and stay in Hell forever; others will receive punishment and will get out of Hell…” (Bukhari, #6573 and Muslim, #182) He stated the rest of the hadith, at the end of which he said: ‘Abu Sa’id (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) conforms with Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), and does not disagree with any part of his narration.’
Muslim stated the hadith narrated by Abu Malik Al-Ashga’i, from Abu Hazim, from Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), as well as from Abu Malik, from Rab’i, from Hudayfah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), both from the Prophet (pbuh) that he stated the hadlth of intercession (shifa’at), wherein he said: “So they will come to Muhammad (pbuh); and he stand and be given permission. Trusts (amanah) and ties of relationship will be sent forth and will stand on the sides of theBridge,right and left, and the first of you will pass like lightning.” I [Abu Hurayrah] said: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, what is like the movement of lightning?’ The Messenger (pbuh) replied, “Have you not seen how the lightning goes and returns in the blink of an eye? The next [group will pass] like the passing of the breeze, the next like the passing of a bird, and the next with the speed of a running man, according to the quality of their deeds. [During all this time] your Prophet (pbuh) will remain standing on the Bridge saying, ‘O my Lord! Keep (them) safe, keep (them) safe,’ until men’s deeds are so weak that a man comes by only crawling. On both sides of the Bridge, pronged flesh hooks, placed under command, will be hung and will seize those about whom they receive command,some people being lacerated (deep cuts) and escaping and others being thrown violently into Hell.” Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) added, “By Him in Whose Hand Abu Hurayrah’s soul is, the pit of Hell-fire is seventy years in depth.” (Muslim, #195)
In a hadith that was previously stated from Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ( anhu), from the Prophet (pbuh), he said: “… and Al-Sirat will be laid across Hell, it is as thin as a hair or a sword’s blade. It has hooks, tongs and clamps like the thorns of Al-Sa’dan. Below it is a slippery Bridge.” It indicates that Al-Sirat and the Bridge are two different objects, when the previous authentic hadiths prove they are the same thing.
Abu Khalid Al-Dalani narrated from Al-Minhal Ibn ‘Amr, from Abu ‘Ubaydah, from Masruq, from ‘Abdullah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) stated along hadith wherein he said: “The Bridge is as sharp as the sword’s blade, and slippery. It is said: ‘Be saved according to your light.’ Some of them pass like the shooting star,some will pass like the blinking of the eye,some will pass like the wind,some will pass over it like the fast runner and like a fast runner. They will pass according to their deeds. Until he, whose light is the size of his thumb, passes, with one hand slipping and the other hanging, with one leg slipping and the other hanging, so the fire hits his sides.” (Hakim in his al-Mutadark, 2/376-377) Stated by Al-Hakim, who deemed it authentic, as did other hadith scholars.
It is stated in Sunan of Abu Dawud, from Al-Hasan, from A.’ishah (radi Allahu ‘anha), that she remembered Hell-fire and she wept, so the Messenger (pbuh) said: “What is the matter with you, O A’ishah?” She said: “I thought of Hell-fire and wept. Will one remember his family on the Day of Resurrection?” The Messenger (pbuh) said: “There are three situations where no one will remember anyone: At the scale until one knows whether his scales are light or heavy; at [the examination of| the book [of deeds] when it is said:
“Here, read my record!” (Al-Haqqah (69): 19) ,
until one knows whether his book will be put into his right hand or into his left hand, or behind his back; and at the Bridge when it is set up across Hell-fire, on whose side there are many hooks and clamps, with which Allah captures whom He wills among His creation, until one knows whether or not he will survive.” (Abu Dawud, #4700)
Ibn Luhay’ah stated similarly from Khalid Ibn Abu ‘Imran, from Al-Qasim, from ‘A’ishah (radiyAllahu ‘anha), from the Prophet (pbuh), that stated [the three situations] with the scales. The flying of the books, the emergence of a neck-shaped object from the fire, and he said: “For Hell-fire, there is a Bridge that is thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, on which there are hooks and clamps that will take whom Allah Wills. People [passing] on it are like the blink (of an eye), the lightning, the wind, the good horses and riders. The Angels will say, ‘Our Lord! Keep (them) safe! Keep (them) safe! So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down on their faces into Hell-Fire.” Reported by Imam Ahmad. (Ahmad in his al-Musnad, 6/110 and its chain is weak)
Abu Salam Al-Dimashqi narrated from ‘Abdu’l-Rahman, that a man from Kindah said: “I came to ‘A’ishah (radiyAllahu ‘anha) and said: “Did the Messenger (pbuh) tell you of an hour where he has no power to intercede for anyone?” She said: “I asked him about this, and he said: ‘Yes. When the Bridge is set up, I have no power to intercede for anyone until I know where I am to be taken, and on that Day some faces will turn white and some faces will turn black, until I see what will be done with me,’ or did he say, ‘until I see what will be revealed to me, and at the Bridge when it is sharpened and heated.’ I said: ‘How will it be sharpened and heated? ‘ He said: ‘It is sharpened until it becomes like a sword’s blade, and it is heated until it becomes like live coal. As for the believer, he passes over it unharmed. As for the hypocrite, he hangs from it, until he reaches its middle, then his feet fall, and his hands fall to his feet. ‘ ” She added, ‘Did you see someone walking barefoot and being struck by a thorn that almost pierces his foot? It is similar [for the hypocrite]; he falls with his hands and head to his feet. ‘ She then continued, “‘So the Angels of Hell strike him with a grapple to his forehead and feet, throwing him into Hellfire, where he (continues to) falls for fifty years.’ I asked, ‘How heavy is the man?’ He said: ‘The weight of ten fat children. On that day,
“The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet. ‘“ (Al-Rahman (55): 41)
Stated by Baqi Ibn Mukhallad in his Musnad and Ibn Abi Hatim in his Tafsir. Its chain of narration includes unknown narrators, and some of its words are munkar [as they contradict authentic hadiths].
Authentic hadiths indicate that the Bridge is set up after the permission for intercession is granted, as previously mentioned. Imam Ahmad (Ahmad in his al-Musnad, 5/43) stated from Abu Bakrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “People are driven to the Bridge on the Day of Judgment, and they are thrown off its sides like moths in the fire, and Allah saves, with His Mercy, whom He Wills.”
Al-Hakim (Hakim in his al-Mustadrik, 4/586) also stated the hadith of Salman Al-Farsi (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) wherein the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The Bridge is set up, as sharp as the razor’s blade, so the Angels say, ‘Who shall survive this?’ Allah says, ‘Whom I will among My creation.’ They say, ‘Glory is for You! We have not worshipped You as You should be worshipped.’” Al-Hakim said: ‘It is authentic.’ However, it is known to be attributed to Salman (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) and not a saying of the Prophet (pbuh).
Al-Hakim also stated from Abu Razin Al- ‘Uqayli, that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “And you will pass on a Bridge of fire, where one of you steps on a live coal and says,‘Oh! Oh!’ and your Lord Says,‘(Proceed to) cross it.’”
Al-Bayhaqi stated from Ziyad Al-Numayri, from Anas (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The Bridge is as sharp as the razor’s blade or the sword’s blade. The Angels rescue the believing men and women, Jibrll will grab me by the waist. I will be saying, ‘O our Lord! Keep (them) safe, keep (them) safe,’ for the men and women who fall on that Day are many.”
He also stated from Sa’id Ibn Zarbi, from Yazid Al-Raqashi, from Anas (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Above Hell-fire, a Bridge is set up that is thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, its higher end is towards Paradise, and it is slippery. On its sides, there are hooks and clamps of fire with which Allah catches whom He wills. There are many men and women who fall on that day. The Angels are standing beside it saying, ‘O our Lord! Keep (them) safe, keep (them) safe.’ Whoever comes with truth on that day, passes. They are granted (far-reaching) light according to their faith and deeds;some of them pass as fast as lightning, some of them pass like the wind, some of them pass like a fast horse, some of them run quickly thereon, some of them at pace, and some of them are granted light that (only) covers the place underneath their feet. Some of them passit crawling, and the fire hits them due to sins they committed, whereupon the believer says, ‘In the name of Allah! Oh! Oh!’ And turns (in pain), and it burns whomever Allah wills among them according to their sins.” Al-Bayhaqi then said about Ziyad Al-Numayri, Yazid Al-Raqashi and Sa’id Ibn Zarbi, ‘They are not strong narrators.’
He also stated from ‘Ubayd Ibn ‘Umayr that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The Bridge over Hell-fire is like the sword’s blade. On its sides, there are hooks and clamps. People ride it and get captured. I swear by Him in whose hands my soul is, that with a single clamp, more people are taken than [the tribes of] Rabi’ah and Mudar.” This hadith is mursal. He also stated it through another chain of narrators attributed to ‘Ubayd Ibn ‘Umar and with a shorter text.
He also stated (through a chain of narrators) that Ibn Mas’ud (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: “The Bridge over Hell is as sharp as the sword’s blade.”
Al-Tirmidhi stated through a weak chain of narrators, from Al-Mughirah Ibn Shu’bah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The believers’slogan on the Bridge is, ‘Our Lord! Protect us! Protect us!”’ A similar hadith is narrated from Anas and attributed to the Prophet (pbuh) through a chain of narrators that is not acceptable. (Tirmidhi, #2434, Hakim, 2/385 and it is a weak hadith like al-Albani in Da’if al-]ami’, #3398)
Mansur Ibn Ammar narrated from Ibn Luhay’ah, from Abu Quayi, from ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (radi Allahu ‘anhuma), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The slogan of my Ummah when they are driven to the Bridge is, ‘There is no deity except You.’” This hadith is munkar; and Allah knows best.
It is stated in Sahih Muslim, (Muslim, #2791) from Masruq, from ‘A’ishah (radiyAllahu ‘anha), that she asked the Prophet (pbuh), “Where would the people be,
“on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth and the heavens [as well]’?…” (Ibrahim: 48)
He said: “On the Bridge.”
It is also narrated (A part of a long hadith mentioned in Muslim, #315) therein from Thawban, that a rabbi of the Jews asked the Prophet (pbuh), “Where will the people be, ‘on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well]?’” He (pbuh) replied, ‘They will be in darkness beside the Bridge.’” The Jew said: “Who amongst people will be the first to cross (this Bridge)?” He (pbuh) said: “They will be the poor from those who migrated (to Madinah).”
The two narrations can be reconciled by understanding the ‘darkness beside the Bridge’ the same as the Bridge, because there will be lights distributed for the passage upon the Bridge. The replacement of the earth and the heavens and folding of the heaven may take place when people are in the darkness, and extend during their passage on the Bridge; and Allah knows best.
Be aware that people are divided into believers who worship Allah alone and associate none with Him, and those who associate others with Allah. As for those who associate others with Allah, they do not pass on the Bridge, but rather fall in the Fire before the Bridge is placed. This is evidenced by what is stated in the both Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah will gather all the people and say, ‘Whoever used to worship anything (besides Me) should follow that thing.’ Thus, he who used to worship the sun, will follow it, and he who used to worship the moon will follow it, and he who used to worship false deities will follow them; and then only this Ummah will remain,including their hypocrites.” He stated the rest of the hadith until he said: “Then a Bridge will be laid over Hellfire. My Ummah and I will be the first to cross it.” ( Reference already mentioned earlier)
It is also stated (Reference already mentioned earlier) therein, from Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, a caller will announce, ‘Let every nation follow what they used to worship.’ Then none of those who used to worship anything other than Allah,like idols and other deities except will fall in Hellfire until there will remain none but those who used to worship Allah—both those who were obedient and those who were disobedient, and the remaining party of the People of the Scripture. Then theJews will be called upon and it will be said to them, ‘Who did you worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.’ It will be said to them, ‘You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son. What do you want now?’ They will say, ‘O our Lord! We are thirsty, so give us something to drink.’ They will be directed and addressed thus, ‘(There) will you drink,’whereupon they will be gathered unto Hell-fire, which will look like a mirage whose different sides will be destroying each other. Then they will fall into the Fire. Thereafter the Christians will be called upon and it will be said to them, ‘Who did you use to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship Jesus, the son of Allah.’ It will be said to them, ‘You are liars, for Allah has never taken anyone as a wife or a son,’ Then it will be said to them, ‘What do you want?’ They will say what the former people said. Then there remain (in the gathering) none but those who used to worship Allah [alone, the real Lord of the Worlds] whether they were obedient or disobedient. Then (Allah) the Lord of the worlds will come to them in an image nearest to what they had in their minds about Him. It will be said: ‘What are you waiting for?’ Every nation has followed what they used to worship.’They will reply,‘We left the people in the world when we were in great need of them and we did not take them as friends. Now we are waiting for our Lord Whom we used to worship.’Allah will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, We seek refuge in Allah from you. We do not worship any besides Allah (twice or thrice),’ until some of them will be about to return. He will Say, ‘Is there any sign between you and Him by which you will recognise Him?’ They will say, ‘Yes’ and the things would be laid bare. He who used to prostrate themselves before Allah of their own accord would be permitted to prostrate himself, and those who used to prostrate out of fear (of people) and ostentation, Allah would make his back as one piece, and whenever he would attempt to prostrate he would fall on his back. Then they will raise their heads and He will assume the Form in which they had seen Him the first time and will say,‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘You are our Lord.’ Then the Bridge will be set up over Hell-fire …” and they continued the hadith.
In another version from Al-Bukhari, it says, “Then Hell will be presented to them as if it were a mirage. Then it will be said to he Jews, cWho did you use to worship?’… “ and he stated the rest of the hadith with a similar meaning to the previous one.
This hadith explicitly states that everyone who declared worship for anything besides Allah, such as ‘Isa ( ‘alayhi as-salam) and Ezra, will join the disbelievers in falling into Hell-fire before the Bridge is set up. However, the worshippers of idols, the sun, the moon and so on of those who used to associate others with Allah will follow what they used to worship in the worldly life, and enter Hell-fire first with their worshipped deities. The Qur’an testifies to this meaning in the verse regarding Pharaoh,
“He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection and lead them into the Fire; and wretched is the place to which they are led. “ (Hud (11):98)
As for those among the People of Scripture who worshipped [Prophet] ( Isa and Ezra, they remain behind with the followers of Prophets, and they enter Hell-fire afterwards. It is stated in another hadith that those who used toworshipJesus will be shown the image of lIsa and follow it, and similarly those who used to worship Ezra. In the hadith of images, they are shown an Angel in the image of Jesus and an Angel in the image of Ezra, and no one remains except those who used to worship Allah alone openly—whether truthfully or deceptively—of this Ummah and others. The hypocrites are then separated from the believers by being prevented from prostration, and by the light that is dispersed among the believers as well.
The early scholars debated whether the hypocrite is given light along with the believers that is extinguished afterwards, or not given at all.
The First view: One group said that they are not given any light at all
Safwan Ibn ‘Amr narrated from Salim Ibn ‘Amir that he heard Abu Umamah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) say, “People are overwhelmed with an intense darkness—meaning on the Day of Judgment—then light is distributed, so the believer is given light. The disbeliever and the hypocrite are given nothing. This is the analogy that Allah stated in His book when he (the Almighty) said:
“Or [they are] like darkness within an unfathomable sea that is covered by waves upon which are waves, over which are clouds—darkness,some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light—for him there is no light. “ (al-Nur(24): 40)
Therefore, the disbeliever and the hypocrite do not gain light from the believer, just as the blind cannot see with the sight of the clear-eyed.
“On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, “Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light.” It will be said, “Go back, and seek a light… “ (al-Hadid (57): 13)
This is with which Allah has tricked the hypocrites. He, the Majestic said:
“…the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. “ (Al- Imran (3): 142)
They return to the place where the light was distributed but find nothing, so they return to them,
“And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.”
Until He said:
“…and how evil a journey’s end! ” (Al-Hadid (57):13-15)
Sulaym said: “The hypocrite remains deluded until the light is distributed and Allah distinguishes the believers from the hypocrites.” As stated by Abu Hatim.
He also stated what Muqatil Ibn Hayyan and Al-Dahhak narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) what supports this view; the chain of narrators is severed however.
The second view: Light is distributed among hypocrites along with the believers, just as they were together in worldly life, and then the hypocrite’s light is extinguished upon reaching the wall.
This view was reported from Mujahid. ‘Utbah Ibn Yaqdhan narrated from Ikrimah, that Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) said: “There is no believer except given light on the Day of Judgment. However, the hypocrite’s light is extinguished. Thereupon, the believer feels afraid of what he sees, and so,
“they will say,‘Our Lord, perfect for us our light” (Tahrim: 8)
when the hypocrite’s lights are extinguished.
The hypocrite’s passage on the Bridge was already stated in the hadith related from ‘A’ishah (radiyAllahu ‘anha), despite having weakness in its narrators.
Bishr Ibn Shaghaf conveyed that ‘Abdullah Ibn Salam (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: ‘When the Bridge is set up over Hell-fire, a caller calls out, Where is Muhammad (pbuh) and his Ummah?’ Thereupon, he (pbuh) will proceed, followed by his Ummah—both it’s pious and it’s wretched. When they get onto the Bridge, Allah snatches the sights of His enemies, they fall left and right in Hell-fire. The Prophet (pbuh) and the pious are saved. Then a caller calls out, ‘Where is ‘Isa and his Ummah?’ Thereupon, he (alayhis-salam) will proceed, followed by his Ummah—both its pious and its wretched. When they get onto the Bridge, Allah snatches the sights of His enemies, they fall left and right in Hell-fire. The Prophet and the pious are saved. Then they are followed by the rest of the Prophets and their nations. The last of which is Nuh may Allah bestow His Mercy upon Nuh.’ This was stated by Ibn Khuzaymah and others.
It is clear from what we mentioned in this chapter relating the hadiths narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), Anas (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) and others that the distribution of lights among the believers is according to their faith and good deeds, as is the case with their passage on the Bridge, in terms of speed. This is also stated in the hadiths narrated by Hudhayfah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) and others.
Abu’l-Za’ra’ narrated that Ibn Mas’ud (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: ‘Allah will Command the Bridge to be placed across Hell-fire, and people will pass according to their deeds in groups. The first [group] will pass as fast as lightning, the next [group] will pass as fast as wind, the next as fast as birds and the next as fast as livestock. Some people pass pacing, some pass walking, until the last of which pass crawling on their stomachs, so they say, ‘O my Lord! Why did You slow me down?’ He will Reply, ‘I did not slow you down, your deeds did.”
For belief and righteous deeds in this life are the straight path that Allah Commanded His servants to tread and remain firm thereon, and to request guidance thereto. Whoever walked straightforwardly on this straight path in this life, both in openness and in secret, their passage on the Bridge over Hell-fire will also be straightforward. Similarly, whoever did not remain on the straight path in this life, but strayed to the seduction of doubts or the seduction of desires, will be snatched by the Bridge’s hooks as much as he was snatched by the doubts and desires away from the straight path. This is what is stated in Abu Hurayrah’s hadith, “… these will entangle the people according to their deeds.” (Muslim, #182)
Al-A’mash conveyed from Salim, from Abu Al-Ja’d that ‘Abdullah said, regarding the verse,
“Indeed, your Lord is in observation. “ (al-Fajr (89): 14)
That means, ‘Beyond the Sirat are three Bridges; above the first is trust, above the second are the ties of kinship, and above the third is the Lord (Blessed and Exalted).’
Ayfa’ Ibn ‘Abdu’l-Kala’i said: “For Hell-fire there are seven arches, along with the Sirat. People are held at the first arch and called to account for the Salat (prayer); some of them perish and the rest survive. Then they are held at the second arch and called to account forTrusts—whether they fulfilled them; some of them perish and the rest survive. Then they are held at the third arch and called to account for the ties of kinship. “ (Reference already mentioned)
We have already stated more than one hadith regarding the detainment of rulers on the Bridge of Hell-fire and its quaking with them.
Abu Dawud stated the hadith narrated by Mu’adh Ibn Anas Al-Juhani (radijAllahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “If anyone attacks a Muslim saying something by which he wishes to disgrace him, he will be restrained by Allah on the Bridge over Jahannam until he is acquitted of what he said.” He (pbuh) also said in another version, “If anyone attacks a Muslim by saying something which he does not know, he will be restrained by Allah on the Bridge overJahannam until he is acquitted of what he said.” (Abu Dawud, 4883 and Ahmad in his al-Musnad, 3/441 and its chain is weak)
Abu Sulayman used to say, ‘If you hear a man saying to another, ‘Between you and me is the Sirat.’ (Meaning, ‘Our judgement will be settled over the bridge’ if they had a dispute.) Then know that he doesn’t know the Sirat or what it is. If he knew the Sirat, he would not like to be attached to anyone or have anyone attached to him.’
Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani used to say to his wife, ‘O Umm Muslim! Prepare for the journey, for there is no passageway on the Bridge of Hell-fire.’
Ibn Abi Dunya conveyed, through Mu’awiyah Ibn Salih, from Abu Al-Yaman, that a man,with black hair and beard,was sleeping one night. He saw in his sleep as if people were resurrected. There was a river from the flames of Hell and a Bridge, where people pass when their names are called out.When a man’s name is called, he responds—some survive while some perish. He was called by his name, so he entered upon the Bridge; he found it sharper than the sword’s blade and swaying with him left and right. When the man woke up, his head and beard had become white from the awe of what he had seen.’
Aswad Ibn Salim heard a man reciting these poetic verses:
Ahead of me is facing my Lord,
Questioning me and the veil is lifted.
It is enough, passing on a Sirat,
Sharp as a sword, above a flame.
Upon hearing them he fell unconscious.
It is narrated from Bishr Ibn Al-Harith, that Al-Fudayl Ibn Tyad told him, ‘O Bishr! The length of the Sirat is fifteen thousand leagues. Therefore, consider where you will be on the Sirat.’
Muhammad Ibn Al-Sammak said: ‘I heard some of the ascetics of Basrah saying, ‘The Sirat is a three thousand year journey: A thousand years to climb up, a thousand years walking straight, and a thousand years to climb down.’
Fayd Ibn Ishaq narrated that Al-Fudayl said: ‘The Sirat is forty thousand leagues long.’
Ibn Abi Dunya stated in his, Kitab Al-Awliya from Ja’far Ibn Sulayman, that he heard Malik Ibn Dinar asking ‘Ali Ibn Zayd, while crying, ‘O Abu’l-Hasan! Did you hear how long the ally of Allah is held on the Sirat?’ He said: ‘The length of time it takes some to pray an obligatory prayer which he perfected its bowing down and prostration.’ He said: ‘Did you hear whether the Sirat can accommodate the allies of Allah?’ He said: ‘Yes.’
He also narrated from Rashdin Ibn Sa’d, from `Amr Ibn Al-Harith, that Sa’id Ibn Abu Hilal said: ‘We heard that the Sirat is, for some people, thinner than a hair, and for some people, like the wide valley.’
Sahl Al-Tustari said: ‘The person for whom the path was tight in this life, the Sirat will be wide for him in the Hereafter, and the person for whom the path was wide in this life, the Sirat will be thin for them in the Hereafter.This means that whoever restricted himself in this life by following the divine Commands and refraining from prohibitions—which is the essence of maintaining the straight path—is rewarded by having the Sirat widened for him in the Hereafter. On the other hand, whoever indulged in this life by following the forbidden desires and was misled by doubts until he left the straight path, the Sirat will be too narrow for him in the Hereafter accordingly; and Allah knows best.’
Some of the early scholars saw a man laughing, so he said to him, “What makes you laugh? Your eyes should find no comfort until you leave Hell-fire behind you.”
Ahmad Ibn Abu’l-Hawari conveyed from Yunus Al-Hadha,’ from Abu Hamzah Al-Baysani, on the authority of Mu’adh Ibn Jabal (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), attributing to the Prophet (pbuh) that he said: “The believer’s fear is not soothed, noris his worry alleviated until he leaves theBridge of Hell-fire behind his back.” by Ibn Abl Hatim,who said: ‘Abu Hamzah is an unknown narrator, and Yunus Al-Hadha’ said: ‘Abu Hamzah’s narration from Muadh is mursal.”
And Allah knows best.
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
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John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.