Setting
Paradise and Hell argued with one another. Hell said: I have been assigned the arrogant and the tyrants. Paradise said: Why is it that only the weak, the insignificant, and the simple enter me?
Paradise and Hell argued with one another. Hell said: I have been assigned the arrogant and the tyrants. Paradise said: Why is it that only the weak, the insignificant, and the simple enter me?
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Paradise and Hell argued with one another. Hell said: ‘I have been assigned the arrogant and the tyrants.’ Paradise said: ‘Why is it that only the weak, the insignificant, and the simple enter me?’ Allah said to Paradise: ‘You are My Mercy by means of which I have mercy upon whomever I wish of My slaves.’ And He said to Hell: ‘You are My torment by means of which I torment whomever I wish of My slaves. Each of you will have its fill.’ As for Hell, it will not be filled until Allah, Blessed and Exalted, puts His Foot. It will say: ‘Enough, enough, enough!’ It will thus be filled, and its parts will come closer to each other. Indeed, Allah does not do injustice to any of His creatures. As for Paradise, Allah will create for it new creation (to fill it).”
Translations
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This Hadīth reports a conversation between Hell and Paradise. Hell boasts of being the destination of Allah's vengeance on the tyrants, the arrogant, and criminals, who disobeyed Allah and discredited His messengers. Paradise, however, complains that mostly the weak, the poor, and the humble are admitted to it. The dwellers of Paradise are, indeed, humble and submissive to Allah. Paradise and Hell have, in fact, had such a conversation, since Allah has endowed them with consciousness, discernment, reason, and speech. Nothing is beyond Allah's power. Allah settled the dispute between Paradise and Hell by saying to the former that it is His mercy by means of which He has mercy upon any of His slaves, and by saying to the latter that it is His torment by means of which He tortures any of His slaves. In other words, Allah created Paradise to have mercy by means of which upon whom He wills of His slaves, namely those who are blessed by Allah and made eligible to be admitted to Paradise. Likewise, Allah created Hell for those who disobeyed Him, namely those who disbelieved in Him and His messengers. Both destinations belong to the dominion of Allah, which He manages as He wills. He is not asked about what He does, whereas people are asked. It should be noted, however, that no one enters Hell except those who deserve it because of their deeds. Furthermore, Allah promised to fill Paradise and Hell with dwellers. Hell clearly asked to be filled; Allah says: {On the Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there some more?"} [Sūrat Qāf: 30] In response, Allah pledged to fill Hell with both jinn and humans. Paradise and Hell are the abodes of the jinn and humans after reckoning on Doomsday. Those who believed in Allah, worshiped Him alone, and followed His messengers, will end up residing in Paradise. On the other hand, those who disobeyed Allah and disbelieved in Him with arrogance, they will end up residing in Hell. However, Hell will be filled only when Allah puts His Foot. It will then get together and tighten upon those inside it. Indeed, Allah does not do injustice to anyone. The ''Foot'' must be affirmed as an attribute of Allah, without distorting its meaning, denying it, asking how, or drawing similarities between Allah and His creation. Finally, Allah, the Almighty, will fill Paradise with new creation that He will specially create for it.