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[6] There Is No Purgatory, or a Third Location, Besides Hell and Paradise

 

1- The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran about the inevitable fate of human beings in the Hereafter: "Thus We inspired you…to warn of the Day of Assembly, of which there is no doubt; a group in Paradise, and a group in Hell-Fire." (42:7). This indicates clearly that for all resurrected human souls on the Last Day, there is not a third option/location or an in-between place between Hell and Paradise.

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2- Upon dying, the Book of Deeds of any given dead person is closed/sealed forever; of course, the angels of death inform the dying soul of its irrevocable fate, either in Hell or in Paradise, in the Hereafter. This Quranic fact about the angels of deaths indicates clearly that there is no purgatory, or a third location, besides Hell and Paradise. The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "Those who have been unjust to their souls while the angels are taking them away - they will propose peace: “We did no wrong.” Yes you did. God is God is Aware of what you used to do.” Enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein forever. Miserable is the residence of the arrogant ones." (16:28-29). Of course, we could not help but notice that disbelief is not mentioned in the Quranic context 16:28-29; it is implied since the focus of 16:28-29 is on wrongs/sins of those dying souls that angels of death inform them of their fate in Hell; this means that the Quranic context 16:28-29 applies to sinful 'Muslims' who were unjust towards their own souls by committing grave sins and by their never repenting; their little faith/belief is never excusable or forgiven, and it will never be accepted by the Lord God; the souls of such unrepentant, arrogant sinners tell a lie to the angels of death: "…“We did no wrong.”…" (16:28) as if they try to apologize after it is too late for them. Yet, the angels of death rebuke them by reminding them that the Omniscient Lord God know their grave sins. Thus, even if they believed in the Holy Quran, their grave sins and their arrogantly disobeying the Quranic commands cause their dwelling for eternity in Hell as per 16:29.    

3- Upon Resurrection and Gathering of all human souls on the Last Day, their faces will have either of two colors with no third option: "On the Day when some faces will be whitened, and some faces will be blackened…" (3:106). This means that in the Holy Quran, there is not a third group vacillating or fluctuating between Hell and Paradise, unlike the case within the Sunnite myths/hadiths.

4- The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "For those who have done good is goodness, and more. Neither gloom nor shame will come over their faces. These are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein forever. As for those who have earned evil deeds: a reward of similar evil, and shame will cover them. They will have no defense against God - as if their faces are covered with dark patches of night. These are the dwellers of the Hell-Fire, abiding therein forever." (10:26-27). This means the monotheism, piety, and good deeds of repentant souls will result in their entering into Paradise forever, whereas the wrongdoing and grave sins of disbelievers will earn them Hell for eternity and not temporarily; besides, again, we notice in 10:27 that disbelief is not mentioned though it is implied; the emphasis is on the wrongs/sins of unrepentant sinners. Thus, even if such sinners believed in the Holy Quran and labeled themselves as 'Muslims', their grave sins and their arrogantly disobeying the Quranic commands will bring their fate in Hell for eternity in the Hereafter.

5- On the Judgment Day, all human souls will be divided into two groups only regarding how each soul will receive its Book of Deeds; this means that there is no purgatory, or a third location, besides Hell and Paradise: "As for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say, “Here, take my book and read it. I knew I would be held accountable.” So he will be in pleasant living. In a lofty Garden. Its pickings are within reach. “Eat and drink merrily for what you did in the days gone by.” But as for him who is given his book in his left hand, he will say, “I wish I was never given my book. And never knew what my account was. If only it was the end. My money cannot avail me. My power has vanished from me.” “Take him and shackle him. Then scorch him in the Blaze." (69:19-31). As for Sunnites who cling to hadiths/lies/myths about some souls which would be located within an in-between position between Hell and Paradise, they cannot answer how such souls will receive the Book of Deeds; will they have a third hand apart from the left and the right ones?!

6- Of course, as per the Quranic Chapter 39, the resurrected human souls will be divided within the Last Day into two groups only; one entering into Hell therein to abide for eternity and one into Paradise therein to dwell forever: "Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in throngs…It will be said, “Enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein eternally.” How wretched is the destination of the arrogant ones. And those who feared their Lord within piety will be led to Paradise in throngs. Until, when they have reached it, and its gates are opened, its keepers will say to them, “Peace be upon you, you have been good, so enter it, to abide therein eternally.”" (39:71-73). This means piety is the vital thing since Paradise is not for all believers/monotheists but only for the pious ones among them; their piety is reflected in their many good deeds, fearing the Lord God, and sincere repentance; in contrast, the unrepentant, arrogant sinners, even if they believed in the Holy Quran and labeled themselves as 'Muslims', are like disbelievers with no difference at all inside Hell since their little belief/faith never resulted at all in repentance, fear of the Lord God within piety, and performing good deeds.

7- Paradise dwellers will be the pious monotheists who deserve Paradise for their many good deeds and not for their monotheistic faith without good deeds: "For them is the Home of Peace with their Lord, and He is their Ally - because of what they used to do." (6:127); "…“This is Paradise you are made to inherit, on account of what you used to do.”" (7:43). Since Paradise dwellers vary in the timing of their repentance, their levels of piety, and the amounts of their good deeds, they will be divided into two ranks inside Paradise as per the Quranic Chapter 56; namely, the Forerunners (the higher and the nearer) and those on the Right (the lower rank). This means that the Forerunners have higher levels of piety and performed more good deeds and readily repented sooner when compared with those on the Right. The third group will include those on the Left who will be the Hell-dwellers. The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "And you become three classes. Those on the Right - what of those on the Right? And those on the Left - what of those on the Left? And the Forerunners, the Forerunners. Those are the nearest. In the Gardens of Bliss." (56:7-12); "And those on the Right - what of those on the Right? In lush orchards. And sweet-smelling plants. And extended shade. And outpouring water. And abundant fruit. Neither withheld, nor forbidden." (56:27-33); "And those on the Left - what of those on the Left? Amid searing wind and boiling water. And a shadow of thick smoke." (56:41-43). Hence, in light of the Quranic Chapter 56, it is a huge mistake that pertains to folly that some Sunnites, who adhere to hadiths/myths that contradict the Holy Quran, would assume that some of those on the Left would leave Hell to enter into Paradise. 


 

Would Sinful Muslims Get out of Hell to Enter into Paradise?
Most people assume that sinful Muslims who died without acceptable repentance will enter into Hell temporarily, as if to purge such sins within a purgatory stage, before getting out of Hell to enter into Paradise to abide therein forever. We refute this myth using the Holy Quran. We trace the roots of this erroneous notion in the eras before and after the descent of the Holy Quran. Refuting this notion using the Quranic verses clarifies the truth to all monotheists.
Signat ure: Dr. Ahmed Subhy Mansour – 1987 – Cairo – Egypt.

Translation By:
Ahmed Fathy
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