Paradise, Hell and Issue of Permanence
This is according to Abol Qassem Alidoust, speaking at a session on interpretation of Surah Al-Fatihah. Following are excerpts from his remarks at the session:
We humans, will have two paradises and two hells in the hereafter and the Quran subtly refers to them. One paradise and one hell is outside of one’s Dhat and people enter them. The Quran has in various verses pointed to remaining in fire of hell permanently.
The Quran also sometimes refers to an internal paradise and hell. For example in Verses 6 and 7 of Surah Al-Humaza:
“It is a fierce fire created by God to penetrate into the hearts.”
Fire in this world burns first the skin and then the flesh and bones but the fire of hell, according to the Quran, is in hearts and burns from the inside.
In other verses God says: “Whosoever has turned away from it shall bear a burden on the Day of Resurrection and live in it for ever; how evil will that burden be for them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Verses 100-101 of Surah Taha)
God also says in Verses 88-89 of Surah Al-Imran: “…there they shall live for ever. Their punishment shall not be lightened, nor shall they be given respite. Except those who afterwards repent and mend their ways, Allah is Forgiving and the Most Merciful.”
Repentance is for this world and this verse shows that the internal hell is with man here in this world as well. We also have humans in whose heart there is paradise right now in this world.
So when someone commits a sin, he enters a halo of fire but it is the fire of the action itself. That is the meaning of permanence. As a matter of fact, here we have punishment and one who is punished but we don’t have anyone who punishes.
Another point here (in Surah Al-Fatihah) is the emphasis on Rahman and Rahim in the phrase “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful”. It may be an emphasis on the fact that the reason God has created us is because He is Rahman and Rahim. It was possible for Him not to create and not to give Rizq (substance) but He creates and gives substance because He is Rahman and Rahim.
