Absolute Evidence in Quran and Sunnah that the Disbelievers Shall Abide Perpetually in Hellfire

5-12-2020 | IslamWeb

Question:

bismillah.in Tafsir Ibn Kathir in surah 45:35 it says that some people will be punished without limit or delay? what is the evidence for this infinite intense pain that will afflict the disbelievers? where in the Quran or Sunnah does it say that? the only thing I could find was reward without limit in surah 39:10. As Salamu Alaykum.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allah, The Exalted, informed us in more than one verse in His Book that the disbelievers shall abide perpetually in Hellfire and that their torment therein will not be made lighter and they will not be allowed to go out of it. Similarly, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us in his Sunnah that the disbelievers shall abide eternally in Hellfire. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together,* Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.} [Quran 2:161-162]

He also Says (what means): {Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong [or injustice] – never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path.* Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allah, is [always] easy.} [Quran 4:168-169]

Moreover, He Says (what means): {Indeed, Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a Blaze.* Abiding therein forever, they will not find a protector or a helper.} [Quran 33:64-65]

He also Says (what means): {They will wish to get out of Hellfire, but never are they to emerge therefrom, and for them is an enduring punishment.} [Quran 5:37]

And He Says (what means): {So that Day they will not be removed from it, nor will they be asked to appease [Allah].} [Quran 45:35]

It was narrated on the authority of Anas about the intercession of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for the Muslim sinners who shall enter Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “And then I will intercede, and Allah will fix a limit for me (as to the number of people) to intercede for, whom I will let into Paradise, then I will come back for the fourth time and will say, ‘None remains in Hellfire but those whom the Quran has confined (in Hellfire) and who have been destined to an eternal stay therein.’” (The compiler) Abu ‘Abdullaah said: “His saying, ‘those whom the Quran has confined (in Hellfire),’ refers to the Saying of Allah (which means): {…to abide eternally therein…}” [Al-Bukhaari]

Allah Knows best.