The Bridge, Basin, and Intercession
Paradise and Hellfire
Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: the Bridge, Basin, and Intercession.
The Bridge: It is a bridge that stretches above Hellfire, which all the people will cross. One of its sides is on the changed Earth and the other side is before Paradise and after Hellfire. The people will approach it to cross it but the blasphemers will not be able to get across. The blasphemers will fall off of it into Hellfire. The Muslims, on the other hand, are of two categories:
One category will not need to step on the bridge. Rather, they will fly over it.
Another category will step on it. Some of these will fall into Hellfire, and some will cross it safely.
The Basin: It is a place that Allah prepared for the people of Paradise, from which they will drink before entering Paradise. Each Prophet has his own basin from which his nation will drink. The biggest one is the basin of our Prophet, Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, which receives its water from the water of Paradise. Those who drink from the Basin will never be thirsty again. In Paradise, they will drink out of enjoyment.
The Intercession: Intercession is asking someone to grant good to another. Among those who will intercede on the Day of Judgment are the prophets, practicing scholars, angels, children for their Muslim parents, and martyrs for seventy (70) of their Muslim family members. Intercession is available for the Muslim major sinners who died without repentance.
The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said:
شَفَاعَتِي لأهلِ الكَبَائِرِ مِن أمَّتِي
Shafa^ati li’ahlil-kaba’iri min ummati.
Which means: “My intercession is [reserved] for the major sinners of my nation.” (Related by Abu Dawud.)
Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:
وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى وَهُم مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ
Wa la yashfa^una illa limani-rtada.
Ayah 28 of Suratul-Ambiya’ means: {They [the intercessors] do not intercede except for those who died Muslim.}
Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: Paradise and Hellfire.
Paradise: It is the abode of peace, enjoyment, and happiness. Allah prepared it for the Muslims. It contains rivers of pure honey, milk, and non-intoxicating wine, different from the wine of this world, and other everlasting enjoyments.
The enjoyment in Paradise is by both body and soul. Paradise has different levels, some of which are higher than the others. The highest level is the level of the prophets. The people of Paradise will not grieve, grow old, or die. They will be forever in Paradise, will never leave it, and will enjoy its everlasting bliss.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:
ألا هَل مُشَمر لِلجَنَّةِ فَإنّ الجَنّةَ لا خَطَر لها، هِيَ وَرَبّ الكَعبَةِ نُورٌ يَتَلألأ وَ رَيحانةٌ تَهتَزُّ وَقَصرٌ مَشِيدٌ ونَهرٌ مُطَّرِدٌ وَفَاكِههٌ كَثِيرةٌ نَضِيجَةٌ وَ زوجةٌ حَسنَاءُ جَمِيلةٌ وَ حلَلٌ كَثيرَةٌ فِي مُقامٍ أبديّ في حُبرَةٍ و نضرَةٍ في دَارٍ عَالية سَليمة بهية
Ala hal mushammirul-lil-Jannah. Fa’innal-Jannata la khatara laha. Hiya wa Rabbil-Ka^bati nuruy-yatala’la’, wa rayhanatun tahtazz, wa qasrum-mashid, wa nahrum muttarid, wa fakihatun nadijah, wa zawjatun hasna’u jamilah, wa hulalun kathirah, fi muqamin abadiyy(in), fi habratiw wa nadrah, fi darin ^aliyatin salimatin bahiyyah.
Which means: “Are there any who want to strive hard to receive the endowments of Paradise? Paradise has no equal. I swear by the Lord of the Ka^bah, it contains shining lights, pleasing fragrant plants, big castles, flowing rivers, ripe fruits, beautiful wives and many special clothes. [The residents of Paradise] will have beautiful faces. They will be immersed in endless bliss, living in high, sound, beautiful houses.” (Related by Ibn Hibban.)
Hellfire: It is also called Jahannam. It is obligatory to believe that Hellfire is the everlasting place of torture. Allah prepared it for the blasphemers who chose blasphemy and refused Islam. The torture of Hellfire is real and physical. Its heat is much more unbearable than the heat of this world. Similarly, its coldness is far more severe than the coldness of this world. It is existent now. It is located beneath the seventh Earth. The blasphemers dwell in it forever and will not leave it.
On the other hand, the Muslims, who committed the enormous sins and died without repentance, are of two groups:
One group is relieved by Allah from the torture of Hellfire by the Intercession of the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, or other intercessors. The first group will, by the mercy of Allah, enter Paradise without torture.
Allah will torture the other group for a period of time in Hellfire. Then Allah will order that they be taken out of it and will admit them to Paradise, because they died on Islam.
Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَنَ الْكَافِرِينَ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ سَعِيراً 64 خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَداً ۖ لَّا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيّاً وَلَا نَصِيراً 65
Innallaha la^anal-kafirina wa a^adda lahum sa^ira. Khalidina fiha abadal la yajiduna fiha waliyyaw wala nasira.
Ayahs 64-65 of Suratul-Ahzab mean: {Allah damned the blasphemers and prepared Hellfire for them, in which they will reside forever, without any supporter or savior.
