There Will Be An Eternal Earth in Paradise but Not in Hell

Published in January 2, 2019

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

 We have received a question, via email, about the meaning of the good people inheriting the earth as per this verse: "We have written in Zabur, after the Reminder, that the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants." (21:105). In this transient world, the good people do not inherit or control the earth. We have written many times before about the fact that in the Hereafter, after the physical universe will be destroyed during the Hour, a New, Eternal Realm will emerge with eternal heavens and an eternal earth. We focus in the following points on the earth of Paradise promised by the Dominant Lord God to His good, pious servants. We also prove by some Quranic verses that there is no earth inside Hell.

Firstly: some brief points:

1- The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And the Trumpet will be blown, whereupon everyone in the heavens and the earth will be stunned, except whomever God wills. Then it will be sounded another time, whereupon they will rise up, looking on." (39:68). This verse is about the heavens and the earth of this transient world.

2- In the very next two verses, we read this about the earth of the Eternal Realm of the Hereafter: "And the earth will shine with the Light of its Lord; and the Book will be put in place; and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought in; and Judgment will be passed among them equitably, and they will not be wronged. And every soul will be fully compensated for what it had done. He is well aware of what they do." (39:69-70). Sinners/disbelievers will be on this earth during the Day of Judgment; they will wish to be annihilated instead of entering into Hell: "On that Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the messenger will wish that the earth were leveled over them. They will conceal nothing from God." (4:42).

3- When the Day of Judgment is over, the separation between sinners and good ones will occur; the disbelievers will be forced to march to the gates of Hell to enter into it, whereas the pious ones will be made to enter into Paradise through its gates: "Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in throngs. Until, when they have reached it, and its gates are opened, its keepers will say to them, "Did not messengers from among you come to you, reading to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "Yes, but the verdict of torment is justified against the disbelievers." 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).

4- This Eternal Paradise will be within an eternal earth in the Hereafter: "And they will say, "Praise be to God, who has fulfilled His promise to us, and made us inherit the earth, enjoying Paradise as we please." How excellent is the reward of the workers." (39:74).

5- This is the eternal earth of Paradise promised for the faithful pious ones who obeyed their Lord God; this eternal earth of Paradise is mentioned in the following verses.

5/1: "We have written in Zabur, after the Reminder, that the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants. Indeed, in this is a message for people who worship." (21:105-106).

5/2: "Those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "We will expel you from our land, unless you return to our religion." And their Lord inspired them: "We will destroy the unjust ones." "And We will settle you on the earth after them. That is for him who fears My Majesty, and fears My threats."" (14:13-14).

6- This eternal earth of the Hereafter will derive its light from the Lord God's Light; this is during the Last Day before Hell-dwellers enter into Hell and the pious ones enter into Paradise for eternity: "And the earth will shine with the Light of its Lord; and the Book will be put in place; and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought in; and Judgment will be passed among them equitably, and they will not be wronged.  And every soul will be fully compensated for what it had done. He is well aware of what they do." (39:69-70).

6/1: After sinners enter into Hell, they will no longer experience the Light of the Lord God; they will experience the torment of Hell-Fire forever: "Not at all. On that Day, they will be screened from their Lord. Then they will burn in Hell." (83:15-16).

6/2: There will be a fence or a wall separating between Paradise-dwellers (and their light) and Hell-dwellers (sinners, disbelievers, and hypocrites): "On the Day when you see the believing men and believing women-their light radiating ahead of them, and to their right: "Good news for you today: gardens beneath which rivers flow, dwelling therein forever. That is the great triumph." On the Day when the hypocritical men and hypocritical women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us; let us absorb some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you, and seek light." A wall will be raised between them, in which is a gate; within it is mercy, and outside it is torment." (57:12-13).

7- The Lord God's Light here means mercy and being spared from Hell, as we infer from the following verses.

7/1: "On the Day when some faces will be whitened, and some faces will be blackened. As for those whose faces are blackened: "Did you disbelieve after your belief?" Then taste the torment for having disbelieved. But as for those whose faces are whitened: they are in God's mercy, remaining in it forever." (3:106-107).

7/2: "You will see every community on its knees; every community will be called to its Book: "Today you are being repaid for what you used to do. This Book of Ours speaks about you in truth. We have been transcribing what you have been doing." As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is the clear triumph." (45:28-30).

Secondly: the earth of Paradise has Gardens beneath which rivers flow:

1- The eternal earth will remain only for the pious one who will be the dwellers of Paradise whose Gardens and rivers are so many, where they will be settled within comfort; this is a repeated Quranic phrase in several verses about Paradise: (gardens beneath which rivers flow).  

2- These rivers of Paradise are linked to homes of the Paradise-dwellers, as we infer from the following verses.

2/1: "God promises the believers, men and women, gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, and fine homes in the Gardens of Eden. But approval from God is even greater. That is the supreme achievement." (9:72). The best reward for Paradise-dwellers is their receiving greetings and peace from the Lord God: "They will have therein fruits. They will have whatever they call for. Peace - a saying from the Most Merciful Lord." (36:57-58).

2/2: "He will forgive you your sins; and will admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and into beautiful homes in the Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme success." (61:12).

3- Paradise also contains multi-story chambers within homes linked to its rivers.

3/1: "Those will be awarded the Chamber for their patience, and will be greeted therein with greetings and peace." (25:75).

3/2: "Those who believe and work righteousness - We will settle them in Paradise, in Chambers under which rivers flow, dwelling therein forever. Excellent is the compensation for the workers." (29:58).

3/3: "...These will have a double reward for what they did; and they will reside in the Chambers, in peace and security." (34:37).

3/4: "But those who fear their Lord will have Chambers upon Chambers, built high, with streams flowing beneath them. The promise of God; and God never breaks a promise." (39:20).

4- There will be beds in these Chambers of Paradise; these beds are described in the following verses.

4/1: "...on beds facing one another." (15:47); "In the Gardens of Bliss. On beds, facing one another." (37:43-44).

4/2: "Relaxing on luxurious beds; and We will couple them with gorgeous spouses." (52:20).

4/3: "In a lofty Garden. In it you will hear no nonsense. In it is a flowing spring. In it are raised beds." (88:10-13).

5- The luxurious furnishings and couches of Paradise are described in the following verses.

5/1: "These will have the Gardens of Eden, beneath which rivers flow. Reclining on comfortable furnishings, they will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and will wear green garments of silk and brocade. What a wonderful reward, and what an excellent resting-place." (18:31).

5/2: "The dweller of Paradise, on that Day, will be happily busy.They and their spouses, in shades, reclining on couches." (36:55-56).

5/3: There are more details in the following verses.

5/3/1: "Reclining therein on the couches; experiencing therein neither sun, nor frost. Its shade hovering over them, and its fruit brought low within reach. Passing around them are vessels of silver, and cups of crystal. Crystal of silver - they measured them exactly. They will be served therein with a cup whose flavor is Zanjabeel (ginger). A spring therein named Salsabeel. Passing among them are eternalized youths. If you see them, you would think them sprinkled pearls. Wherever you look, you see bliss, and a vast kingdom. Upon them are garments of green silk, and satin. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Lord will offer them a pure drink. "This is a reward for you. Your efforts are well appreciated."" (76:13-22).

5/3/2: "Indeed, the righteous will be amid bliss. On couches, looking on. You will recognize on their faces the radiance of bliss. They will be given to drink a sealed wine." (83:22-25).

5/3/3: "And cups set in place. And cushions set in rows. And carpets spread around." (88:14-16).

Thirdly: there is no earth inside Hell for its dwellers:

1- The Hell-dwellers will be moved forever in their eternal torment; they will never settle in one location inside Hell: "If those who disbelieve only knew, when they cannot keep the fire off their faces and off their backs, and they will not be helped. In fact, it will come upon them suddenly, and bewilder them. They will not be able to repel it, and they will not be reprieved." (21:39-40).

2- For more details about torment of Hell, we refer readers to our book, in English, titled "Torment and Torture within a Quranist Vision", found on this link:    http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=136  . We assert here that the constant movement is part of the cycle or mechanism of torment of the Hell-dwellers, as per the following verses.

2/1: "This is Hell that the criminals have denied. They circulate between it and between seething water." (55:43-44).

2/2: "When the yokes are around their necks, and they will be dragged by the chains. Into the boiling water, then in the Fire they will be consumed." (40:71-72).

2/3: The following verses are about the Tree of Bitterness inside Hell.

2/3/1: "Is this a better hospitality, or the Tree of Bitterness? We made it an ordeal for the unjust. It is a tree that grows from the bottom of Hell. Its fruits are like the devils' heads. They will eat from it, and fill their bellies with it. Then, on top of it, they will have a brew of boiling water. Then their return will be to the Blaze." (37:62-68).

2/3/2: "The Tree of Bitterness. The food of the sinners. Like molten lead; boiling inside their bellies. Like the boiling of seething water.Seize him and drag him into the midst of Hell! Then pour over his head the torment of the seething water!" (44:43-48).

2/3/3: "Then you, you misguided, who deny the Truth. Will be eating from the Tree of Bitterness. Will be filling your bellies with it.Will be drinking on top of it boiling water. Drinking like thirsty camels drink." (56:51-55).

3- The Hell-dwellers will never get out of Hell, however hard they try to get nearer to its closed gates, as angels/guardians of Hell will prevent their escape; we know this from the following verses.

3/1: "But as for those who transgressed, their shelter is the Fire. Every time they try to get out of it, they will be brought back into it, and it will be said to them, "Taste the torment of the Fire which you used to deny."" (32:20).

3/2: "Here are two adversaries feuding regarding their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be tailored for them, and scalding water will be poured over their heads. Melting their insides and their skins. And they will have maces of iron. Whenever they try to escape the gloom, they will be driven back to it: "Taste the torment of burning."" (22:19-22).