If someone cannot stand even a single moment in Hellfire, then what would it be worth to stay there for one year? Or a hundred years? Or a thousand years? How can a thousand years in Hellfire be described as anything other than an eternity, even if it eventually comes to an end? Scholars who believe in the eternity of punishment in Hellfire are understandably cautious about overemphasizing the mercy of Allah, since some people will abuse this mercy to commit evil.
However, other scholars cite evidence that indicates all people will eventually come out of the Hellfire. A number of verses appear to limit the length of Hellfire, leaving it up to the judgment of Allah.
Allah said:
قَالَ النَّارُ مَثْوَاكُمْ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ
The Hellfire is your residence, wherein you will remain except as Allah wills. Verily, your Lord is wise and knowing.
Surat al-An’am 6:128
And Allah said:
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ شَقُوا فَفِي النَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ
As for those who were wretched, they will be in the Hellfire. For them therein is violent exhaling and inhaling, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills.
Surat Hud 11:106-107
And Allah said:
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا لِّلطَّاغِينَ مَآبًا لَّابِثِينَ فِيهَا أَحْقَابًا
Verily, Hell has been lying in wait for the transgressors, a place of return, in which they will remain for ages.
Surat al-Naba 78:21-23
At-Tabari records that the mitigating phrases used in these verses were interpreted by some of the early Muslims to include everyone who will ever enter Hellfire, not only Muslims or monotheists.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى جَهَنَّمَ زَمَانٌ تُخْفِقُ أَبْوَابُهَا لَيْسَ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا يَلْبَثُونَ فِيهَا أَحْقَابًا
There will come a time when the doors of Hell are blown open and there will be no one left in it. That is after they remain therein for ages.
Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 11:107
Those who accepted this view also observed that Allah frequently mentioned the uninterrupted reward of the people of Paradise, but he did not use similar phrases to describe the punishment of Hellfire. In other words, it is confirmed that Paradise is eternal and will last forever, while the same question about Hellfire is left unanswered.
Ibn Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
وَأَخْبَرَنَا بِالَّذِي يَشَاءُ لِأَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ وَلَمْ يُخْبِرْنَا بِالَّذِي يَشَاءُ لِأَهْلِ النَّارِ
Allah informed us of what he wills for the people of Paradise, so he said: A gift without end. (11:108) And he did not tell us of what he wills for the people of Hellfire.
Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 11:107
Hence, whenever the Quran says “they will abide therein” (khālidīin fīha), it is implicitly limited to however long Allah wills it to be. Their remaining in Hellfire “forever” is a rhetorical device, meaning they will be in it for ages and ages, and it does not literally mean for all of eternity.
At-Tabari records that some companions of the Prophet said:
فِي قَوْلِهِ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ تَأْتِي عَلَى الْقُرْآنِ كُلِّهِ يَقُولُ حَيْثُ كَانَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا تَأْتِي عَلَيْهِ
In his saying: Except as your Lord wills (11:107), this verse covers the entire Quran. Wherever it says in the Quran that they will abide therein, it has this meaning.
Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 11:107
Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:
ولكن مجرد ذكر الخلود والتأبيد لا يقتضي عدم النهاية بل الخلود هو المكث الطويل
Rather, the mention of eternity (al-khulūd) and forever (al-ta’bīd) by itself does not necessitate that it is without end, as eternity can mean to remain for a long time.
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