ETERNITY OF PUNISHMENT

The Muḥammadan religion teaches that all Muslims ( i.e . those who have embraced the religion of their Prophet) will be ultimately saved, although they will suffer for their actual sins in a purgatorial hell. But those who have not embraced Islām will suffer a never-ending torment in “the fire” ( an-nār ). Sūrah ii. 37 : “Those who misbelieve and call our signs lies, they are the fellows of hell, they shall dwell therein for ever” ( k͟hālidūn ). Sūrah xi. 108, 109 : “And as for those who are wretched—why in the fire shall they groan and sob! to dwell therein for ever ( k͟hālidūn ) as long as the heavens and the earth endure.” Al-Baiẓāwī says the expre ion “as long as the heavens and the earth endure,” is an Arabic idiom expre ing that which is eternal. Ibn ʿArabī (died A.D . 638), in his book Fuṣūṣu ʾl-Ḥikam , says the word k͟hālid in the verses quoted above does not imply eternal duration, but a period, or age, of long duration. Al-Baiẓāwī, the commentator, also admits that the literal meaning of the word only expre es a period of extended duration; but the Jalālān and Ḥusain both contend that its meaning is that of abadī , or “never ending,” in which no being will be annihilated, and which no one can ever escape. It is also to be observed that this word k͟hālid is that used for the eternity of bli of those in Paradise:— Sūrah xi. 110 : “As for those who are glad—why in Paradise! to dwell therein for ever” ( k͟hālidūn ).