The Religion Of The Ignorant

One group in the Religion of the Ignorant regard themselves as justified in committing all kinds of sin and unlawful actions with the idea, spread from person to person, that they will enter Paradise after spending a while in Hell. After spending a period of time suffering discomfort in Hell, they imagine they are guaranteed to enter Paradise. In fact, this is a superstitious belief and another example of human beings deceiving themselves. The Qur'an makes the following reference on this subject:

That is because they say, "The Fire will only touch us for a number of days." Their inventions have deluded them in their religion. But how will it be when We gather them all together for a Day about which there is no doubt? Every self will be paid in full for what it earned. They will not be wronged. (Surah Al 'Imran, 24-25)

Another verse refers to this superstitious belief in these terms:

They say, "The Fire will only touch us for a number of days." Say, "Have you made a contract with Allah—then Allah will not break His contract—or are you rather saying about Allah what you do not know?" (Surat al-Baqara, 80)

Yet the position is not like they imagine. In the very next verse, the situation in the Hereafter is reported as follows:

No indeed! Those who accumulate bad actions and are surrounded by their mistakes, such people are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Surat al-Baqara, 81)

The reason why adherents of Ignorantism and all unbelievers in general are able to behave so easily and unconcernedly on the subject of the torments of Hell and regard themselves as definitely bound for Paradise stems from the fact that their belief in Allah and the Hereafter is weak. Believers, on the other hand, are very sensitive on this subject and never regard themselves as inevitably destined for Paradise. On the contrary, they constantly pray to Allah to forgive their sins and for their hearts to remain true. Examples of this are such prayers as:

"Our Lord, do not make our hearts swerve aside after You have guided us..." (Surah Al 'Imran, 8)

The Prophet Yusuf (as) also prayed in the words:

"…take me as a Muslim at my death and join me to the people who are righteous." (Surah Yusuf, 101)