Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Say a person dies and goes to Heaven i.e. he gets everything he wants and lives in total happiness. What if someone he loves a great deal - dies and enters Hell. The person in Heaven will be unhappy to see this happen and will miss that person. The point is that if you are in Heaven and you will get everything then you should have all your loved ones with you - otherwise it is not like Paradise for you. Please answer my question since I have been wondering what would happen in such a situation which could easily occur. Do we have to simply put up with it and enjoy the other aspects of Heaven or will that person be deleted from our memories? I beg Allah that He may forgive me if I have said anything bad here.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Friend loved one in hell fire

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 50 Surah Qaaf verse 35:

There they (the men and women of Paradise) shall have all that they will desire, and We have with Us yet more for them!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqan verses 15-16:

Ask them, “Is this (the Fire) better, or the Everlasting Gardens which have been promised to the God-fearing, righteous people (men and women)?”. That will be the recompense of their good deeds and the final destination of their journey, wherein, they will get everything they desire, and wherein they will dwell forever. This is a promise which your Lord has taken upon Himself to fulfill.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 119:

Allah will say: "This is a Day on which the Truthful will profit from their Truth: theirs are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home: Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah: that is the Great Salvation (the fulfillment of all desires).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Al-Bayyinah verse 8:

Their reward is with Allah: Gardens of Eternity Beneath which rivers flow; They will dwell therein for ever; Allah well pleased with them and they with Him: all this for such as fear their Lord and Cherisher.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 17:

No living being knows what comfort of the eyes has been kept hidden from them, as a recompense (in Paradise) for their (righteous) deeds!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.467 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah, The High and Exalted He is, said, 'I have prepared for My pious slaves things (in Paradise) which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or (even) imagined by a human being.'

Your Question: What if someone he loves a great deal - dies and enters Hell. The person in Heaven will be unhappy to see this happen and will miss that person.

Dear and beloved brother, more often than not, the concept of love (or even hatred) in the life of this world borders towards the extremes! One may love someone or something more than it deserves, or one may even hate someone or something more than it deserves! No wonder then that man has coined this concept that ‘Love is blind!!!’

But in the eternal and just life of the Hereafter, when the Reality of all things in its proper perspective, becomes absolutely clear to each individual, one’s concept of ‘love’ will be absolutely balanced and based on justice and truth.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa-Meem verse 19:

19 On the Day (of Judgment) that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire, they will be marched (towards the Fire) in ranks.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa-Meem verses 28-29:

28 Such is the requital of the enemies of Allah, the Fire: therein will be for them the eternal home: a (fit) requital for that they were wont to reject Our Signs!

29 And the Unbelievers will say: "O Our Lord! Show us those (our friends) among Jinns and men who misled us: we shall crush them beneath our feet so that they become the vilest (of all)."

On that Tumultuous and Inevitable Day of Judgment, when one sees and realizes the Truth, one will also know with absolute and total conviction that every person who was condemned to the Hell Fire was condemned to it only because of his evil deeds. Even if that person was one’s closest and intimate friend and companion, or even a close blood-relative, the people of Paradise will align their love with Allah Subhanah and openly declare their hatred and enmity towards the enemies of Allah who are now all condemned forever to the Hell Fire!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 27 Surah Saafaat Verses 51-57:

51 One of them (the dwellers of Paradise) will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth)

52 Who used to say `What? Art thou (really) amongst those who bears witness to the Truth (of the Message)?

53 When we die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?' "

54 (A voice) said: "Would ye like to look down (towards Hell Fire)?"

55 He looked down and saw him (his intimate friend) in the midst of the Fire.

56 He said: "By Allah! Thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

57 Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there, in the Fire)!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 67-70:

67 Friends on that Day will be enemies to one another, except for the Righteous.

68 My devotees! No fear shall be on you that Day nor shall ye grieve

69 (Being) those who have believed in Our Signs and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.

70 Enter ye the Garden, ye and your wives, in rejoicing.

Allow us to relate an example to make the matter a little clearer. Suppose there is a person who I know with absolute conviction disrespects, curses, and abuses the person whom I love and respect more than anyone in creation…my mother; would it be possible for me to make such a person my companion, leave alone my intimate friend or have any feelings or loyalties towards such a person???

Similarly, when on the Day of Judgment, when one sees their friend or loved one being condemned by the All-Knowing, All-Just Lord to the Hell Fire, one will have absolutely no love or feelings or remorse for those who denied and rejected Allah Subhanah and His Guidance to the Truth.

Without an iota of a doubt, on that Inevitable Day of Judgment, one’s Love for Allah Subhanah and the Truth will supercede the ‘love’ one may have had for anyone and anything in existence!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 58 Surah Mujadila verse 22:

22 Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who resist Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred! For such He has written Faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow to dwell therein (for ever). Allah will be well pleased with them and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Truly it is the Party of Allah that will achieve Felicity.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan