Hell
-
I suspect this will also be a very controversial issue.
I have never been able to accept the idea of a Mercifil and Compassionate God torturing his creation because they didn't believe.
The Qur'an is quite graphic - for example
As for those who reject Our Signs, We will roast them in a Fire. Every time their skins are burned off, We will replace them with new skins so that they can taste the punishment. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (456)
"These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord But those who deny (their Lord),- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins. In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said), "Taste ye the Penalty of Burning!" (2219-22)
I'm still not entirely sure what you guys believe about the traditional view of Hell in Islam - but I suspect (going on past experience) that you may have a very different interpretation and I would be interested to hear it.
-
Here is hell
http//www.astronomy.com/asy/objects/images/sun_full_disk_soho_09_14_1997.jpg
Here is heaven
http//www.incrediblejourney.net/sp/society/images/socaerial.jpg
If things like this exist in the mundane world, why is hell/heaven so hard to envisage? As for merciful compassionate God, you're lucky he placed you inside Earth and not outside
Arnold Yasin did a good piece on this - http//19.org/index.php?id=91,420,0,0,1,0
It seems he is using QXP there, which is not a direct translation (some people find it very hard to comprehend this).
-
Well it's not so much the idea of a physical or metaphorical place that bothers me.
It is torturing people for not believing in Him.
Seems very cruel.
-
8713...
-
check out this article
http//19.org/index.php?id=91,420,0,0,1,0
Thanks. I read most of it.
But even if one rejects the idea of eternal punishment in Hell and understands Hell in a metaphorical sense.
It still means people are being made to suffer horrible agony simply for not believing.
-
8713...
"Who will enter the Great Fire. In which they will then neither die nor live."
Still doesn't sound very Merciful.
-
Better to listen to the statement of people in hell
So you are saying "Tough luck, you should have listened and understood - you deserve to be tortured by my Merciful God."???
Is that meant to frighten me into believing?
-
"Who will enter the Great Fire. In which they will then neither die nor live."
Still doesn't sound very Merciful.
What is the state of neither living nor dying?
-
What is the state of neither living nor dying?
No idea - doesn't sound very nice though.
-
check out this article
http//19.org/index.php?id=91,420,0,0,1,0
I'm afraid that I find conflicting views in that article when thoroughly scrutinized. -
Thanks. I read most of it.
But even if one rejects the idea of eternal punishment in Hell and understands Hell in a metaphorical sense.
It still means people are being made to suffer horrible agony simply for not believing.
When you were on the other side (i.e a believer), what was your opinion about hell?
-
When you were on the other side (i.e a believer), what was your opinion about hell?
I used to think that it was a metaphore for the suffering we will endure because of any hurt we may have caused others.
-
Why is your opinion changed now?
I found it difficult to believe that this opinion truly reflected the the way the Qur'an described Hell.