37/37. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4309 — Intercession After Punishment
Intercession
Intercession from Hell Hadith: Groups Brought Out and Revived
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4309
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4309
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَمَّا أَهْلُ النَّارِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَهْلُهَا فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَمُوتُونَ فِيهَا وَلاَ يَحْيَوْنَ وَلَكِنْ نَاسٌ أَصَابَتْهُمُ النَّارُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ أَوْ بِخَطَايَاهُمْ فَأَمَاتَتْهُمْ إِمَاتَةً حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا فَحْمًا أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي الشَّفَاعَةِ فَجِيءَ بِهِمْ ضَبَائِرَ ضَبَائِرَ فَبُثُّوا عَلَى أَنْهَارِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقِيلَ يَا أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَنْبُتُونَ نَبَاتَ الْحِبَّةِ تَكُونُ فِي حَمِيلِ السَّيْلِ " . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ كَأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَدْ كَانَ فِي الْبَادِيَةِ .
Abu Sa'eed Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “As for the people of Hell, who are its people (i.e., its permanent residents), they will neither die nor live therein. But there are some people who will be punished with fire because of their sins, whom it will kill, then when they have become like coal, permission will be granted for intercession for them.They will be brought, group by group, and scattered on the banks of the rivers of Paradise. It will be said: ‘O people of Paradise, pour water on them.’ Then they will grow like seeds carried by a flood (i.e., quickly).” A man among the people said: It is as if the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has been in the desert.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4309In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 210English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4309
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4309
This Hadith about intercession from Hell speaks about two groups in a careful way. First, it mentions the people of Hell who are its people, saying they will neither die nor live therein. Then it mentions other people who are punished with fire because of their sins or mistakes. The fire kills them until they become like coal, then permission is granted for intercession for them. They are brought group by group and placed by the rivers of Paradise. The people of Paradise are told to pour water on them, and they grow like seeds carried by a flood. The Hadith gives hope, but it also clearly shows the seriousness of sins and punishment.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith distinguishes between permanent people of Hell and others punished for sins.
- Intercession is mentioned after those people have been affected by the Fire.
- Their revival is described with the image of seeds growing after water.
