Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 PhD graduate in Quranic Sciences and Hadith from the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Teachings, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor in the Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences at the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The issue of the eternity of punishment in the hereafter is one of the significant and challenging topics in Islamic sciences, including theology, philosophy, and exegesis. This subject has consistently attracted the attention of scholars due to its deep connection with fundamental concepts such as divine mercy, justice, and human nature. Theologians regard God as the absolute good, self-sufficient, and possessing vast mercy; meanwhile, human nature, according to the verse “And I breathed into him of My Spirit”, is rooted in the divine essence. Consequently, human errors are perceived as incidental issues that merely add impurities to one’s nature, and after punishment, a person returns to their original pure nature. However, some Islamic scholars, citing religious texts and prophetic teachings, do not see a need for eternal punishment and challenge this viewpoint. While some Islamic thinkers do not find a necessity for eternal punishment, this interpretation conflicts with divine revelation and prophetic teachings. The aim is to elucidate this issue and resolve the apparent contradiction. The research method is “content analysis”, which examines foundations such as the acceptance of the existence of the soul, its immateriality, and the eternity and immortality of the soul. Ibn Arabi emphasizes the concept of the unity of existence and divine mercy, asserting that eternal punishment does not exist for anyone, and ultimately, all creatures will return to God’s mercy. He believes that human errors, as incidental issues, cannot have a permanent impact on the divine nature of humans, and punishment is, in fact, a stage of spiritual evolution. In contrast, Allameh Tabatabai emphasizes the eternity of punishment based on rational and textual arguments, considering it compatible with divine justice. He posits that punishment and reward in the hereafter depend on the states of the soul, and if the soul becomes a permanent quality, punishment will be eternal. Although these two viewpoints differ in their general principles, each contributes to elucidating various aspects of the issue of the eternity of punishment, demonstrating that this topic requires not only a deeper understanding of religious teachings but also philosophical and theological reflections.
Introduction
The issue of the eternity of punishment and the immortality of the soul is a complex and fundamental topic in Islamic theology that has consistently attracted the deep attention of thinkers and scholars. The essential question of whether divine punishment for sinners is permanent has been examined not only in religious texts but also in Islamic philosophy and mysticism. In this context, Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai, as two prominent Islamic figures, have each analyzed this subject from their unique perspectives.
Ibn Arabi, one of the greatest Islamic mystics, presents a distinctive theory regarding the eternity of punishment. He emphasizes the concept of the unity of existence and divine mercy, asserting that ultimately all creatures will return to God’s mercy and that eternal punishment does not exist for anyone. This viewpoint has profoundly influenced Islamic mystical and philosophical thought and has led to various interpretations of verses and traditions.
On the other hand, Allameh Tabatabai, one of the foremost contemporary commentators and philosophers, analyzes the verses of the Quran and the teachings of the Imams regarding the eternity of punishment in his commentary “Al-Mizan”. He believes that several verses in the Quran emphasize the permanence of punishment, which is compatible with divine justice. Through precise textual analysis, Allameh Tabatabai seeks to elucidate the concepts of punishment and reward and their connection to divine will.
Prominent Islamic thinkers like Jorjani and Hilli emphasize that the soul, as an independent and immaterial essence, is immortal. This theory is based on several premises: first, the acceptance of the existence of the soul; second, its essence and immateriality; and third, the immortality of the soul.
Disagreements among Islamic scholars regarding the issue of eternal punishment in Hell relate to the relevant verses and traditions. Some Quranic verses explicitly affirm eternal punishment, such as:
Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:162: “And whoever wants to be punished, for him is Hell.”
Surah Al-Imran, 3:88: “Indeed, those who disbelieved and died while they were disbelievers, upon them is the curse of Allah and the angels and the people altogether.”
Surah An-Nisa, 4:169: “Indeed, those who disbelieved and died while they were disbelievers, they are the worst of creatures.”
Surah An-Nahl, 16:29: “So taste [the punishment], and We will not increase you except in punishment.”
Surah Hud, 11:106-108: “But as for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, they will have therein a moaning and a shriek; they will be eternally therein, as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord wills.”
Conversely, some verses limit eternity to a specific duration, indicating that some sinners may be released from punishment after a period.
Traditions also support both theories. For instance, a narration from Imam Baqir (AS) states that the last person to exit Hell will be a man who has spent a long time there and only mentions God’s name, emphasizing that no one remains in Hell forever, while other traditions present eternal punishment as a permanent reality.
Objective
This article aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the views of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai regarding the eternity of punishment. The research examines the theological and philosophical foundations of each thinker and seeks to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their theories. Furthermore, it explores the impact of these views on contemporary understanding of punishment and reward concepts in Islam. Given the importance of this topic in Islamic theology and its implications for religious and ethical beliefs, this research can contribute to a better understanding of the issue of eternal punishment and its effects on Islamic thought.
Using a “content analysis” method, the study investigates and analyzes the perspectives of these two prominent Islamic thinkers, Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai. This research seeks to demonstrate how these two thinkers analyze the issue of eternity and what theological and philosophical foundations they rely on to understand religious texts regarding eternity. Examining this topic not only aids in a better understanding of eternity in Hell and Paradise but may also expand philosophical and mystical horizons in Islamic thought.
Research Background
Numerous studies have been written regarding the views of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai. Some notable works include:
An article titled “Eternity in Punishment from the Perspective of Mulla Sadra and Ibn Arabi” by Mohammad Haidari Fard and Mohammad Kazem Farghani, published in the journal “Philosophical Studies of Religion”. This article examines and analyzes the views of Mulla Sadra and Ibn Arabi on the eternity of punishment and elucidates key concepts related to this topic, including their philosophical and mystical influences.
A thesis titled “Critique and Analysis of Ibn Arabi’s Theory on the Issue of Eternity in Hell from the Perspective of Allameh Tabatabai”, written by Maryam Alidoust at the Amol School of Islamic Sciences. This research provides a detailed analysis of the theories of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai regarding eternal punishment and the fate of those in Hell.
A thesis titled “Examining the Issue of Eternity with Emphasis on the Views of Allameh Tabatabai, Ibn Arabi, Fakhr Razi, and Zamakhshari”, written by Sara Miraji at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University. This research deeply explores the issue of eternity and immortality in punishment and reward in the afterlife and critiques various Islamic scholars’ views on this matter.
While the aforementioned articles and theses primarily focus on affirming or rejecting the issue of eternity in punishment from the perspectives of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai, this research will specifically investigate the theological foundations of this issue from the viewpoints of these two Islamic thinkers. Thus, this research provides a more precise analysis of the theoretical and theological foundations of this topic that has not been comprehensively addressed in previous works, highlighting the novelty and significance of this study on the eternity of punishment and the comparative analysis of the views of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai.
Conceptual Framework
To conduct a comparative analysis of the eternity of punishment from the perspectives of Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai, it is first necessary to examine three concepts: “eternity,” “theoretical foundations,” and “theological and philosophical.”
Eternity: Derived from the root خ ل د“”, it is understood by some linguists as permanence and continuity. The term خلود“” signifies being far from corruption and enduring in the state it previously was. This study adopts the first meaning, referring to eternity and immortality, as it is the focal point of contention among theologians.
Theoretical Foundations: “Foundation” refers to the basis or groundwork of an argument. In this research, the theoretical foundations are those scientific propositions discussed in theology or philosophy that serve as the basis for affirming or rejecting the issue of eternity.
Theological and Philosophical Foundations: The issue of eternity in punishment, a significant topic in the afterlife, relies on numerous foundations that can be explored in various fields, including Quranic studies, principles of jurisprudence, hadith sciences, literature, philosophy, and theology.
Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Ibn Arabi
Ibn Arabi, one of the greatest Islamic thinkers and mystics, addresses the topic of eternity in punishment in his works. His views are shaped by his philosophical and mystical foundations, including:
Unity of Existence: A key principle in Ibn Arabi’s philosophy, this theory posits that all beings are manifestations of the one divine existence.
Divine Mercy: Ibn Arabi asserts that God’s mercy prevails over His wrath, encompassing all creatures.
Mystical Experience: He emphasizes that understanding punishment and reward in the afterlife is closely related to the understanding and recognition of God.
Repentance and Return: He believes that the possibility of repentance and returning to God exists for all servants, which can lead to liberation from punishment.
Ibn Arabi argues that punishment in Hell may be temporary for some sinners, as ultimately all creatures will return to divine mercy. He points out that punishment can be viewed as a stage of spiritual evolution. His views on eternity and divine mercy are deeply philosophical and mystical, but face criticism based on religious texts and principles of divine justice.
Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Allameh Tabatabai
Allameh Tabatabai emphasizes the role of revelation and religious texts in understanding the afterlife and its details. He believes that one cannot comprehend the specifics of the afterlife solely through rational premises and relies on divine revelation for validation. He presents arguments for the eternity of punishment based on both rational and textual evidence, affirming that the verses of the Quran explicitly indicate the permanence of punishment.
Textual Evidence: Allameh cites Quranic verses that clearly affirm eternal punishment, such as Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:167, and highlights the absence of traditions contradicting this view.
Rational Evidence: He argues that the nature of the soul and its conditions in the afterlife are influenced by its actions in this world, which determines whether it experiences punishment or reward.
Conclusion
The issue of the eternity of punishment and the immortality of the soul is a complex and fundamental topic in Islamic theology that has consistently attracted the deep attention of thinkers. Ibn Arabi and Allameh Tabatabai, as two prominent Islamic figures, have each addressed this subject from their unique perspectives. Ibn Arabi emphasizes the unity of existence and divine mercy, believing that there is no permanent punishment for sinners and that ultimately all creatures will return to God’s mercy. In contrast, Allameh Tabatabai affirms the eternity of punishment based on the verses of the Quran and traditions, asserting that the details of the afterlife can only be understood through revelation. Both viewpoints face criticisms; the critiques of Ibn Arabi point to conflicts with religious texts and divine justice, while Allameh Tabatabai also encounters challenges in explaining the concept of eternal punishment. The findings of the research indicate that philosophical and theological foundations, such as the acceptance of the existence of the soul and its immortality, play a crucial role in the belief in the eternity of punishment. Additionally, Allameh Tabatabai emphasizes that reason is subordinate to revelation in understanding the details of the afterlife, while Ibn Arabi is compelled to reinterpret the Quranic verses to reconcile his views. These issues highlight the diversity and complexity of perspectives in Islamic theology and underscore the need for further examination in this area.
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