Al-A'raf (realm of afterlife)

This article is about a concept of part of the afterlife in Islam. For surah of the Quran, see Al-A'raf (surah).

In Islam, al-A'raf (Arabic: الأعراف literally translated as "the heights" in English) is a separator realm or borderland between Jannah (Paradise) and Jahannam (Hell),[2] inhabited by those who are evenly balanced in their sins and virtues, they are not entirely evil nor are they entirely good. This place may be described as a kind of benevolent purgatory with privation but without suffering. Some hadith depict that rather than this place being a middle ground purgatory in between Heaven and Hell, it is actually just the top layer of Hell, the least severe layer.

Scriptural basis

Al-A'raf is also the name of a surah in the Quran. The realm of Al-A'raf is described in ayat 46-47 of the surah:

There will be a barrier [ḥijāb] between Paradise and Hell. And on the heights [al-aʿrāf] ˹of that barrier˺ will be people who will recognize ˹the residents of˺ both by their appearance. They will call out to the residents of Paradise, “Peace be upon you!” They will have not yet entered Paradise, but eagerly hope to. When their eyes will turn towards the residents of Hell, they will pray, “Our Lord! Do not join us with the wrongdoing people.”

— Q.7:46-47[3]

Interpretation

In terms of classical Islam, "the only options" afforded by the Qur'an for the resurrected are an eternity of horrible punishments of The Fire (hell) or the delightful rewards of The Garden (paradise). Islamic tradition has raised the question of whether or not consignment to the Fire is eternal, or eternal for all, but "has found no reason to amend" the limit of two options in the afterlife.[4] However, 7:46-47 in the Quran has "led to a great deal of speculation concerning the possibility of a third place".[4]

This has been called the "Limbo" theory of Islam, as described by Jane Smith and Yvonne Haddad. It implies that some individuals are not immediately sent to The Fire or The Garden, but are held in a state of limbo.[4] Smith and Haddad believe it is "very doubtful" that the Qur'anic meant for al-aʿrāf to be understood as an abode for those deceased in an 'intermediate category", but this has come to be "the most commonly held interpretation".[5][6] As for who the inhabitants of al-aʿrāf are, the "majority of exegetes" support the theory that they are those whose actions in dunya were balanced – whose good deeds keep them from the Fire and whose evil deeds keep them from the Garden. After everyone else has been let into the Garden, and if the mercy of their Lord permits it, they will be allowed in.[7][8]

The realm is described as a high curtain between Hell and Paradise.[9] Ibn Kathir described A'raf as a wall that contains a gate.[8] In this high wall lived people who witness the terror of Hell and the beauty of Paradise.[8] Cyril Glassé describes al-A'raf as an "intermediary state" without suffering, inhabited by those who are without "fundamental fault" but who nonetheless require purification before being allowed into paradise.[10]

Al-A'raf has some similarities to the Christian concept of Purgatory. Al-Haafith Al-Hakami said about the people of Al-A‘raaf, "They will be kept between Paradise and Hell for a period of time that Allaah wills, then they will be allowed to enter Paradise."[11]

Surah

Main article: Al-A'raf (surah)

Al-Araf [12][13] is also the name of 7th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, with 206 verses (āyāt).

See also

References

  1. ^ Begley, Wayne E. The Garden of the Taj Mahal: A Case Study of Mughal Architectural Planning and Symbolism, in: Wescoat, James L.; Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim (1996). Mughal Gardens: Sources, Places, Representations, and Prospects Dumbarton Oaks, Washington D.C., ISBN 0884022358. pp. 229–231.
  2. ^ "An Exegical Study of Qur'anic Term Al-A'raf". Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  3. ^ "Al-A3raf, [translation by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]". Quran.com. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Smith & Haddad, Islamic Understanding, 1981: p.90
  5. ^ Smith & Haddad, Islamic Understanding, 1981: p.9091
  6. ^ For Western analyses of this question see Richard Bell, "The Men on the A'raf," Muslim World, 22 (1932), 43-48; Louis Gardet, Dieu, pp. 330-34; Tor Andrae, Les Origins, p. 85; Rudi Paret, "Al-A'raf," EI (New Ed.), I, pt. 1-10, pp, 603-04; Asin Palacios, Islam and the Divine Comedy, pp. 81 ff.
  7. ^ Smith & Haddad, Islamic Understanding, 1981: p.91
  8. ^ a b c The People of Al-A'raf
  9. ^ Questions on Islam - Who are the companions of Araf, which is mentioned in the Surah Al-Araf?
  10. ^ Cyril Glassé, Huston Smith The New Encyclopedia of Islam Rowman Altamira 2003 ISBN 978-0-759-10190-6 page 129
  11. ^ "Definition and destiny of the people of Al-A'raaf". www.islamweb.net. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  12. ^ George Sale translation
  13. ^ "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al A'raf". Quran 4 U. Retrieved 8 December 2019.


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