Question:
The Qur’an says in Surah Al-Haqqah, verse 30: “Seize him and cast him into Hellfire.” This seems to indicate direct entry into Hell. However, we understand that there is a bridge (Sirat) over Hell that all must cross, and only after crossing it do people enter Paradise or Hell. Is there a contradiction?
Answer:
“Seize him and drag him, then cast him into the Hellfire” – he quotes a Quranic verse like this. So, it says to seize the disbelievers and cast them into Hellfire. So, it says to seize them directly and cast them into Hellfire. But what do we understand? There is a bridge, a bridge over Hell, and one must cross that bridge to enter Paradise. He asks if this is specifically for that. What is he asking? He asks what the meaning of “Seize him and cast him into Hellfire” is. It implies that they are seized and thrown into Hell.
But how do the hadiths about entering Hell describe it? After the judgment is passed, a bridge will be set up over Hell. When they try to cross that bridge, the inhabitants of Hell will be falling off in clusters. Those who cross it will go on to Paradise. This seems contradictory to the verse. That is the nature of his question. The question he is asking is that this seems different.
Based on the Quran, even if a verse says “seize and cast into Hellfire,” we must look at what other verses say and combine them to reach a conclusion. What do other verses say? In Surah Maryam, verses 71 and 72, what is there? “There is not one among you who will not pass over it (Hell). This is a decree from your Lord that is inevitable. Then We will save those who feared Allahﷻ and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.”
The Quran says there is no one who will not go to Hell. Then Allahﷻ says He will save the righteous and leave the wrongdoers there. So, if we ask how Paradise and Hell will be on the Day of Judgment, there is a gathering place (Mahshar). After the Mahshar, there is Hell. After Hell, there is Paradise. How has Allahﷻ arranged the path to Paradise after Hell? A bridge is set up over Hell. You must cross that bridge to go to Paradise.
Whoever Allahﷻ has decreed will be among the people of Paradise will cross easily and reach Paradise. Some will cross quickly, some will crawl, and there will be various speeds. Whoever Allahﷻ has decreed will not enter Paradise, as soon as they place a foot on the bridge, they will fall into Hell. One might fall after ten steps, and so on. This is how it is.
This is what Allahﷻ is indicating in the Quran when He says: “There is not one among you who will not pass over it (Hell). This is a decree from your Lord that is inevitable.” After stating this, He says He will save the righteous. This means He will enable them to cross. Therefore, any verses or hadiths that mention casting into Hell should be understood in this way: they will go to Hell, and being cast into Hell refers to being thrown off the bridge. If someone is meant to be in Hell, they will fall when thrown off the bridge. They will not be able to balance themselves or walk on the bridge. There is no contradiction or confusion in this.
There is no contradiction. Other Qur’anic verses clarify this matter. In Surah Maryam, verses 71-72, Allahﷻ says: “There is none of you except that he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. Then We will save those who feared Allahﷻ and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.“
Every person, whether destined for Paradise or Hell, must come to Hell and cross the bridge that spans over it. The righteous will cross safely and enter Paradise. The wicked will fall into Hell. When the Qur’an says, “cast him into Hellfire,” it refers to this process—the wicked are cast into Hell after failing to cross the bridge. There is no confusion; the verses complement one another.