The path (1)
‘Abdullah ibn Hamoud al-Furaih
what is the path?
Linguistically: the wide path that is placed
In the Shariah: a bridge that is stretched over Hell; people pass over it into paradise
the path is confirmed in the book, Sunnah and the consensus:
From the book: His words Almighty:
﴿وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا﴾
“And there is none of you except he will come to it” [Maryam: 71]
Abdullah ibn Masood, Qatada, Zaid ibn Aslam (may Allah be pleased with them) who explained the passing over the Sirat. A group among them explained it; (including) Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) of entering the fire but they are saved from it.
As for the disbelievers and hypocrites, it is clear that they will enter the fire so the verse is most clear in relation to them.
From the Sunnah: the long Hadith of Abu Sa`id Al Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) and in it: “Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say: O God, keep safe, keep safe.”[1]
The Sunnah community has agreed upon its authenticity
the situation of the believers when they cross the path:
What preceded was that you got to know something about that. The believers; if the Sirat is placed over Hell, the situation will be complete darkness and under the Sirat there is dark, black fire. It is not possible to cross it except with the light of Allah Almighty so Allah Almighty gives them light as mentioned.
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ﴾
“On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment.” [Al Hadid: 12]
Their speed of crossing over the Sirat is based on their deeds. Do not think that crossing over the Sirat is easy. The fire is under it, the Sirat is slippery; the feet slip on it and it has hooked ****l that clings onto things and they plunder things quickly. It is enough to say that it is above Hell. Because of that, there is the supplication of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Messengers PBUT then: “O God, keep safe, keep safe.” That is not except because of the horror of the moment. People will pass by based on their deeds. Among the people are those whose deeds are few, not allowing him to pass and cross over the Sirat so they will into Hell. We seek refuge from Allah.
It came in Sahih Muslim, the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah and Huzaifa (may Allah be pleased with them) saying: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I narrated the Hadith of the intercession and in it: “So they would come to Muhammad (peace be upon him). He would then be permitted (to open the door of Paradise). Trustworthiness and kinship would be despatched, and these would stand on the right and left of the Path and the first of you would pass with (the swiftness) of lightning. He (the narrator) said: I said, O thou who art far dearer to me than my father and my mother I which thing is like the passing of lightning? He said: Have you not seen lightning, how it passes and then comes back within the twinkling of an eye? Then (they would pass) like the passing of the wind, then like the passing of a bird, and the hastening of persons would be according to their deeds, and your Apostle would be standing on the Path saying: Save, O my Lord, save. (The people would go on passing) till the deeds of the servants would be failing in strength, till a man would come who would find it hard to go along (that Path) but crawlingly. He (the narrator) said: And on the sides of the Path hooks would be suspended ready to catch anyone whom these would be required (to catch). There would be those who would somehow or other succeed in trasversing that Path and some would be piled up in Hell.”[2]
In the Hadith of Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him) that is agreed upon. The Prophet (peace be upon him): “…Then the bridge would be set up over the Hell and intercession would be allowed and they will say: O God, keep safe, keep safe. It was asked: Messenger of Allah, what is this bridge? He said: The void in which one Is likely to slip. There would be hooks, tongs, spits like the thorn that is found in Najd and is known as Sa'dan. The believers would then pass over within the twinkling of an eye, like lightning, like wind, like a bird, like the finest horses and camels. Some will escape and be safe, some will be lacerated and let go, and some will be pushed into the fire of Hell…”[3]
The Sheikh of Islam (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding the middle creed: “people pass over it based on their level of deeds. Among them are those who will pass with the blink of an eye; among them are those who will pass like lightening; among them are those who will pass like the wind; among them are those who will pass like the fast horse; among them are those will pass like camel riders; among them are those who will walk normally; among them are those who will walk quickly; among them are those who will crawl and among them who will step and fall into Hell.”
-We ask Allah for salvation of our sins in the world and (success) on the Sirat on the Day of Fleeing.
Ibn Hajar (may Allah be pleased with him) said when mentioning the trust and mercy in the previous Hadith: “meaning that they stand in the direction of the Sirat. The meaning is (regarding) the trust and mercy of the greatness of the situation and luxury of what is upon the slaves from taking heed of its rights. There are two positions for the trust, the tyrant, the follower and the cutter (of rights). They argue with the one whose rights (they took) and bear witness upon what is wrong. [4]
[1] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (7440). Narrated by Muslim number (183)
[2] Narrated by Muslim number (195)
[3] Narrated by Al Bukhari number (7440). Narrated by Muslim number (183)
[4] Look at: Al Fatah, volume 11, Kitab Al Riqaq, chapter of Al Sirat Jisr Jahannam