Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah: Non-Believers Won't Dwell in Hell forever

The question of whether Hellfire is eternal for non-believers has been a subject of theological debate within Islamic scholarship. Two prominent scholars, Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, presented views that diverged from the mainstream Sunni doctrine, suggesting that Hellfire may not be eternal for non-believers.

Ibn Taymiyyah's Perspective

Ibn Taymiyyah argued that Hellfire is not eternal for non-believers. He posited that the Qur'anic verses describing the eternal nature of Hellfire refer to the duration of punishment, not its absolute perpetuity. He cited the verse: "They wish to get out of the Fire but never will they emerge from it, and for them is an ongoing punishment" (Qur'an 5:37), interpreting it to mean that the punishment is ongoing but not necessarily eternal.

Ibn Taymiyyah also emphasized God's mercy, stating that it precedes His anger and that His mercy encompasses all things. He believed that eternal punishment would contradict God's attribute of mercy. Additionally, he argued that the purpose of Hellfire is to purify souls, and eternal punishment would negate this purpose.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya's View

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, in his work Shifā’ al-ʿalīl, discussed the duration of Hellfire for non-believers. He acknowledged the mainstream view of eternal punishment but also entertained the possibility that Hellfire might not be eternal for non-believers. He referenced the views of some early Islamic scholars who suggested that the punishment in Hellfire could eventually cease for non-believers, aligning with Ibn Taymiyyah's perspective.

However, in his later work Zād al-maʿād, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya appeared to reaffirm the traditional view of eternal punishment for non-believers, indicating a shift in his stance over time.

Conclusion

The views of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya on the duration of Hellfire for non-believers present an alternative perspective to the mainstream Sunni doctrine. While their interpretations are not widely accepted, they contribute to the broader theological discourse on the nature of divine justice and mercy in Islam.