The views of the Ulema about Paradise and Hell.

 As has been said above the Muslim Ulema believe that paradise and Hell exist presently and this has been concluded through the previous verses but some ancient orators like Abu Hashim and Abdul Jabbaar believe that they do not exist but will be created later. They have cited the following verse 88 of Surah Qasas as proof:

“Everything will perish save His face”

They have said that if they exist now then they too will be destroyed at the end of the world. But then it will be contradictory to verse 35 of Surah Raad that says, “The bounties of Paradise are eternal.”

Allama Hilli has replied to this contention and said that the meaning of the words “Hilaak” and “Fana” here is that they will be rendered useless and it is true that when mankind and other things are destroyed then there can be no benefits from Paradise.

The other answer to this idea is that Paradise and hell are not manifest in this world and are hidden but death and destruction are evident (More explanation will be given later).

Some have even said that the verse “Everything will perish save His face” says that God and anything that is created without any material will be eternal. The term “The face of God” includes everything even the Paradise and Hell. The thing to be destroyed is this material world created out of matter.