There are umpteen hadith in the Shia and Sunni books about A’raf. We will come to the same conclusion after we study them closely as has been said in our interpretation of the verses.

Some people have said that are many hadiths as far as 28 (1) some speak about A’raf and some about those elevated persons who are stationed there. Some others speak about those weak believers who may be punished. We will suffice with a few examples:

Imam Sadiq replied to a question raised about the explanation of the verse, “There will be a screen between them”. He said, “A’raf is a wall between Paradise and Hell.” (1)

The same meaning has been quoted by Tabari from Imam Baqir. (2) The Imam explained the meaning of, “and the people in A’raf will call out to those in Hell…”

He said: “this verse is about this Ummah and the word “Rijaal” means the progeny of the Messenger.

The narrator says, “I asked him “what is A’raf?”

 He said: “It is a path between Paradise and Hell. Those among the sinners for whom any one of us Imam intercedes will get salvation and those we do not help will fall down or be the losers” (3)

Tabarisi has mentioned on Hadith in Majmaul Bayan from Imam Sadiq to have said:

“A’raf is a hill between Paradise and Hell where the Messenger and his successor stand and keep watch just like the commander of an army who waits on difficult roads with the weak ones.” (4)

The hadith has told us that the those who have done good deeds will first go to Paradise and the dine ones will speak to those left behind “ Look at the brothers who did good deeds who have gone before you to Paradise. The sinners will look at them and greet them and the Qura’n says:

“They shall not have entered it though they would hope to do so.”

So the sinners will also be given salvation and enter paradise because of the Messenger and the Imam. The remaining verses do not have any doubts after this explanation. The link between the four verses that we have quoted is according to our explanation.

The same is found in the Hadiths. (5)

 Durre Manshur quotes the Messenger to have said:

“God will gather every soul on the Day of Judgment. He will tell those who merit Paradise to go there. The sinners will be ordered to go to Hell. The people of A’raf will be asked “ what do you wait for?’ they will plead “ Lord we await your command. “ they will be told “ Your good deeds have saved you from Hell but your sins are keeping you away from Paradise. But enter Paradise because of My mercy and benevolence.” (6)

This entry into paradise could only because of the intercession of the elevated ones of A’raf by the permission of God.

Durre Manshur has narrated one hadith from Abu Saeed Khadri that when the Messenger asked about the people of A’raf said:

“These are the martyrs in the path of God who have been disobedient to their parents. This martyrdom has prevented them from going to Hell and the disobedience to the parents has prevented them from entering Paradise. They will be standing on a wall between Paradise and Hell. God will bestow His mercy on them after he finished the issue of all others and allow them to enter Paradise.” (7)

As has been said earlier there is nothing to say that this may happen because of the intercession of the prophets and the chosen ones.

1. Tafsir Burhan vol.2 page 18 hadith 8

2. Majmaul Bayan vol. 3 and 4 page 423

3. Tafsir Burhan vol. 2 page 18 hadith 8

4. Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol. 3 and 4 page 423