A difference between the Hindus and Muslims is regarding the understanding of heaven and hell. I think there is only One God called Allah the Muslims and Parmatma the Hindus. Thus God cannot tell different things to Hindus and Muslims. To arrive at a common understanding I have given below certain Ayats from the Quran and I seek help from my Muslim friends to guide me in reaching their correct understanding.
Muslim scholars read the Quran to suggest that God brings each soul to life and death only once. The soul lies dormant after death as if in a coma. Then all the souls are raised simultaneously on the Day of Judgment. God judges them. Those who have followed God’s directions live permanently in heaven thereafter. Those who have not followed God’s direction permanently live in hell thereafter. I am not able to understand certain Ayats in this framework. So I request all, especially my Muslim friends, to please help me understand how these Ayats should be understood so that they become consistent with the Muslim view.
Is God in control of hell?
Ayat 23:101-104 says, that the bad souls are sent to “Hell, abiding eternally.” On the other hand, Ayat 2:28 says, that all souls, including the bad ones “to Him will ye return.” The two Ayats read together suggest that for the bad souls, Allah=Hell. But Allah is kind and loving. So how the bad soul could be sent to eternal hell and God at the same time?
How long is punishment in hell?
Ayat 23:101-104 also says, “The Fire will sear their faces, and they therein will have taut smiles (i.e. their lips having been contracted by scorching until the teeth are exposed).” This Ayat seems to say the punishment is hell is not eternal. It is only “until lips have been contracted…” So how do we explain the belief that God gives an eternal punishment on the Judgement Day?
Two deaths and two lives
Ayat 40:11 says, “Our Lord, twice you have put us to death and twice you have brought us to life; now we have confessed our sins, is there any way out?” The Islamic belief is that the soul is given birth, dies, given birth again only on the Judgement Day, and then sent to heaven or hell permanently. So a soul is brought to life twice (physical birth and the Judgement Day) and given only one death (physical death). Please guide me regarding the meaning of the second death.
What is the punishment of Pharaoh?
Ayat 73:16 says: “But the Pharaoh disobeyed The Messenger; so we seized him with a heavy Punishment.” This Ayat refers to the drowning of the Pharaoh when he was pursuing the Hebrews who were crossing the waters on dry land. This Ayat says that the punishment to the Pharaoh has already been given by God as indicated in the phrase “We seized him with a heavy Punishment.” This means the punishment was given by God before the Final Judgment, which is still to come. But God gives punishment only on the Judgement Day. So what is the explanation of God already having punished the Pharaoh before Judgement Day?
Please guide:
I pose these questions to arrive at a correct understanding of the Quran. Thanks.