What is Al-A’raaf and who are its people?

Question:

“I have heard someone say that al-A’raaf is a barrier between the Paradise and the Hellfire where people will reside for a number of years?”

Answer:

“On the Day of Judgement, the people will be divided in three groups:

• A group whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. They will not be punished and will enter the Paradise.
• A group whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds. They deserve a punishment according to their bad deeds. Thereafter they will (eventually) be saved into Paradise.
• And a third group whose bad and good deeds are equal. They are the people of al-A’raaf. They are not from the people of the Hellfire nor from the people of Paradise. They will however be on top of an high and elevated barrier from where they will see the Hellfire and the Paradise. They will remain there for as long as Allah Wills and eventually they will enter the Paradise. 

This is from His (سبحانه وتعالى) complete justice; that He gives every human what is due to him (i.e. what he deserves). As for the one whose good deeds weigh more, then he will be from the people of the Paradise. And as for the one whose bad deeds weigh more, then he will be punished in the Hellfire for as long as Allah Wills. And the one whose good and bad deeds are equal is from the people of al-A’raaf. Al-’Araaf (the barrier) however, will not be the final abode. That which will be the final abode is either the Paradise or the Hellfire.

May Allah make me and you from the people of the Paradise.”

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-'Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him

Translated by Salafi-Dawah.com.
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.