In the eighth ayah of Surah Al-Mu'minun, Allah continues to describe believers whose qualities have earned them His praise and blessings. In this ayah Allah portrays them as shepherds (ra'aen) who are extremely vigilant and responsible as they watch over the sheep he/she have been entrusted with .
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Vatican scrambles after pope appears to deny existence of hell
This article is more than 6 years old
Repubblica founder Eugenio Scalfari has misrepresented pontiff’s words, says Vatican
Angela Giuffrida in Rome
Fri 30 Mar 2018 13.32 BST
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The Vatican has scrambled to clarify comments made by Pope Francis to a well-known Italian journalist that appeared to deny the existence of hell.
While the Vatican conceded that Scalfari, an atheist who struck up a friendship with Francis in 2013, had held a private meeting with the pontiff before the Easter weekend, it said an interview had not been granted.
During the meeting Scalfari asked the pope where “bad souls” go, to which he was quoted as responding: “They are not punished. Those who repent obtain God’s forgiveness and take their place among the ranks of those who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven disappear. A hell doesn’t exist, the disappearance of sinning souls exists.”
By Courtney Mares
Rome Newsroom, Jan 15, 2024 / 13:05 pm
Pope Francis appeared on Italy’s most popular prime-time talk show on Sunday night where the pontiff shared how he hopes that hell is “empty.”
Hell as ‘empty’?
When asked by the interviewer, Fabio Fazio, how he “imagines hell,” Pope Francis gave a short response.
“What I am going to say is not a dogma of faith but my own personal view: I like to think of hell as empty; I hope it is,” Pope Francis said.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that Catholic teaching “affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’Hell as ‘empty’?
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, 'I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for ploughing."
The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "I, Abu Bakr and `Umar believe in the story."
The Prophet (ﷺ) went on, "' A wolf caught a sheep, and when the shepherd chased it, the wolf said:
'Who will be its guard on the day of wild beasts, when there will be no shepherd for it except me ?'
"After narrating it, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I, Abu Bakr and `Umar too believe it."
Abu Salama (a sub-narrator) said,
"Abu Bakr and `Umar were not present then."
Sahih
Sahih al-Bukhari, 2324
In-Book Reference: Book 41, Hadith 5
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 3, Book 39, Hadith 517 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Re: Vatican scrambles after pope appears to deny existence of hell
Peace be with you all.
format_quote Originally Posted by Abz2000
“What I am going to say is not a dogma of faith but my own personal view: I like to think of hell as empty; I hope it is,” Pope Francis said.
I have read the many passages in the Bible, referring to heaven and hell. Like Pope Francis, my own thoughts would be, I hope hell is empty. We spend a few decades on this Earth, and an eternity in hell seems harsh for crimes committed from our short time on Earth. I am sure we will all have to pay for our sins, and none of us deserve salvation from our own efforts. The only way any of us may obtain salvation, is thought the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God.
May Allah bless you all as you journey through the trials of life.
Eric
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.
Re: Vatican scrambles after pope appears to deny existence of hell
Hello Eric,
God's Mercy and Compassion is far, far beyond that of humans. Likewise, His Knowledge, His Wisdom and His Justice are the most perfect and are incomparable to that of His creation. It is not our place to question God. It is arrogance to assume that we have a better concept of justice or mercy than God, despite our comprehension being so limited, despite our weaknesses, despite our humble origin.
This is an example of how Muslims are different to those of other faiths, like Jews and Christians. When you find something difficult to follow in your scriptures, you change its meaning or take it out of the book. This is disrespecting your own scripture. It is a mockery of religion.
If we want to be guided by God, we have to be willing to submit to His guidance. We have to follow His Scripture in entirety, not just the parts we like. And the only Scripture that has been protected from all corruption and misguidance is the Qur'an.
Re: Vatican scrambles after pope appears to deny existence of hell
Christians say that Prophet Jesus died in the cross for their sins so they believe they will automatically enter heaven..as long as they accept Jesus as their Lord and they also wear the cross and believe in the cross and so they think they are blessed so they will enter heaven automatically salvation from the fire ..
˹They are˺ those whose efforts are in vain in this worldly life, while they think they are doing good!”
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