Author： Thomassen Einar
Publisher： Brill
ISSN： 1568-5276
Source： Numen, Vol.56, Iss.2-3, 2009-03, pp. : 401-416
Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.
Abstract
Ideas about punishment in hell (the Fire, Jahannam) have an important place both in the Qur'an and in later Muslim literature. The article surveys the scenarios of hell given in these sources and discusses the various functions of hell-talk in Islamic discourse. In particular, a tension exists between conceiving hell as a place of punishment for sins and as a place reserved for disbelievers, or non-Muslims. The two perspectives meet in the idea that disbelief (kufr) is the worst of all sins, though ambiguities regarding who belong in hell remain. Strategies to mediate this ambiguity are found in the ideas that hell is divided into several levels or that the punishment in hell is only temporary.
Related content
Access to resources
Recommend
Numen, Vol. 56, Iss. 2-3, 2009-03 ,pp. :
By Kershnar S.
International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Vol. 58, Iss. 2, 2005-10 ,pp. :
Hell Disarmed? The Function of Hell in Reformation Spirituality
Numen, Vol. 56, Iss. 2-3, 2009-03 ,pp. :