Transliteration:( Wa bainahumaa hijaab; wa 'alal A'raafi rijaaluny ya'rifoona kullam biseemaahum; wa naadaw Ashaabal jannati an salaamun 'alaikum; lam yadkhuloohaa wa hum yatma'oon )
"And between the two (Heaven and Hell) there shall be a veil [105]. On the Heights [106], there will be men who will recognize both groups by their foreheads [107]. They will call to the companions of Paradise: 'Peace be upon you' [108]. They have not yet entered (Paradise), but they are greedy for it [109]."
So that the effect of Hell will not be felt in Paradise and that of Paradise will not be felt in Hell.
The truth of the matter is that this veil or covering is A’RAAF – Heights. Because this veil will be very high, it is called A’RAAF.
Only men will be here who have reached the age of puberty, as is deduced from the word ‘MEN’.
Tha’lbi has narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that the men of A’raaf are Hazrat Abbas, Hazrat Hamzah, and Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with them), who will recognize the devotees from the whiteness on their faces and the foes from the blackness on their faces (SAWA-10).
Some have said that these men will be the Prophets of Allah, while others have said that these are people whose good and evil deeds would be equal.
There are some other sayings in this matter as well.
By this is meant they will recognize one another before entering Paradise and Hell.
Hence, the Holy Prophet ﷺ too will be able to recognize the fortunate and the wretched.
From this we understand the saintly and refulgent creation can hear ordinary sound emanating from millions of miles, because Paradise is much brighter than the skies, while Hell is intensely deep.
In spite of this, the inmates of Paradise would be hearing the wailing and screams of the inmates of Hell.
Similarly, such saintly people in the world too listen to the calls of people who are far away from them.
Hazrat Sulaiman (On whom be peace) from far listened to the conversation of ants. Says Allah Almighty:
"Thereupon he smilingly laughed at her work and said..." (S27:V19).
Likewise, people of A’raaf would see the condition of people and listen to the talk of people far away from them.
From this we learn that the inmates of A’raaf will be having lesser status than the inmates of Paradise, or else what is their purpose of greed?
Hence, the tradition which states that these are people whose good and evil deeds are equal lends more strength to the argument.
46. And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A`raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, “Peace be on you” and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it). 47. And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: “Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.”
After Allah mentioned that the people of Paradise will address the people of the Fire, He stated that there is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, which prevents the people of the Fire from reaching Paradise. Ibn Jarir said, “It is the wall that Allah described,
(So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) ﴿57:13﴾ It is also about Al-A`raf that Allah said,
(and on Al-A`raf will be men).” Ibn Jarir recorded that As-Suddi said about Allah’s statement,
(And between them will be a screen) “It is the wall, it is Al-A`raf.” Mujahid said, “Al-A`raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate.” Ibn Jarir said, “Al-A`raf is plural for `Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as `Urf to the Arabs.” As-Suddi said, “Al-A`raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya`rifun) the people. Al-A`raf’s residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said.” Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A`raf and he said, “A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them.” Ma`mar said that Al-Hasan recited this Ayah,
(and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).) Then he said, “By Allah! Allah did not put this hope in their hearts, except for an honor that He intends to bestow on them.” Qatadah said; “Those who hope are those among you whom Allah informed of their places.” Allah said next,
(And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: “Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.”) Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “When the people of Al-A`raf look at the people of the Fire and recognize them, they will supplicate, `O Lord! Do not place us with the people who are wrongdoers.”’
(7:46) And between the two there will be a barrier, and on the Heights will be men who will recognize each person by his mark and will cry, out to the people of Paradise: ‘Peace be to you.’These will be the ones who had not yet joined them in Paradise, though they long to do so.[34]
34. The people of A’raf (Heights) will be the people who are neither righteous enough to enter Paradise nor wicked enough to he cast into Hell. They will, therefore, dwell at a place situated between the two.
[373]- Those whose scales are balanced between good and evil deeds. [374]- Both the inhabitants of Paradise and those of Hell.
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