As-Sirāt: The Bridge To Paradise or Hell -By Olayinka Abdrrazzaq

The connection between Here and Hereafter is not far to be fetched. The result of your deeds here is what you will live on in the hereafter. Like this, the distance between Paradise and Hell is not far to be bearing.

In the next world, there is a bridge prepared for every human to cross. Caveat, this is not a bridge like that of Asa Dam in Kwara or Tobler bridge in Lagos. It has no comparison other than the strand of hair and the sharpest of sword.

Aṣ-ṣirāṭ is the bridge which every human must pass on the Day of Judgment to enter Paradis or fall to hell. The bridge is thinner than a strand of hair and as sharp as the sharpest knife or sword (because of its danger). the foot of the unbeliever will never stand firmly on it on the Day of Resurrection because of the dread and fear of that Day with which they will be confronted.

It is a way either to Paradise or to Hell, and from which the servant may look out on Paradise or see the terrors of Hell. It is a bridge over which people will cross according to their deeds. Some will cross running, some walking, some crawling, and some will be snatched and thrown into the Fire, may Allah protect everyone from this.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The siraat is a bridge that will be set up over Hell; it is narrower than a hair and sharper than a sword. People will pass over it according to their deeds.

Whoever used to hasten to do good deeds in this world will pass quickly over the siraat; whoever was slow to do good deeds and whoever used to mix righteous deeds with bad deeds, and his bad deeds were not forgiven by Allah, may slip into the Fire; may Allah protect us.
The Prophet, peace be upon him said, …Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, or fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire).
The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge).”

To believe in the existence of this bridge is compulsory for all the believers and doing good deeds to be amongst those who will cross over it within a blink of an eye is worth striving for.

Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent. May Allah make the crossing of this bridge easier for us and save us from falling into Hell.

Olayinka Abdur-Razzaq, a law Student at University of Ilorin writes via olayinkaabdulrazaq@gmail.com