Mukhtasar Muslim

It is narrated from Yazid bin Suhaib Faqir who says: A certain belief of the Khawarij had taken root in my heart (and that was that one who commits a major sin will remain in Hell forever, and whoever enters Hell will never come out of it). So, with a large group, we set out with the intention of performing Hajj. After that, we would spread the doctrine of the Khawarij. When we reached Madinah, we saw that Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was sitting by a pillar, narrating the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to the people. Suddenly, he mentioned the people of Hell, so I said, "O Companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! What hadith are you narrating? Allah Almighty says: 'Our Lord! Whomever You admit to the Fire, You have surely disgraced him' (Aal-e-Imran: 192), and also, 'Whenever they wish to get out from it, they will be returned to it' (As-Sajda: 20). And now, what are you saying?" He said, "Have you read the Qur'an?" I said, "Yes." He then said, "Have you heard of the rank of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (i.e., the rank that Allah Almighty will grant him on the Day of Resurrection)?" I said, "Yes, I have heard." He said, "This is for Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), because of which Allah Almighty will take out from Hell whomever He wills." Then he described the state of the Bridge (Sirat) and how people will cross over it, and I fear that I may not remember it exactly, but he said that some people, after entering Hell, will be taken out from it, and they will come out like ebony wood (blackened and burnt). Then they will go to a river in Paradise, bathe there, and come out as white as paper. Hearing this, we returned and said, "Woe to you! Does this old man lie against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" (i.e., he never lies, so your doctrine is wrong). And all of us abandoned our doctrine except for one person. Or as Abu Nu'aim Fadl bin Dukayn (the teacher of Imam Muslim's teacher) narrated.