Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 15

(Ayah 16,15) {مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيْدُ الْحَيٰوةَ الدُّنْيَا وَ زِيْنَتَهَا …:} These two verses are about the disbelievers and polytheists, because in the second verse it is stated: «{ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ اِلَّا النَّارُ }» "For them in the Hereafter there is nothing except the Fire." The meaning is that those disbelievers who do charitable acts and good deeds here for worldly gain, which are related to public welfare, are given the full reward for these deeds in this world itself, but receiving this reward depends on the will of Allah Almighty, as Allah Almighty has said: «{ مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيْدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهٗ فِيْهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَنْ نُّرِيْدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهٗ جَهَنَّمَ١ۚ يَصْلٰىهَا مَذْمُوْمًا مَّدْحُوْرًا }» [ بنی إسرائیل : ۱۸ ] "Whoever desires the immediate (world), We hasten for him therein what We will for whom We will, then We have made Hell for him; he will enter it, condemned and rejected." Another verse of similar meaning is also in Surah Ash-Shura (20). The disbelievers may benefit from some good in this world in the form of a reduction in punishment in the Hereafter, but their exit from the Fire is in no way possible, as due to the support of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his intercession, the punishment of Abu Talib will be lessened, but he will not be able to come out of the Fire. Similarly, from the verses it is understood that due to increase or decrease in disbelief, the punishment of the disbelievers in Hell will vary, as it is said: «{ اِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِيْنَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْاَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ }» [ النساء : ۱۴۵ ] "Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire." Due to the increase or decrease in good deeds, there will be differences in the ranks of Paradise, and due to the increase or decrease in evil, there will be differences in the levels of Hell. However, no good deed of the disbelievers will be able to take them out of Hell, because in the Hereafter, faith is a condition for the acceptance of good deeds. See the commentary of the second verse of Surah Al-Hijr.

The scholars of exegesis have also considered these two verses to be general and have written that hypocrites and show-offs are also included in this, that their deeds will also be wasted in the Hereafter. Thus, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [رَجُلٌ اسْتُشْهِدَ فَأُتِيَ بِهٖ فَعَرَّفَهٗ نِعْمَتَهٗ فَعَرَفَهَا، قَالَ فَمَا عَمِلْتَ فِيْهَا، قَالَ قَاتَلْتُ فِيْكَ حَتَّى اسْتُشْهِدْتُ قَالَ كَذَبْتَ وَلٰكِنَّكَ قَاتَلْتَ لِأَنْ يُّقَالَ جَرِيْئٌ فَقَدْ قِيْلَ ثُمَّ اُمِرَ بِهٖ فَسُحِبَ عَلٰی وَجْهِهٖ حَتّٰی أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ ] [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب من قاتل للریاء… : ۱۹۰۵ ] "On the Day of Resurrection, a martyr will be brought, Allah Almighty will make him recognize His blessings, he will recognize them, then Allah Almighty will say: 'What did you do for them?' He will say: 'O Allah! I fought in Your way until I was martyred.' Allah Almighty will say: 'You have lied, you fought only so that people would call you brave, so you have received that praise.' Then it will be ordered, and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into the Fire." After this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) also mentioned the show-off reciter and the show-off wealthy person in the same way. It should be clear that if this verse is kept general, then the interpretation of {’’ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ اِلَّا النَّارُ ‘‘} (for them in the Hereafter there is nothing except the Fire) will be that for the disbelievers and hypocrites there is eternal Hell, but sinful Muslims, after punishment, will come out of Hell, and Allah Almighty will also forgive some; this is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah.