Impermissibility to judge someone as being damned to Hell

9-1-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

I ponder and wonder on the phrase “To Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.” Is it permissible to say this phrase upon the death of someone?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is impermissible to judge upon a person to be of the dwellers of Hell as long as it is not known that he died in the state of disbelief. If it is known that he died in the state of disbelief, there is no doubt that he will be among the dwellers of Hell because Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein.} [Quran 98:6]

If the person died believing in the creed of Tawheed, it is impermissible to judge upon him that he will enter Hell, wish this destination for him or invoke against him to enter Hell. Rather, the person should like for his fellow Muslim what he likes for himself. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “None of you is a true believer until he likes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah Knows best.