None will be victorious tomorrow except for the one who meets Allah with a sound heart, containing none save Him,
“…the Day when neither wealth nor sons will be of any use – except for he who comes to Allah with a sound and flawless heart.”
(Surah al-Shu’arah 26:88-89)
The sound heart is the heart which is secure of the filth of opposition. The heart which has been sullied with despicable matters is not worthy of living in the vicinity of the Holy (al-Quddus) except after being purified by the bellows of the Fire. Only when its stains are removed does it become worthy of residing in His vicinity,
“Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure.”
[Recorded in Muslim no.1015]
As for hearts that are pure, immediately are they deserving of living in His vicinity,
“Peace be upon you because of your patience! How wonderful is the Ultimate Abode.”
(Surah Ar-Rad 13:24)
“Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, forever.”
(Surah Az-Zumar 39:73)
“…those who the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, ‘Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.’”
(Surah An-Nahl 16:32)
Whoever, today, does not ignite his heart with the fire of sorrow over what he has done done in the past, or the fire of desire: desire to meet the Beloved, should know that the Fire of Hell in incomparably hotter!
None requires to be purified by the Fire of Hell except for one who did not complete his actualisation of Tawhid, and did not establish its rights and duties. The first to be hurled into the Fire from the servants who followed Tawhid will be the worshippers who showed off: the scholar, the Mujahid, and the one who gave in charity. [See Muslim, no.1905 for the full explanation of what happens to those whose intention is not truly for the sake of Allah] This is because a small amount of ostentation amounts to shirk. The ostentatious looks to creation with respect to his deeds because of his ignorance of the greatness of the Creator. The ostentatious imprints false stamps in the name of the king in order to gain ill-gotten money; he pretends that he is from the elite of that king, yet in reality he does not even know him. The ostentatious paints the picture of the king on counterfeit money so that it is circulated, but it only finds way past the uncritical.
After the ostentatious, it is the followers and slaves of desires who shall enter the Fire: those who obeyed their desires and disobeyed their Master. As for the servants of Allah, it will be said to them,
“O soul at rest and peace, return to your Lord, well-pleasing and well-pleased! Enter among My servants! Enter My Garden!”
(Surah Al-Fajr 89:27-30)
The Fire of Hell pales into insignificance when faced with the light of faith of those who lived by Tawhid. In a hadith it is mentioned,
“The Fire shall say to the believer, ‘Pass by for your light has extinguished my blaze!”
[Recorded in Tabair al-Kabir no.668]
This is the legacy of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, to the lovers amongst his descendants.