Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

"It is also called Sirat al-Jahim. It is a bridge of hell. In the world to come, the sirat is the bridge stretched over hell, which all human beings are said to traverse in order to reach paradise. The Koranic word aqabatun (pl. aqabat) is translated as a mountain-road difficult of access. It means the difficulties or obstacles, which men will have to encounter stage by stage before the actual entry into paradise or hell.

According to Qummi (1:29), Imam Jafar Sadik said, "It is the distance of a thousand year ascent and descent. It is finer than a hair and sharper than a sword. Some shall traverse it with the speed of light; others like a galloping mare; others shall walk with faltering steps; still others shall crawl. Some will traverse it suspended and their bodies will be partially consumed by the fire." Risalatu'l I'tiqadati'l Imamiya quotes the Prophet as saying, "O'Ali, on the day of judgment, I shall sit near the bridge with you and no one will cross the bridge unless he can produce a writ by reason of devotion to you."

SOUL [ see RUH ]