814 - Abu al-Azhar al-Naysaburi, Ahmad ibn al-Azhar, informed us in what he wrote to me, Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, my father narrated to us, from 'Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Dahhak regarding His saying: "The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days." Indeed, Ibn 'Abbas said: The Jews claimed that they found it written in the Torah that the distance between the two ends of Hell is a journey of forty years, until one reaches the Zaqqum tree which grows at the root of Hell, the Blazing Fire. The enemies of Allah said: "We will only be punished until we reach the Zaqqum tree, then Hell will depart and be reduced." And that is [the meaning of]: "The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days."

The Third Aspect:

815 - Abu 'Abd Allah al-Tahrani narrated to me, Hafs ibn 'Umar al-'Adani informed us, al-Hakam—meaning Ibn Aban—narrated to us, from 'Ikrimah regarding His saying: "The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days." He said: The Jews disputed with the Messenger of Allah—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—and said: "We will not enter the Fire except for forty nights, and another people will replace us in it," meaning Muhammad—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—and his companions. The Messenger of Allah—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—struck their heads with his hand [and said]: "Nay, you are abiding therein forever, and no one will replace you in it." So Allah revealed: "And they said, 'The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days.'"

816 - Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq informed us, Ma'mar informed us, from Qatadah regarding His saying: "The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days." They said: "A limited number of days, [corresponding to] what we committed regarding the Calf."

Allah said: "Say, 'Have you taken a covenant with Allah, for Allah will never break His covenant?'"

The Fourth Aspect:

817 - My father narrated to me, al-Hakam ibn Musa narrated to us, Marwan—meaning al-Fazari—narrated to us, Juwaybir informed us, from al-Dahhak, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding the saying of Allah: "And they said, 'The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days.'" He said: The People of the Book found that the distance between the two ends of Hell is a journey of forty. They said: "The people of the Fire will not be punished except for the measure of forty." When the Day of Resurrection comes, they will be bridled in the Fire and will walk in it until they reach Saqar, and therein is the Zaqqum tree, until the last day of the limited number of days. The keepers of the Fire will say to them: "O enemies of Allah, you claimed that you would not be punished in the Fire except for a limited number of days; for the number has passed, and eternity remains." Then they will be taken by the ascent [of punishment] and driven upon their faces.