“Al-Qantarah?”I balked, when I first came across this term in a group post. Googling this word, I found out that it is an Arabic word that literally meant, “the bridge”. A Hadeeth reported by Abu Saeed al Khudri (rtam) makes matters clearer. He reports that the Prophet (sa) said: “When the believers cross the Hellfire, they will be stopped at a small arched bridge (Qantarah) before entering the Paradise and will be given retribution for injustices between them until they become purified. (Then) they will be permitted to enter Jannah. So, by the One in Whose Hands is my soul, they will know their way to their homes in Jannah, better than they know their ways to their homes in Dunya.” (Bukhari)
Where is Al-Qantarah?
Sheikh Abu Bakr Zoud tells us that Al-Qantarah is a place between Hell and Heaven and this is the place where the judgement of one’s manners is going to take place and the dealing between others will be judged. If one oppressed others or short changed them or displayed bad character, then this is the place where revenge will be exacted. Before this place, only worship was judged.
Bridge of Sirat versus Al-Qantarah
According to Sheikh Salih Al-Maghamsi, both the Sirat and Al-Qantarah are like bridges but the scholars disagree about the site of the Qantarah. Some say that the Qantarah is a continuation of the Sirat whilst there are others who say that it is a separate path. The main difference is that everyone, the believers, disbelievers and the hypocrites will pass over the Bridge of Sirat, whilst only those who are destined for Jannah will pass over Al-Qantarah.
Mending of Relations between Believers
According to an authentic Hadeeth, Al-Qantarah is the place where believers will forgive each other and thereby increase their status in Paradise. It is narrated in the Hadeeth that there will be two men from this Ummah that will come before Allah. One man will say: “So and so has transgressed against me and I want from his good deeds.” Allah will tell him: “Do you see this great palace in Paradise?” And the man will look at the palace, and Allah will say to him: “It will belong to you if you forgive your brother today.” And the man will forgive him. The Prophet (sa) said at the end of this Hadeeth: “Safeguard yourselves from Allah, and reform and reconcile amongst yourselves. Indeed Allah will reconcile between the believers (on the Day of Judgement).” (Hakim)
Who is Disgraced at Al-Qantarah?
It is regarding this place that the Prophet (sa) questioned his Companions about who a bankrupt was. His Companions replied: “The bankrupt among us is one who has neither money with him nor any property.” The Prophet (sa) said: “The real bankrupt of my Ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with much of prayer, of fasting and of Sadaqah, but he will find himself bankrupt on that Day as he will have exhausted the funds of virtues—because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his virtues would be credited to the account of those who suffered at his hand. If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the Hellfire. (Muslim)
The Seven Qanatirah
Some scholars say that the bridges (Qanatirah) are seven. At the first Qantarah, the slave is going to be asked about his belief in Allah and His Prophet (sa). After he passes it, he will be asked about his Salah. On the next Qantarah, he will be asked about his Zakah. After that, he will be asked about fasting on another Qantarah. On the following Qantarah, he will be questioned about his Hajj. On the Qantarah coming next, he will be asked about Wudu (ablution) and Ghusl. Lastly comes the hardest Qantarah where he will be taken to task about his rights and duties to others. The scholars wondered why this matter is dealt with last. There is no conclusive answer to that question. However, Sheikh Adnan Abdul Qadir gives us some insight into why this might be so.
What is the Benefit of the Qantarah?
Questions might pop up in one’s mind about the usefulness of Al-Qantarah. Why did Allah (swt) choose this point to mend relations between the believers? Why wasn’t it done earlier? Sheikh Adnan Abdul Qadir tells us that there is great Hikmah in this. If the believers were to exact revenge before the Bridge of Sirat, then they would be disgraced and humiliated in front of the disbelievers. The prayer of the believers, that may Allah (swt) not disgrace them on the Day of Judgment would be answered in this manner by covering their shortcomings in front of the disbelievers.
The second benefit of Al-Qantarah is that the believers hearts are softened towards each other after they have crossed the Bridge of Sirat and have been saved from the Hellfire.
The third benefit is that the hearts of the believers will be at peace and it will be easier for them to forgive each other at this point and thereby their statuses would be raised in Paradise.
The fourth factor is that if the judgement would have taken place before the Bridge of Sirat, the disbelievers would speak ill of the believers. It is highly possible that a person who would normally forgive his brother would not do so before the Bridge of Sirat and thus would not gain the Pleasure of Allah.
The fifth benefit of Al Qantarah is that when it comes to the oppressor among the believers, if revenge was taken from him before the Bridge of Sirat, then may be the light of the oppressor would be weak and he would not be able to pass over the bridge and he may fall into the Hellfire. It is a form of Allah’s Mercy that this revenge will take place after the Bridge of Sirat.
The sixth benefit is that at Al-Qantarah it is highly likely that the brotherhood would increase among the believers. Any ill-feeling, enmity or hatred will be removed from their hearts and they will be united. As Allah (swt) says in the Quran: “And We will root out whatever of rancor is in their breasts—(they shall be) as brethren, on raised couches, face to face.” (Al-Hijr 15:47)
The seventh reason is that the Land of Gathering is the Land of Accounting. It is better for the believers that they exact revenge in a better place, where Allah’s mercy is with them, which is at Al-Qantarah.
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