Whenever Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) mentions the Fire, He (سبحانه وتعالى) always mentions a fire exit–usually immediately afterwards. There’s always a chance to escape. But once you die, there’s no fire exit.
For example, in Surah Baqarah, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
Translation: But if you cannot–and you can never do it–then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and the stones, prepared for the Unbelievers. And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are Gardens, beneath which rivers flow! [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:24-25]
Here, we see an explicit reference to the Fire (of Hell), followed by the most common fire exit–belief and good deeds.
You see these all over the Qur’an–so look for them and remember inshallah that there is always a way out.
May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make a way out for us from which to enter into His endless mercy, ameen!
Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Breach of Covenant. University of Toronto, Toronto. May 2005.
Jazakumullaah kheirun for the great reminder!
Comment regarding: “There’s always a chance to escape. But once you die, there’s no fire exit.”
Also, when the pangs of death are felt, its too late by then. So we should all repent and seek guidance PRIOR to all that!
May Allaah forgive our sins and allow us to enter jannah through His Rehma (Ameen)