Islamic Purgatory?

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Greetings George,

The concept of the Heights in Islam is not identical to that of Purgatory in Catholicism. Basically, the Heights are a place between Heaven and Hell reserved for people who aren’t good enough to enter Heaven, nor evil enough to enter Hell. It’s a state of limbo, where the people there can see all the suffering in Hell and long not to go there, while at the same time seeing the delights of Paradise and longing to be there. A fixed term must be served to make those people realize how close they came to perishing, after which God, in His infinite mercy, will allow them to enter Paradise.
 
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Shenango:
Greetings George,

The concept of the Heights in Islam is not identical to that of Purgatory in Catholicism. Basically, the Heights are a place between Heaven and Hell reserved for people who aren’t good enough to enter Heaven, nor evil enough to enter Hell. It’s a state of limbo, where the people there can see all the suffering in Hell and long not to go there, while at the same time seeing the delights of Paradise and longing to be there. A fixed term must be served to make those people realize how close they came to perishing, after which God, in His infinite mercy, will allow them to enter Paradise.
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Sheango,

It may not be identical, but I am sure you can see the similarity in concept. It looks like Muslims and Catholic are far closer in agreement on this topic than Protestants and Catholics.

Can you add anymore about the Heights in Islam?

Thanks.

Peace and Happy New Year,

George
 
George Waters:
but I am sure you can see the similarity in concept.
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Unless I don’t understand the concept of Purgatory in Catholicism correctly, I don’t see the similarity, no. If anything, the analogy in Catholicism to the Heights in Islam is Limbo, not Purgatory.

As I understand it, Purgatory is just like Hell in terms of its punishment, except for the fact that it’s not everlasting. Well in Islam, those two concepts are one: Hell is only place, where some will be spending eternity, and others only a limited sentence. But both types of people are in one physical place.

On the other hand, the people on the Heights aren’t tasting the torment of Hell. They’re just spectators of it, wishing not to go there. There is a big difference there, don’t you think?

Unfortunately I don’t have much else to add about the Heights, unless someone wishes to ask questions…
 
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Shenango:
Unless I don’t understand the concept of Purgatory in Catholicism correctly, I don’t see the similarity, no. If anything, the analogy in Catholicism to the Heights in Islam is Limbo, not Purgatory.

As I understand it, Purgatory is just like Hell in terms of its punishment, except for the fact that it’s not everlasting. Well in Islam, those two concepts are one: Hell is only place, where some will be spending eternity, and others only a limited sentence. But both types of people are in one physical place.

On the other hand, the people on the Heights aren’t tasting the torment of Hell. They’re just spectators of it, wishing not to go there. There is a big difference there, don’t you think?

Unfortunately I don’t have much else to add about the Heights, unless someone wishes to ask questions…
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Purgatory is not a place of punishment, but a state of purification so those who die in God’s friendship may be cleansed of all unrepentant sins so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. It is entirely different from the punishment of those who have chosen hell over the love of God.

I guess the big differences is that Islam believes for some hell is temporary while Catholicism believes it is permanent and that those on the heights are uncertain of their final destination while those souls in purgatory know they are eventually heaven bond.

It is believed that limbo is where those who die with the burden of original sin yet free of mortal sin go to await the second coming of Jesus Christ. As Islam does not teach original sin why do some go to the heights instead of to hell on a temporary basis? What is the purpose of the heights?

Still, I find it interesting that while Protestantism believes only in heaven and hell that both Catholics and Muslims believe in a third place or state.

Peace and Happy New Year,

George
 
George Waters:
Purgatory is not a place of punishment, but a state of purification so those who die in God’s friendship may be cleansed of all unrepentant sins so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. It is entirely different from the punishment of those who have chosen hell over the love of God.
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Purification and punishment are indistinguishable–at least there is no practical difference between them–in Islam. The people in Hell are having either or both done to them…it doesn’t matter. The difference is that the people who had as little as the slightest belief in God in their heart will eventually purified, while those lacking it totally can never be purified, and thus stay in Hell forever.
I guess the big differences is that Islam believes for some hell is temporary while Catholicism believes it is permanent
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Yes. Hell in Islam is not a furnace that runs for only a set maximum amount of time. It burns perpetually. Its “temporariness” is subjective, dependent on each individual’s sentence in it. If an individual is serving a fixed sentence, then for that person Hell will be temporary. That individual’s neighbor may not be so lucky, and may be serving a perpetual sentence, in which case Hell will be everlasting for that person.
and that those on the heights are uncertain of their final destination while those souls in purgatory know they are eventually heaven bond.
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The people on the Heights too know that they will eventually be let out to go to Heaven, but the sights of Hell and Heaven will be so overwhelming to them, that in spite of their knowledge, they will suffer in waiting there.
It is believed that limbo is where those who die with the burden of original sin yet free of mortal sin go to await the second coming of Jesus Christ. As Islam does not teach original sin why do some go to the heights instead of to hell on a temporary basis? What is the purpose of the heights?
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You’re absolutely correct. There is no original sin in Islam, and people who die as infants get an automatic ticket to Heaven, no questions asked.

The purpose of the Heights is for those people whose faith in God in life was totally and exactly checked by their lack of faith, and vice versa, as evidenced by their works vs. sins. Needless to say, few are the people who will end up with a perfectly balanced account with God on Judgement Day, so it’s not thought that there will be very many people sentenced to the Heights at all.
 
Thank you once again for the information Shenango!

Peace,

George
 
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