A Comparative Study of the Idea of Eternality in Imam Khomeini's Viewpoints and Those of other Thinkers

Eternality is one of the probable answers to the fate of dwellers of heaven or hell, which has been mentioned in the Quranic verses and Islamic traditions, though with different interpretations. The present paper focuses on the fate of the dwellers of hell because there is not doubt about the eternality of the dwellers of heaven. There are two main viewpoints about the fate of dwellers of hell: some thinkers consider eternality as permanent abode saying that those inflicted with the divine punishment will not get rid of it. On the other hand, there are others, who, relying on philosophical and mystical concepts, consider eternality as a long stay and maintain that the dwellers of hell will be finally redeemed from the fire of hell by intercession of the divine prophets. Imam Khomeini, one of the greatest advocates of philosophical and mystical subjects in the contemporary century, maintains that the dwellers of hell will be finally taken out of the fire. What has been mentioned about the fate of the sinners on the basis of traditional and rational reasons is not definite, for there are still some ambiguities whose solution is beyond the understanding human beings.