Is the Bridge (Shirath) as thin as a hair that is parted into seven parts?
Question:
Ustadz, is it true that there is an indication that mentioned that the Bridge as “shirothol mustaqim”, and that it is as thin as a hair that is parted to seven parts?
From: Waldi, Pontianak
Answer:
The bridge (shirath) is a bridge that will be stretched upon the hell, towards the Paradise. All human being will walk on it, according to their deeds; some will fall into the Hell, Some will pass through it swiftly, and some will pass slowly.
It is called as “Ash Shirath” in a hadith from Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- :
فيُضربُ الصِّراطُ بين ظهرانَي جهنَّم….
“Then Ash Shirath (the bridge) is stretched upon the inferno…” (Narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim).
And in another hadith:
وتُرسَلُ الأمانةُ والرَّحم، فتقومان جنبَتَي الصِّراط يميناً وشمالاً
“And the mandate and the kinship are sent, and they stand at the two edges of Ash Shirath…” (Narrated by Muslim).
It is narrated that Ash Shirath is more delicate than a hair and sharper than a sword, as said by Abu Sa’id al Khudry -may Allah be pleased with him-:
بلغني أن الجسر أدق من الشعرة وأحد من السيف
“It reached me that this bridge (Ash Shirath) is more delicate than a hair, and sharper than a sword.” (Narrated by Imam Muslim, 1/167)
As for the naming of “Ash Shirath” as the bridge of shirathal mustaqim, as for the word “mustaqim”, I don’t know where does it come from, likewise the attributing of Ash Shirath as it is as a hair that is parted into seven parts, I also don’t know about indications that support it.
As a result, a muslim is supposed to be satisfied with the informations stated within the Qur’an and the sunnah, whether it is about the name or the character of that Bridge.
And Allah knows best.
Answered by: Ustadz Abdullah Roy, MA
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