Coming soon
Problems of Heaven and Hell in Islam
Expected online publication date: 09 November 2026
Summary
This Element offers a philosophical introduction to, and examination of, the traditional Islamic (Sunnī) understanding of soteriology, focusing on the doctrines of heaven and hell. It explores how traditional Sunnī conceptions of ultimate reward and punishment raise several pressing philosophical questions, including those about human purpose, human nature, and God's mercy. Although primarily philosophical, the discussion in this Element is grounded in Islamic sources and thinkers. Drawing from the Qurʾān, aḥādīth, and classical figures such as Ibn Sīnā, Al-Ghazālī, and Ibn al-Qayyim, it assesses whether traditional Sunnī portrayals of heavenly reward and eternal damnation are philosophically and theologically defensible. The Element concludes that they are not, advancing instead a virtue-oriented and universalist vision of salvation.
Information
- Type
- Element
- Information
- Online ISBN: 9781009460125Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The PDF of this Element
complies with version 2.1 of the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG), covering newer accessibility requirements and improved
user experiences and achieves the intermediate
(AA)
level of WCAG compliance, covering a wider range of accessibility requirements.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Structural and Technical Features
ARIA roles provided
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.