This life is our only chance
Allah ï·» has mentioned in His book that those destined for hell fire will beg for a second chance but will not be given because this life is our only chance.
First, we need to know that the people of the hell fire are those who knew the truth, continued to reject the truth and died without repenting, as mentioned in the Quran:
"Verily, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and die as deniers of the truth - not all the gold on earth could ever be their ransom. It is they for whom grievous suffering is in store; and they shall have none to help them." [1]
Secondly, this request does not include those who were on their way to accepting the truth but did not accept due to genuine excuse, neither those who never got a chance to learn the truth of Allah’s message and died in their ignorance. This is because Allah ï·» says:
“And so it is that your Sustainer would never destroy a community for its wrongdoing so long as its people are still unaware [of the meaning of right and wrong]: for all shall be judged according to their [conscious] deeds - and your Sustainer is not unaware of what they do.” [2]
Then there is additional proof from Quran that Allah ï·» in His immense mercy will forgive those who missed the opportunity to know the truth or follow it.
Quran distinguishes for us the attitude of those who request for a second chance on the Day of Judgment while their punishment is about to commence:
“If you could but see [them] when they will be made to stand before the fire and will say, ‘Oh, would that we were brought back [to life]: then we would not give the lie to our Sustainer's messages, but would be among the believers!’ and if they were brought back [to life], they would return to the very thing which was forbidden to them: for behold, they are indeed liars!” [3]
The request for a second chance by those who are going to be punished is similar to the request that occurs in the mind of a disbeliever or sinner who rejected truth and sinned all his life till the time of death and then wanted to repent but it was too late:
“repentance shall not be accepted from those who do evil deeds until their dying hour and then say, "Behold, I now repent"; nor from those who die as deniers of the truth: it is these for whom We have readied grievous suffering.” [4]
People who continue to disbelieve while knowing the truth and reject it till their last moment but beg for mercy on their point of death, do so not because they have learned their lesson and want to accept faith. In fact, they do so because they have no other choice left. The purpose of faith is that it should enter one's heart due to freedom of will. These persons begging to repent at their point of death or wanting a second chance are doing it when they have no choice but to accept the truth that stares right at them. Acceptance at such a moment defeats the purpose of our life and existence, as decreed by Allah ï·». It is this same reason why Allah ï·» has forbidden the believers from making use of force when preaching faith to non-believers:
“Let there be no compulsion in matters of faith.” [5]
Forcing faith on others deprives them of making use of their God given free will. We are creatures of free will and are encouraged to exercise it correctly for our own good and gain benefit in this world and the hereafter, before our lives come to their end. This freedom of will is a trust, the use of which we are going to be accountable for on the Day of Judgment.
To Learn more on this topic please visit this section: Humankind - Creation & Purpose
References:
[1] Al Quran 3:91 Asad Translation.
[2] Al Quran 6:131-132 – Asad Translation.
[3] Al Quran 6:27 – Asad Translation.
[4] Al Quran 4:18 – Asad Translation.
[5] Al Quran 2:256 – Asad Translation.
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