AL-AARAF, AN IMPORTANT PASSAGE TO PARADISE

      This refers to a region of highland called, ``AARطF'' that stands as a border between Hell and Paradise, acting as veil or partition between the two fortunate and unfortunate parties, here and there.

      There are also a third group of man sitting on the heights who can see and recognize the inhabitants of Paradise and Hell, and can speak to both of them.

WHO ARE THE COMPANIONS OF AARAF?

      We know very little about the life to come, and the situations in the Hereafter. It might be that, the partition or veil, made of the heights be figurative, using words out of their literal or ordinary meanings representing by a likeness or symbol, something we can't apprehend.

      If so; the men on the heights that are mentioned here, possibly are men of high spiritual ranks, such as the apostles and saints. They are able to recognize people by their countenances, and from their faces, and can talk to both the people of paradise and hell. Therefore the Heights here might be the high position, and exalted station from where they recognize and welcome the righteous with their salutation which might be an assurance and a sign of salvation itself. Those to whom they salute have not entered the Paradise yet, but hope to get in there soon.

      Some of the Commentators have taken the PRONOUN, ``THEY'' in the ending of the verse NO. 46, to represent the companions of the Heights, and not the companions of Paradise. They therefore have understood that the men on the heights are not decidedly on the side of virtue, or on the side of sin; They have a mixture of good deeds with bad ones, and are evenly balanced between Paradise and Hell, waiting for God's Mercy and Forgiveness.