Question

People mention that the bridge over Jahannam (pul sirat) is 1500 years long. 500 years up, 500 years straight and 500 years down. Is this description correct and mentioned anywhere? Jazakallah

Answer

The famous sage of his age -who lived in the era after the Tabi’un-; Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad (rahimahullah) is reported to have said:

“I have heard that the bridge over Jahannam is the distance of 15000 (fifteen thousand!) years journey.

5000 years upwards, 5000 years straight and 5000 years down…”

(Ibn ‘Asakir, see Fathul Bari, Hadith: 6573 and Fathul Mulhim, vol. 2, pg. 476)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has pointed out (in the reference above) that this isn’t proven as a Hadith.

One may therefore not attribute it to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Rather if need be, it should be quoted in the manner I have quoted it above.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar