The Sirat Bridge

1) Crossing The Sirat Bridge

 Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri:

We, the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! What is the bridge?’

He said, “It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa’dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire). The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge).”

Sahih al-Bukhari 7439

Muslim added: Abu Sa‘eed said: I heard that the bridge is narrower than a hair and sharper than a sword.

 An-Nawawi said:

The words “So some will be safe without any harm…” mean that they will fall into three categories: one category will be safe without experiencing any harm at all; another category will be scratched, then released and will be saved; and a third category will be snatched and thrown and will fall into Hell.

End quote from Sharh an-Nawawi ‘ala Muslim (3/29)

 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The siraat is a bridge that will be set up over Hell; it is narrower than a hair and sharper than a sword. People will pass over it according to their deeds. Whoever used to hasten to do good deeds in this world will pass quickly over the siraat; whoever was slow to do good deeds and whoever used to mix righteous deeds with bad deeds, and his bad deeds were not forgiven by Allah, may slip into the Fire; may Allah protect us.

People will vary in the ways in which they pass over the siraat. Some will pass in the blink of an eye, some will pass like lightning, some will pass like the wind, some will pass like swift horses, some will pass like fast camels, some will walk, some will crawl, and some will be thrown into Hell. No one will pass over this siraat except the believers only. As for the disbelievers, they will not pass over it, because on the Day of Resurrection they will be driven directly to Hell.

End quote from Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen (1/470)

2) Mutual Retaliation After Crossing the Bridge

 Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The believers, after being saved from the (Hell) Fire, will be stopped at a bridge between Paradise and Hell and mutual retaliation will be established among them regarding wrongs they have committed in the world against one another. After they are cleansed and purified (through the retaliation), they will be admitted into Paradise; and by Him in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is, everyone of them will know his dwelling in Paradise better than he knew his dwelling in this world.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 6535