ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Manazel Al-akherah Chapter -x- Bridge of Serat (poole Serat) ‘Serat’ in the grammatical sense means a way or a road, and it’s meaning according to the Shari’ah is a pidge or a road which passes from the top of hell. In a tradition from Ma’soom (A.S.) it is stated that ‘Poole Serat’ is a pidge thinner than a hair, sharper than a sword, and hotter than fire (of this world). The true believers (mo’meneen) will pass over it speedily like lightening.

Some will find some difficulty over it, bu will later find relief. While there will be some who will slip and fall down in the pit of hell. The likeness of ‘Poole Serat’ is of ‘The Righat Path’ (Seratal Mustaqeem) of this world, the path of Ali (A.S.) and Aimmah (A.S.)’s obedience.

The person who in this world turned away frome the ‘Seratal Mustaqeem’ (The path of Ahlulbait) in word and deed, and was attracted towards falsehood, on the day of Qayamat he will slip over the Poole Serat and fall into hell. In Surah-al-Hamd, ‘Seratal Mustaqeem’ refers to both these paths (The path of Ahlulbait and Poole Serat).

Allamah Majlisi in his book ‘Haqqul Yaqeen’ quotes from Shaikh Sadooq that: Our belief concerning Qayamat is that the Passes (Aqabaat) have each a specific name, some are called Farz (compulsory Acts), others Amr (Commands), yet others Nahy (Prohibitions). So when a man will reach the Pass of Farz, and he had neglected it (in his life), he will be stopped there and imprisoned for a thousand years, and the dues of Allah will be demanded of him.

Now if he goes out of it by means of some good act performed by him in the world, or by the Mercy of Allah, then he escapes from it and goes on to another Pass. He will not cease to be sent from one Pass to another, and be stopped and questioned regarding his shortcomings in respest of each stage. If he escapes safely from all the Passes, he will arrive at the abode of Permanence (Darul Baqa). Here he comes upon everlasting life, and perpetual, without any affliction whatsoever.

He will reside in the neighbourhood of Allah, with the Prophets (A.S.), and the Imam (A.S.), the vercaious ones, the Martyres (Shohada), and the righteous ones from among His slaves. And if he is stopped at a Pass, and is questioned about a certain due in respect of which he is found wanting, and neither a good action on his part nor the Mercy of Allah reaches him, his step will stumbel and he will be hurled down in the fire of hell. (E’teqadatul Imamiyah).