Is the narration that the people in Paradise watch the people in Hell and laugh sound?

The Details of the Question

- Kab states the following in the interpretation of the verses of the Quran stating that believers will watch the penalty inflicted upon unbelievers by laughing:

"It is possible to watch Hell from Paradise. If a believer wants to see his enemy in Hell, he watches the penalty inflicted upon him (like a television) and becomes happy." (Tibyan)

- Is the hadith above sound? Will you explain how we should understand it? I think our feelings there can be different.

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

“Those in sin used to laugh at those who believed.” (al-Mutaffifin, 83/29)

As it is stated in the verse above, the deniers used to laugh at the believers in the world because they acted in accordance with the creed of the hereafter; they regarded the believers as retarded people and laughed at their worship. In accordance with the rule “the penalty is given in accordance with the deed”, the real retarded people will be obvious in the hereafter and the believers will watch the unbelievers by laughing at them. This laughing is a retaliation for their laughing at the believers.  

It is necessary to think that Allah will realize the rights as Muntaqim (revenger) for His believing slaves rather than people’s laughing or not laughing. 

What is meant by those statements is to ask the believers to be patient and not to be hopeless and sad by looking at the wealth, posts, positions, power and influence of the deniers. As a matter of fact, attention is attracted to this lifestyle in the verses in question. It is not appropriate to reach the conclusion that the believers there will always look at the people of Hell and laugh.

- The statement of Kab and similar words of Abdullah b. Abbas are mentioned in tafsir books. (see Taberi, the interpretation of the verses in question).

The believers’ looking at the sinners by laughing and its reasons are mentioned in the clear statement of the Quran:

“Those in sin used to laugh at those who believed, And whenever they passed by them, used to wink at each other (in mockery); And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting; And whenever they saw them, they would say, "Behold! These are the people truly astray!" But they had not been sent as keepers over them! But on this Day the Believers will laugh at the Unbelievers: On Thrones (of Dignity) they will command (a sight) (of all things). ‘Will not the Unbelievers have been paid back for what they did?’(al-Muttaffifin, 83/29-36)

After this clear statement of the Quran, there is no need to look at what others say regarding the issue. What Kab and Ibn Abbas say are reasonable interpretations related to the details of the issue.

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