Comparative Study of Quraish Shihab and Khalid Basalamah's Views on the Hell of the Prophet Muhammad

Abstract

The debate concerning the fate of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) father and uncle remains a classical issue that continues to emerge in Islamic scholarly discourse. The divergence in opinion stems from conflicting interpretations of prophetic traditions (hadith), particularly those narrated by Imam Muslim. This study raises the question of how the term "Abi" in the hadith should be understood by scholars and how two contemporary figures interpret the tradition differently. The objective of this research is to examine scholarly views regarding the status of the Prophet’s father and to conduct a comparative analysis between the interpretations of Prof. Quraish Shihab and Ustaz Khalid Basalamah. Employing a qualitative method with a library research approach, this study analyzes primary and secondary sources related to the hadith in question. The findings indicate that the majority of scholars classify the Prophet’s father as among the Ahl al-Fatrah—those who lived in a period devoid of prophetic messages and thus are not subject to divine punishment due to their ignorance. On the other hand, some scholars interpret the hadith literally, suggesting that the Prophet’s father is condemned to Hell for not embracing faith. Prof. Quraish Shihab and Ustaz Khalid Basalamah apply differing methodological approaches to this hadith, resulting in contrasting conclusions. This study emphasizes the importance of contextual approaches in interpreting controversial prophetic traditions.