Companions of the Fire and of Paradise

Sha'rawi holds that companionship means affection and constant attachment: the Fire clings to those who disbelieve and rejoices in them as a friend rejoices in a friend, and Paradise clings to the righteous believers and delights them ^{1 2}. See Qaf 30 and Hud 23.

He reads the verse that describes the Fire being asked whether it is full as showing that it is never satisfied, and holds that this companionship pleases the Fire, which punishes those who disbelieved in God's method ¹. This is his explanation of one aspect of the verse, not its wording.

He holds that Paradise is joined to believers and loves them as the Fire is joined to disbelievers, and that Paradise is glad to delight the believer ². See Hud 23.

He holds that the punishment in the Fire is everlasting, unchanging, unabated and not lightened, and cites the verse on those who traded the worldly life for the Hereafter ². See al-Baqara 86.

This is Sha'rawi's reading. The duration of punishment for grave sinners is disputed among schools; their positions are not set out here and are not checked.