All perfect praise be to The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Al-A`raf are Heights between Heaven and Hell, as stated by Ibn Abbas and other interpreters of the Noble Quran. In terms of the Arabic language, every Height is an U`rf. Moreover, all details concerning these Heights are known only by Allah, The Almighty, because they are from the Unseen which none knows, but He. Ibn Katheer (May Allah have mercy on him) stated: "Despite the different interpretations of the verse about the men on the Heights, they all refer to the following meaning: souls as aren`t decidedly on the side of merit, or decidedly on the side of sin, but evenly balanced on a partition between Heaven and Hell. This interpretation has been confirmed by Hozaifah, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas`oud and others from the righteous predecessors, and those who came after them, may Allah have mercy on all of them. After that Ibn Katheer mentions a number of traceable Hadiths indicating the same meaning, then he says that Allah knows best about their authenticity; however, they confirm the meaning mentioned above." {Tafseer al-Quran al-Azeem, vol.3/pp.418}.
Many of these interpreters-companions and followers-have stated that the men of the Heights are destined to go to Heaven, as indicated by the apparent meaning of verse 46, Surat Al-A`raf. In addition, it was reported that Al-Hasan Al-Bassri recited the verse: "they will not have entered, but they will have an assurance (thereof)." {Al-A`raf/46}. Al-Bassri commented, Allah has only given them that assurance to dignify them. The same interpretation was given by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ad`dahak and other interpreters. And Allah Knows Best.
