The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust !
The eternal (al-azal) is what must not have been non-existent61 in any respect (mufllaqan).
I argued above that whether an eternal punishment is disproportionate to a finite wrong depends on the qualitative characteristics of the punishment.
Eternal consignment to allconsuming flames seems, under any plausible moral calculus, wildly disproportionate to human wrongdoing.
Therefore, ' eternal life ... is grace in return for grace ' (9.20).
I take the traditional view to be eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.
The completely liberated [person] is happy due to that [eternal bliss] having become manifest.
The more perfect and more eternal aspect of the universe is represented in our religions as having personal form.
