يحيى بن أبي العلاء

Indeed, a servant was dwelling in the Fire for seventy autumns. One autumn is seventy years. He said: Then, indeed, he asked Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «By Muhammed and his Household, have mercy upon me.» He said: Then Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, revealed to Jibra’eel, peace be upon him: «Descend unto My servant and let him out.». He said: «O Lord, how can I descend into the Fire?» He said: «Indeed, I have ordered it to be, for you, (an emitter of) coolness and peace. He said: «O Lord, I have no knowledge of his location.» He said: «Indeed, he is in a pit of Sijjeen.» He said: Then he descended into the Fire and found him roped on his face. He said: Then he took him out to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and He said: «O My servant, how much did you dwell calling to Me in the Fire?». He said: «I do not count, O Lord.» He said: «Verily, by My Might, were it not for what you asked Me with, I would have prolonged your ignominy in the Fire. However, it is a necessity upon Myself that no servant asks Me by Muhammed and his Household, except that I forgive him for what was between Me and him, and I have forgiven you today.»

A worshiper will spend seventy winters in the Fire, and each winter will be equivalent to seventy years. He said: Then, he will ask Allah: “By the right of Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt, why did You not have mercy on me?” He said: So, Allah will reveal to Gabriel: “Descend to My worshiper and remove him.” He will say: “O Lord! How will I descend into the Fire?” He will say: “I have commanded it to be cool and peaceful for you.” He will say: “O Lord! I do not know where he is.” So, He will say: “He is in a pit in Sijjin.” He said: So, he will descend into the Fire, and find him chained up and upon his face. He will take him out. So, He will say: “O My servant! How long did you call for Me in the Fire?” He said: “I cannot comprehend it, my Lord.” He will say: “By My glory! Had you not asked, I would have prolonged your torment in the Fire. However, I have written upon Myself that no worshiper shall ask Me by the right of Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt except that I will forgive him for what is between him and I. So, I have forgiven you today.”

A servant of God will stay in the Fire for seventy lifetimes - each lifetime being seventy years. Then he will call out to the Honorable the Exalted God by Muhammad and his Holy Household to have mercy upon Him. Then the Honorable the Exalted God would reveal to Gabriel to go to His servant and take him out (of Hell). Then Gabriel would ask, ‘O my Lord! How can I descend into Hell?’ God would say, ‘I shall make the fire cool and (a means of) safety for you.’ Gabriel would ask, ‘O my Lord! I do not know where he is?’ God would say, ‘He is imprisoned in a pit.’ Gabriel would cover up his face, descend into Hell and pull him out.Then the Honorable the Exalted God would say, ‘O My servant! For how long did you stay in the stay in the Fire and call out to me?’ The servant would say, ‘O my Lord! You know best.’ God would say, ‘I swear by My Majesty that I would forgive all the sins of my servants who call me by Muhammad and his Holy Household to have mercy upon them - all that only they themselves and I know about. And I forgive your sins today.’