15.1. The meaning of al-a‘raf (the heights) in linguistic terms and in Islamic terminology
15.1.1. The meaning of al-a‘raf (the heights) in linguistic terms
In linguistic terms, the word al-a‘raf (the heights) refers to any high, elevated place. Some of the commentators said that al-a‘raf (the heights) refers to the top of a wall between the people of Paradise and the people of Hell.

15.1.2. The meaning of al-a‘raf (the heights) in Islamic terminology
In Islamic terminology, al-a‘raf (the heights) refers to a barrier which Allah will place on the Day of Resurrection between Paradise and Hell, from which the people of al-a‘raf (the heights) will overlook the people of both Paradise and Hell, and their ultimate destination will be Paradise.

15.2. What is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an about the people of al-a‘raf (the heights)
Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Between them, there will be a barrier, and on its heights there will be men who will recognize each group by their marks. They will call out to the inhabitants of paradise: Peace be upon you. They will not have entered it but they will hope to do so. And when their eyes are turned towards the inhabitants of hell, they will say: Our Lord, do not put us with people who are given to wrongdoing. The people on the heights will call out to men whom they will recognize by their marks: Of what benefit to you were your great numbers and wealth and your scornful pride? Are these the ones concerning whom you swore that Allah would never bestow His mercy upon them? Now enter paradise; you will have no fear nor will you grieve." (al-A‘raf 7:46-49) Al-Sa‘di said, “That is, between the people of Paradise and the people of Hell there will be a barrier called al-a‘raf (the heights), which is not part of Paradise or of Hell, but it overlooks both, and it is possible to look down from it and see both groups. On top of this barrier will be men who will recognise both the people of Paradise and of Hell by their marks that is, signs in them from which they may be recognised and distinguished. When they look at the people of Paradise, they will call out to them, saying: ‘Peace be upon you’. In other words, they will greet them even though – up to this point – they will not have entered Paradise, but they will hope to enter it, and Allah will not put hope in their hearts except for the reason that He will want to honour them. And when their eyes are turned towards the inhabitants of Hell and they see the scene of great horror, they will say: ‘Our Lord, do not put us with the wrongdoers’. When the people of the heights see the people of Paradise, they will hope to be with them in Paradise, and they will greet them. But when their gaze turns involuntarily towards the people of Hell, they will seek the protection of Allah from that fate. This is in general terms.

Then Allah mentions some specific exchanges after having spoken of the matter in general terms:
The people on the heights will call out to men whom they will recognise by their marks. This refers to some of the people of Hell, who were men of high status and wealth in this world, and had many children. The men on the heights will say to them, when they see them alone in their punishment, with no supporters or helpers: ‘Of what benefit to you were your great numbers in the former world, which you used to rely on to ward off harm and seek what you needed in the former world, yet today they have vanished and are of no avail to you. Of what benefit to you was your arrogance towards the truth and towards those who brought it and those who followed it? Then the men on the heights will point out to them the people of Hell some people among the inhabitants of Paradise who in this world were poor and weak, and the people of Hell used to ridicule them. And they will say to the people of Hell: ‘Are these whom Allah has admitted to Paradise the ones concerning whom you swore that Allah would never bestow His mercy upon them, thinking little of them, looking down on them and admiring yourselves? Now you have broken your oath and Allah has shown you something you never reckoned with.

(Now) enter Paradise because of your deeds; in other words, it will be said to these weak ones by way of honour and respect: Enter Paradise by virtue of your righteous deeds you will have no fear with regard to hardship in the future nor will you grieve for the past; rather you are safe and secure, rejoicing in all good.

This is like the passage in which Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, says, "The wicked used to laugh at those who believed, and when they passed by them, they used to wink at one another… But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers, as they recline upon their couches and look around them." (al-Mutaffifin 83:29-30, 34-35)

The scholars and commentators differed as to who the people on the heights are and what their deeds will be. The correct view is that they are people whose good deeds and bad deeds turn out to be equal. Their bad deeds will not be greater than their good deeds, such that they would enter Hell, and their good deeds will not be greater than their bad deeds, such that they would enter Paradise. So they will remain on the heights for as long as Allah wills, then Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, will admit them – by His mercy – to Paradise, for His mercy precedes and prevails over His wrath, and His mercy encompasses all things.”