Settling the Scores and Cleansing
On the Day of Resurrection, once the people have been judged, given their book of deeds, had their reward and/or punishment determined on the Balance, Allah will then carry out the due punishment and give the due rewards.
The Bridge
There is a bridge that passes over Hell to Paradise known as siraat. This bridge must be crossed by the people in order to enter Paradise. The siraat is described as sharper than a sword and thinner than a hair. It will have hooks over it to snatch people. The speed at which a person is able to travel over siraat is determined by their deeds. Some people will cross it in the twinkling of an eye and some like the speed of the wind or swift horses. There will be others who walk, others who will crawl and some who will be snatched and thrown into the Fire below and never make it to Paradise.
A person whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds will be thrown into the Hellfire, unless Allah forgives them. A person whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, or has an equal number of good deeds and bad deeds, or a person who Allah chooses to forgive, will enter Paradise. However, if a person who has more good deeds than bad deeds but Allah knows that the Settling of Scores (see below) will use up so many good deeds that they will be outweighed by the bad deeds, then they will enter Hellfire and not continue.
Settling the Scores
Before those people who Allah has decreed will enter Paradise can do so, they must settle their scores. This will be done on the siraat. Prophet Muhammad said:
"When the believers have been saved from the Fire, then they will be detained on the bridge between Paradise and Hell. There they will settle the scores between them for any wrongs that they did to one another in this world, and when they have been cleansed and purified, they will be given permission to enter Paradise. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, each of them will recognise his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognises his dwelling in this world."
(Hadith)
What is meant by "settling the scores" is that the believers will have the opportunity to rectify any wrongs done by them or to them when they were alive. This is why Islam encourages Muslims not to hold grudges or treat each other unfairly in this life, since a believer cannot enter Paradise until justice has been done. People should thus settle their differences now before they die, rather than having to do it on the Day of Resurrection. Even the animals (who will also be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection) will settle their scores, as the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"All rights will be restored on the Day of Resurrection, until even the hornless sheep will settle its score with the one that has horns."
(Hadith)
Cleansing of the Believers
Allah says in the Qur'an:
"There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. Then We shall save those who use to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)"
(Qur'an 19:71-72)
The above verse refers to all mankind - believers and disbelievers alike. It states that everyone must pass over Hell at some stage and that that is something which Allah has already decreed and there is no avoiding that. There is more than one interpretation of what "passing over Hell" means. It may mean that Hell is brought close to the creatures until it terrifies them and then Allah will save those that fear Him. Or, it may mean that everyone will enter the Hellfire, but it will be cool for the believers and it will not hurt them. Or lastly, it may refer to the fact that everyone will pass over siraat.
The first hadith in the subsection above discusses the cleansing and purification of people. This refers to the fact that before any person is allowed to enter Paradise they must be cleansed and purified of their sins. This cleansing and purification may be achieved in this world, or the Hereafter.
In this world, cleansing and purification may be achieved by enduring hardships or pain, making dua'a' (supplication to Allah), following sins and evil deeds with sincere repentance and prayer to Allah to ask for forgiveness, and so on.
In the Hereafter, cleansing and purification may be achieved by believers who are still alive praying and making supplication to Allah to forgive the deceased person. Alternatively, any ongoing acts of charity (such as person building a mosque and then people using that mosque after his/her death) can expiate for a person's sins, as can acts of charity and worship such as fasting and hajj performed on the behalf of the deceased by other believers.
In the grave we may be cleansed and purified by receiving some punishment for our sins through the terror and squeezing in the grave. On the Day of Resurrection some of our sins may be wiped due to the hardships and difficulties we face on that day, or because Prophets and righteous people may intercede on the behalf of the believer.
Finally, if a person reaches the point where they have been admitted to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and they still have sins that haven't been "paid for" then the person may be cleansed and purified in the Hellfire, unless Allah has mercy on the person and chooses to forgive them.
For those believers that enter the Hellfire, they will abide therein for as long as necessary for them to be cleansed commensurate with the sins committed, unless Allah chooses to forgive them or allow someone to intercede for them. After this, Allah will bring them forth from the Fire as a mercy from Him and admit them to Paradise. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
"As for the people of Hell who belong there, they will neither die nor live therein, but people who entered Hell because of their sins, they will die once, then when they have become like coals, permission will be given for intercession, so they will be brought forth group after group and scattered on the rivers of Paradise, then it will be said, 'O people of Paradise be generous to them, then they will grow like seeds growing after a flood recedes."
(Hadith)
It should be mentioned that there is a group of people who will be doomed right from the start because of their bad deeds. Also, some people will enter Paradise without being brought to account for their sins, due to their belief in Allah and the good deeds they performed on earth or simply because of the great Mercy of Allah. This is the wish of every Muslim.
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