Hazrat Shaykh Abu Ja’far had said that our view about ‘Araf was that it was a dividing (wall) between Paradise and the Hell, where some esteemed individuals would be stationed. They will recognise people from their signs.

وَعَلَى الْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيمَاهُمْ

“…Men who will recognize all (persons) by their peculiar marks…” (7:46).

These distinguished individuals will be the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his true legatees.

Only those people would enter paradise who were identified by them and in return they would also be familiar with them.

The rest would follow the route to Hell. At ‘Araf there will be other people who were in wait for God’s decision to be punished or forgiven to enter the Paradise.