Does the term "people of wretchedness" include those who will abide eternally in Hellfire and the monotheists who will be released from it, or is it limited only to those who will abide eternally therein?

The Sunnis maintain a middle ground regarding the promise and the threat. They believe that disobedient monotheists will not abide eternally in Hellfire; rather, they will be punished according to their sins and then emerge from it by Allah's mercy, unlike the Murji'ah and the Wa'eediyyah. As for the people of polytheism and disbelief, they will abide eternally in Hellfire, as indicated by the texts of the Quran.

The verses of Surat Hud mention the people of wretchedness and bliss. The interpretation of "abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure" signifies eternity. Some scholars believe that the verse in Hud includes disbelievers and disobedient believers who enter Hellfire for purification, then emerge from it.

As for Surat Al-Layl, the most wretched one who denies and turns away is he who will enter and burn in the Fire completely. Bliss and wretchedness are preordained, but the blissful one is facilitated to do the deeds of the people of bliss, and the wretched one to do the deeds of the people of wretchedness.

The texts related to "the people of wretchedness" often refer to disbelievers who will abide eternally in Hellfire. Nevertheless, disobedient believers may enter Hellfire for their purification and then emerge from it by Allah's grace. The duty concerning the texts of promise and threat is to believe in them and submit to them.