What will be the fate of the people of Al-A'raf on the Day of Resurrection?

The exegetes differed regarding the people of Al-A'raf. The most plausible opinion is that they are people whose good deeds and evil deeds were equal. Their ultimate fate, as reported by Ibn Abbas and others, is that Allah will show them mercy and admit them into Paradise. This is based on His saying, the Most High: "they have not entered it, though they hope to" [Al-A'raf: 46]. The "hope" (طمع) here implies entry. This is consistent with the vastness of Allah's mercy, for they are more deserving of entering Paradise than people who will exit Hellfire after enduring torment therein.