What kind of a fire is hellfire

What kind of a fire is hellfire

“Has the story reached thee, of the Overwhelming (Event)? Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated, Labouring (hard) weary― The while they enter the Blazing Fire― The while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring, No food will there be for them but a bitter Dhari Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger. (al-Ghashiya 1-7)
The Prophet (pbuh) states the following about hellfire:
“Hellfire was burnt for one thousand years. It became red. Then, it was burnt for another one thousand years and it became white. Then, it was burnt for another one thousand years. Now, it is black and dark.” (It was reported from Abu Hurayr. Tirmidhi, Muwatta)
“Hellfire is black and dark like night.” (Bayhaqi)
The Prophet (pbuh) asked Jibril (Gabriel) to describe him hellfire. He described it as follows: “Allah ordered the fire of hell to burn for one thousand years and it became red. Then, it burned for one thousand years and became yellow. Then, it burned for another one thousand years and became black. It is now black and full of darkness; it is scorching hot. If a person burning in it were shown to the people on the earth, they would faint and die due to its bad smell and terrible appearance.” (Ihya Ulum’id-Din)
Now, we will report a long hadith narrated by Abu Darda. Half of this hadith includes verses.
"The people of Hell are exposed to hunger. It becomes equal to the level of the torture they are exposed to. They ask help against hunger. They are given some thorny plants that are not nutritious and that do not eliminate hunger. They ask for food again. This time, they are given some food that sticks in their throat. It is stuck there; it does not move forward or backward. Then, they remember that they used to drink water when something stuck in their throat in the world and ask for some drink. They are given boiling water in pots with iron hooks. When these pots are approached to their faces, they brand their faces. When the water enters their stomachs, it rips their stomachs to pieces… Those in the Fire will say to the Keepers of Hell, "Pray to your Lord to lighten us the Penalty for a Day (at least)!" The angels will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with Clear Signs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then pray (as ye like) but the Prayer of those without Faith is nothing But (futile wandering) in (mazes of) error.“ They will cry: "O Malik! Would that thy Lord put and end to us!" He will say "Nay but ye shall abide!" A’mash, one of the narrators of the hadith, says, “I was told that one thousand years will pass between the demands of the people of Hell from Malik and Malik's answer to them… This time, the people of Hell will talk to one another and say, “Let us Pray our Lord; there is nobody better than Him for us. They will beg as follows, "Our Lord! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we became a people astray! Our Lord! Bring us out of this: if ever we return (to evil), then shall we be wrongdoers indeed!" Lord will say, "Be ye driven into Hell (with ignominy)! and speak ye not to Me! The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Upon this answer, the people of Hell lose all of their hope; they start to sob, repent, beat their chests and tear their clothes.” (Tirmidhi, Jahannam 4)
O my soul! You have heard a bit about the state of the fire that sinners will be exposed to. You have learned about the thorny plants that they will eat and that stick to their throats. You have heard how they begged angels of Hell and God Almighty. You have heard our Lord say to them, "Never speak to me again!" O my soul! Will you still continue committing sins? Will you still insist on rebelling? Can you bear the torture you have heard about? You cannot even put up with hearing that torture. How will you put up with the torture itself? Can you imagine your regret if you die today? What you have heard is true. Allah's promise is true. Come on, repent, shed tears, ask for forgiveness and promise not to commit sins again. Our Lord is the Forgiver and the Generous. He will forgive our sins and accept us as His slaves…
Source:Reference Link

⦁ The Hellfire as Described in the Quran

Allah has warned us in His Book about the Hellfire and has informed us about the different types of punishments it will have, to the extent that one's heart splits due to fear. Allah has informed us about its torment due to His mercy, so that we would therefore fear and avoid it.

Read attentively the verses in the Book of Allah that address the description of the Hellfire, perhaps it will be a reminder for you; perhaps they will cause you to repent before it is too late - before punishment strikes suddenly and you find nobody to support or aid you; perhaps they will make you realise the great success you will attain by following this message delivered by this great man.

Its chains: The Hellfire contains chains, as Allah says (what means):
"Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze."[Quran 76: 4]

Allah also says (what means): "…Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place."[Quran 18: 29]

Allah also says (what means): "And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say: 'Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?' They will say: 'Yes, but the word [i.e. decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.'"[Quran 39: 71]

Allah also says (what means): "And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them: ‘Did there not come to you a warner?'"[Quran 67: 6-8]

Directions from which punishment comes: In the Hellfire, punishment will be from all directions;
Allah says (what means): "On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said, 'Taste [the result of] what you used to do.'"[Quran 29: 55]

Allah also says (what means):“in scorching fire and scalding water. And a shade of black smoke; Neither cool nor beneficial."[Quran 56: 41-44]

Forms of punishment: One form of punishment in the Hellfire is that people will be dragged on their faces in it,
as Allah says (what means): "Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness. The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], 'Taste the touch of Saqar (i.e., Hell).'"[Quran 54: 47-48]

Its fuel: People are the fuel by which the Hellfire is heated and flamed;
Allah says (what means): "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded."[Quran 66: 6]

Allah also says (what means): "Indeed, it throws sparks [as huge] as a fortress, As if they were yellowish [black] camels"[Quran 77: 32-33]

People’s clothes therein: In the Hellfire, people’s clothes will be made of fire;
Allah says (what means): "And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles. Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire."[Quran 14: 49-50]

People’s drink and food therein: Regarding people’s drink and food in Hell,
Allah says (what means): "Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers, Will be eating from trees of Zaqqum. And filling with it your bellies. And drinking on top of it from scalding water. And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels. That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense."[Quran 56: 51-56]

Allah also says (what means): "…And he will be given a drink of purulent water. He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment."[Quran 14: 16-17]

The duration of punishment: The punishment in the Hellfire is continuous;
Allah says (what means): "Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses — We will drive them into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise."[Quran 4: 56]

Allah also says (what means): “Indeed, the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, abiding eternally. It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair. And We did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers.”[Quran 43: 74-76]

The punishment of Hell will be so severe that people will ask to be put to death so they can rest and escape from this punishment, but never will they die, and they will abide in this painful chastisement forever.
Allah says (what means): "And they will call, 'O Maalik! Let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'Indeed, you will remain'".[Quran 43: 77]

Allah also says (what means): "And for those who disbelieve will be the fire of Hell. (Death) is not decreed for them, so they may die, nor will its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We recompense every ungrateful one."[Quran 35: 36]

They will ask for the punishment and torment to be lightened, even if it were for one day, so that they can rest. But they will not be responded to and the torment will not be lightened.
Allah says (what means): "And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, 'Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.' They will say, 'Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?' They will say, 'Yes.' They will reply, 'Then supplicate (yourselves), but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error (i.e. futility)."[Quran 40: 49-50]

Source:Reference Link

⦁ Rulings on Interaction With Marriageable Men

⦁ A woman talking with non-Mahram (marriageable) men

Is the woman's voice prohibited to be heard to the extent that she should not talk with sellers in the markets in order to buy something without softening or sweetening her speech? Does the same ruling apply when she decently goes to the dressmaker to have her clothes tailored?
The woman's voice is not prohibited to be heard; but the prohibition occurs when she softens or sweetens her speech and talks in a manner that causes temptation. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
{Do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.}[Quran 33:32]
Allah The Almighty did not Say, "Do not talk to men," but He Says:
{Do not be soft in speech}.
Softness of speech is more specific than general talking.
Therefore, it is permissible for a woman to speak to men if it does not lead to temptation. Women would go to the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and talk to him, and people around him would hear their speech and the Prophet's reply. This is not evil at all. However, there should be no meeting in private except in the presence of a Mahram (non-marriageable male) and lack of temptation. However, a man is not allowed to take pleasure in listening to [the voice of] a woman, psychologically or sexually unless the woman is his wife.

⦁ Is display of women's hands prohibited?

The predominant opinion in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence is that the woman's hands, like her face, are not permissible to be shown to non-Mahram (marriageable) men. Covering the hands appears to be the common practice of women at the time of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The evidence on this is that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said about the woman in the state of Ihram (sacral state):
"She should not wear Niqab (face cover) or gloves"
[Al-Bukhari] The Prophet's prohibition for the woman in the state of Ihram from wearing gloves implies that wearing gloves was the practice of women. In other words, if the women did not use to wear gloves at the time of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he would not have forbidden them from wearing them in the state of Ihram.
The Muslim woman has to fear Allah The Almighty and should not appear in a way which causes temptation. Allah The Almighty addressed the Prophet's wives, the purest women, Saying (what means):

· {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]
· {And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.} [Quran 33:53]

If a person claims that this ruling is exclusive to the wives of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we would say: purity of the heart is required for both wives of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and other women. The fact that Hijab helps in realizing purity of the hearts of men and women indicates that there is no difference between the wives of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and other women.
I know that Hijab – for some people – means covering the whole body of the woman except the face, but the truth which is supported by evidence and necessitated by sound reasoning and reports, is that the woman has to cover her face. The face is the source of temptation and desire, and nobody doubts that the first thing men seek in women is beauty of the face, before any other part. So, a Muslim woman should fear Allah The Almighty, observe modesty, keep away from temptation and cover her face in order to block evil and corruption.

Wearing gloves in front of non-Mahram (marriageable) men

What is the ruling on a woman wearing gloves so that her hands would not appear when speaking to non-Mahram men in the markets?
It is good of a woman to cover her hands before non-Mahram men, and every woman should wear gloves so that her hands are not exposed. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
"A woman in the state of Ihram (sacral state) should not wear Niqab (face cover) or gloves."
This Hadeeth probably indicates that it was customary for women to wear gloves. Gloves on the hands perfect a woman’s covering and enhances protection from temptation. Gloves, however, should not be eye-catching.

The face is the source of temptation

Muslim jurists differ about many issues in Islamic jurisprudence, such as the issue of what the Hijab (Islamic covering) entails. Such divergence arose according to the reported narrations on the issue. What is the Hijab approved by the Sharee‘ah(Islamic legislation) for women? The Sharee‘ah-approved Hijab is the woman's covering of what she is forbidden to show or covering what she is obliged to cover. The face is most entitled to be covered because it is the source of temptation and the part of the body that men desire. Thus, it is obligatory for a woman to cover her face from non-Mahram men. It is a very strange view that someone claims that the Sharee‘ah-approved Hijab is covering the head, the neck, the bosom, the feet, the legs, and the arms, and permits the woman to uncover her face and hands. The face is the area that men desire and it is a source of temptation Furthermore, how can we say that Islamic Sharee‘ah forbids the woman to display her feet but permits her to display the face? This cannot exist in the sublime and wise Sharee‘ah which is above contradictions, and everyone knows that the temptation in displaying the face is greater than the temptation in displaying the feet. It is also known that the part that men desire in women is the face. For that reason, if you tell a suitor that his prospective fiancée has beautiful feet, but her face is ugly, he would not propose to her. On the contrary, if you tell him that she has a beautiful face, but her hands, palms or legs are less beautiful, he would propose to her. Therefore, the face is the part of the body which is more entitled to be covered. There is a great deal of evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah (tradition), and the sayings of the Companions, Imams and scholars of Islam supporting that a woman must cover all her body from non-Mahram (marriageable) men. They also prove that she is obliged to cover her face from non-Mahram men. The context does not befit listing the evidence here, but we wrote a brief yet useful article on this issue.

What is your advice for a Muslim who prevents his wife from wearing Hijab?

We advise him to fear Allah The Almighty regarding his wife and praise Him that He granted him a wife like her who wants to carry out the commands of Allah The Almighty by wearing the Sharee‘ah-approved dress which guarantees her safety from temptation.
Allah The Almighty ordered His faithful slaves to save themselves and their families from Hell. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
{O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.} [Quran 66:6]
The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also laid the responsibility for the family on the man, saying:
"A man is a caretaker of his family and he is responsible for his wards."
[Al-Bukhari] Thus, how is it possible that a man tries to force his wife to discard her Islamic dress and wear prohibited clothing which could be a cause of temptation?.
In addition, a wife is not allowed to obey him by disobeying Allah The Almighty, since it is a rule of the Sharee’ah that no creature is to be obeyed in disobedience of the Creator.
Source:Reference Link