Article Surah 92 · Ayah 14

Allah taala has warned mankind of hell fire

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. Listen to 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.

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]

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: "And the companions of the left— what are the companions of the left? [They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water. And a shade of black smoke; neither cool nor beneficial." [Quran 56: 41-44]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 Zaqqoom. 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]

Finally, the punishment of the Hellfire is never reduced, nor will its dwellers ever die, as Allah 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. And they will call, 'O Maalik let your Lord put an end to us!” He will say, “Indeed, you will remain.'" [Quran 43: 74-77]

There are also many prophetic narrations describing and addressing the Hellfire; the following are some of them:

· Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 'Hell will be brought on that Day (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) with seventy bridles; and with every bridle will be seventy thousand angels, pulling it.'” [Muslim]

· Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: 'Your fire (in this world) is a part of the seventy parts of the fire of Hell', (meaning in its heat). It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah! It would have been enough, (meaning, if it was only as hot as the fire in this world, then that would have been enough as a deterrent).' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: 'It was increased sixty-nine times (or multiples), each multiple being of the same (degree) of heat.'" [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “We were once in the company of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam when we heard a loud bang. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam asked: 'Do you know what this (sound) is?' We replied: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: 'It is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years ago, and has only now reached its bottom.'” [Muslim]

· Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “If a drop from the tree of Zaqqoom (i.e., a tree of Hell) were to fall onto this world, it would (pollute and) destroy the lives of all the people of this world.” [An-Nasaa’i & At-Tirmithi]

· An-Nu’maan ibn Al-Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The least in punishment among the people of Hellfire is one whose sandals or shoelaces will be of fire, which will make his brain boil as a pot of water boils. He will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in fact, he will be the least in punishment.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: 'Among the inmates of Hell will be a person who had led a very luxurious life in this world will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Hellfire, he will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you (ever) happen to have any luxury?' He will reply: `I swear by Allah, no my Lord.' Then, another person, who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world, will be dipped in Paradise. He will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He will reply: 'I swear by Allah, no my Lord, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship.'” [Muslim] This means that the dwellers of the Hellfire will completely forget any pleasures they enjoyed in this life, and the dwellers of Paradise will completely forget any type of hardship they faced in this life.

· Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “A man from the dwellers of Hell will be asked on the Day of Resurrection: `If you possessed all that is on earth, would you ransom yourself for it?` He will reply: `Yes.` Then, he will be told (i.e., by Allah): `I requested something far easier than this from you: I had taken a pledge from you not to associate partners with Me, but you insisted on associating with Me.'” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 'Allah has taken a pledge upon Himself to make everyone who consumes intoxicants drink from Teenatul-Khabaal.' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam was asked: `O Messenger of Allah! What is Teenatul-Khabaal?' He sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam replied: 'It is (a liquid) made of the sweat and pus of the dwellers of Hell.'” [Muslim]

· The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “The Jews and the Christians will be asked: `What do you need?` They will reply: `Our Lord! We are thirsty so give us water to drink.` They will then be told: `Come along,' until they reach Hell, which will be destroying itself, (i.e., some parts of it will eat up others due to its intense heat) and they will be thrown into it.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] Imaam Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy upon him, commented on this narration saying: “What do you think the condition will be of those who stood for fifty thousand years without eating or drinking, until they almost died of thirst and their stomachs burnt from hunger, and who were then taken to Hell and given boiling drinks in red hot pots (to drink)?”

· Imaam Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allah have mercy upon him, described Hell saying: “It is an abode in which its dwellers are deprived of joy; their faces are dark; they are beaten with hooks that are stronger than steel; upon it are angels who are harsh and tough; (the inhabitants of Hell) will be lying on fire and drinking boiling water; they will be continuously in grief; they will never leave Hell because it will be their eternal abode; they will cry for having wasted their youth; their crying will be continuous and increasing; their Creator is angered by them; they will be exposed in front of others; what they collected in life will not benefit them; they will see the evil consequences of their sins; life will seem as if it was a dream to them; their bodies will burn, but whenever they are burnt out, they will be returned to their original form in order for them to taste more torture.”

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Allah has warned of the severe penalty of hell fire

The Companions of our Prophet Muhammed (SAW) used to gather to remember death so that they would benefit their souls by increasing in fear of Allaah and strive to gain His pleasure. If this was the case of the Sahaabah and they were the best of generations, the most pious and God-fearing of this ummah, then what about us? Surely, it means that we need to engage in the remembrance of Allaah(SWT) even more. After all, we are in far more need of this act of worship than they were.

Let us begin at the end of a man's life, in his last moments. He is lying on his death bed and his family are at his side. His father is calling for the doctor. His wife asks him: "To whom are you leaving us?". The man's little daughter asks him, "Why do you not answer me?", and his small boy cries but nobody responds to him. This is the situation Allaah, The Most High and The Most High, has informed us about:

"Nay, when the soul reaches the throat, and it is said: "Who will cure him now?". The dying person concludes that this is the time for departing. The leg joins the other leg." [Al-Qiyaamah: 26-29]

They place him in his shroud, his leg joins his other leg. Then he is carried upon the shoulders and taken to a dark hole. If he was a transgressing criminal he cries out: "Woe to it! Where are you taking it?"

"The drive that day will be to your Lord" [Al-Qiyaamah: 30 ]

Then he is lowered into this ditch and dirt is thrown upon him until he is sealed in it. If he was a criminal, Allaah - The Most Perfect and The Most High - says:

"So he neither believed nor did he pray. Rather he belied and turned away" [Al-Qiyaamah: 31-32 ]

This trangressor will remain in his grave alone, there will be no one to sit with him and no one to keep him company. He will feel the heat of the fire, smell its foul odour, and be tortured therein. This man's grave will squeeze in upon him so much so that the bones of his rib cage will cross each other. Despite all this punishment and all this torture and pain, he will hope that the hour will never be established. For this man knows that the hour is far worse and of he will be in greater loss on that Day.

The man hears 'As-Saakhah' from within his grave, and what is 'As-Saakhah'? It is the second blowing of the trumpet. This is when all that is in the graves shall be raised and resurrected.

So the criminal will cry: "Woe to us, who has woken us from our resting place?" It will be said: "This is what the Ever-Merciful promised and the messengers where truthful" [Yasin: 52]

The earth will be torn away from above him. This man will see the heavens being cleft asunder, the stars falling and being scattered, the oceans in their greatness bursting forth, burning, the graves will at that time bring forth their contents. Every person shall know what he has sent forth of good and bad deeds at that moment. [Al-Infitaar: 1-5]

Then he will raised up and driven to the crowding place: 'Al-Mahshar'. That day, the mother who is nursing her child will become careless of it, the mother who is carrying her child will drop her load. That day, mankind will appear as if they are drunk yet they they are not drunk. Indeed the punishment of your Lord is great. [Al-Hajj 1-2]

The mother will come to her son and say: "Oh my son, my breast was a container for you, my womb was a container for you. Oh my son I seek from you a hasanah (merit) that I may approach Allaah with. My son, do not be greedy towards me". In the world this son would have sacrificed his life, rather many lives for merely the happinness of his mother so how does he treat her now? He responds to her plea: "Get away from me! Leave me! Indeed I am in need of this merit more than you."

"So when 'As-Saakhah' comes. That day a man will flee from his brother, from his mother and his father, from his wife and his children. That day every man shall have enough to make him careless of others." [Al-Abasa: 33-37]

So mankind will wait in this crowding place for 50,000 years, after which Allaah, The Most Perfect and The Most High, will come to judge them. So He will call the criminal and say to him, "Oh so and so, did I not give you of the cold water to drink? did I not give you a healthy body? Did I not give you many bounties? What have you done with all that which I bestowed upon you?"

So the man replies, "I have done nothing my Lord."

So he lies to his Lord on that day. Allaah says: "Where are the witnesses!". So the Angels come and bear witness that this criminal did not pray in those moments of prayer, he drank, fornicated, lied, cursed and insulted. He turned away from belief and was proud and arrogant. So the criminal says to his Lord, "I do not acceptaccept a wintness except one from myself."

His Lord replies to him, "And you have that?"

"The day when we shall seal their mouths, there hands will speak to us and their legs will bear witness to that which they used to earn" [Yasin: 65]

So he turns to his skin and says to it: it was only for you that I was arguing.

"Nay, when the earth is shaken a true shaking and your Lord comes with the Angels in rows. That day the Fire will be brought near. That day man will remember but how will that remembrance avail him? He will say, 'Woe to me! Would that I had put forth something for this life.' " [Al-Fajr: 21-24]

This man then remembers. This criminal remembers that when he heard the call for prayer and he did not respond to it. He remembers when he woke and the sun had already risen yet he had not prayed al-fajr. This man remembers when he abused this one, when he slandered that one, when he earned that unlawful wealth, when he struck this one and killed that one. This criminal remembers every sin with which he disobeyed Allaah with.That day all his remorse and regret amounts to nothing.

Then Allaah will say, "Seize him and fetter him. Then throw him into the blazing fire. Then put a chain which is 70 cubits long through him. Indeed he did not used to believe in Allaah, The Most Perfect,The Most High."

The Angels will then drag him upon his face into the fire.

As he enters it he will see his friends from the world already present.

"Every time a nation enters it curses it sister nation" [Al-a'araaf: 38].

So he is greeted with curses and given a wretched abode in which to abide. The fire encompasses him from all sides roasting, burning his skin completely,

"Whenever their skins have been done (burnt away) we replace them with new skins so that they may taste of the punishment" [an-Nisaa: 56].

Their food in the fire is Ad-Daree' (a thorny plant).

"No food will they have except Ad-Daree'. It neither nourishes nor removes hunger" [Al-Ghaashiyah: 6-7]

When they eat it they choke due to the thorns. So when they are choking they ask to be rescued with water, so they are rescued with an intensly boiling water which grills their faces when they appoach it. When they drink from the water, due to its heat, it cuts their intestines and causes them an increased pain.

They eat from Az-Zaquum. They eat a bitter fruit which cannot be tasted.

"Indeed the tree of Zaquum will be the food of the sinners. Like boiling oil, it will boil in the belies, like the boiling of scalding water. It will be said : Drag, sieze him and drag him into the midst of the blazing fire. Then pour upon his head the torment of boiling water. Taste! You were pretending to be the Mighty the Generous" [ad-Dukhaan: 43-49]

Due to this intense pain, suffering and anguish they are experiencing they call upon the guardian of hell-fire,

"They call, Oh Maalik let your Lord destroy us" After many years he responds to them with two words "You are staying" [43:77].

After all of this, they have one last chance and they call upon their Lord, "Oh our Lord we were indeed astray! Oh our Lord we were indeed misguided, we did fall short. Return us to the world so that we can do good instead of that which we used to do."

Allaah replies to them, "Rot in it and do not speak to me. After this they do not speak nor do they utter."

They are then called from afar, "Oh dwellers of the fire, do you know what this is?" They reply, "Yes that is death in the form of a ram." Death is then slaughtered in a place between Al-Jannah an An-Naar. It is said to the dwellers of the fire, everlasting life without death.

Reference Link

The Hellfire described

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, it throws sparks [as huge] as a fortress, as if they were yellowish [black] camels." [Quran 77: 32-33]

There are also many prophetic narrations describing and addressing the Hellfire; the following are some of them:

· Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'Hell will be brought on that Day (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) with seventy bridles; and with every bridle will be seventy thousand angels, pulling it.'” [Muslim]

· Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'Your fire (in this world) is a part of the seventy parts of the fire of Hell', (meaning in its heat). It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah! It would have been enough, (meaning, if it was only as hot as the fire in this world, then that would have been enough as a deterrent).' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'It was increased sixty-nine times (or multiples), each multiple being of the same (degree) of heat.'" [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “We were once in the company of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) when we heard a loud bang. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) asked: 'Do you know what this (sound) is?' We replied: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'It is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years ago, and has only now reached its bottom.'” [Muslim]

· Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “If a drop from the tree of Zaqqoom (i.e., a tree of Hell) were to fall onto this world, it would (pollute and) destroy the lives of all the people of this world.” [An-Nasaa’i & At-Tirmithi]

· An-Nu’maan ibn Al-Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The least in punishment among the people of Hellfire is one whose sandals or shoelaces will be of fire, which will make his brain boil as a pot of water boils. He will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in fact, he will be the least in punishment.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'Among the inmates of Hell will be a person who had led a very luxurious life in this world will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Hellfire, he will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you (ever) happen to have any luxury?' He will reply: `I swear by Allah, no my Lord.' Then, another person, who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world, will be dipped in Paradise. He will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He will reply: 'I swear by Allah, no my Lord, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship.'” [Muslim] This means that the dwellers of the Hellfire will completely forget any pleasures they enjoyed in this life, and the dwellers of Paradise will completely forget any type of hardship they faced in this life.

· Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “A man from the dwellers of Hell will be asked on the Day of Resurrection: `If you possessed all that is on earth, would you ransom yourself for it?` He will reply: `Yes.` Then, he will be told (i.e., by Allah): `I requested something far easier than this from you: I had taken a pledge from you not to associate partners with Me, but you insisted on associating with Me.'” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

· Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: 'Allah has taken a pledge upon Himself to make everyone who consumes intoxicants drink from Teenatul-Khabaal.' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was asked: `O Messenger of Allah! What is Teenatul-Khabaal?' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) replied: 'It is (a liquid) made of the sweat and pus of the dwellers of Hell.'” [Muslim]

· The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The Jews and the Christians will be asked: `What do you need?` They will reply: `Our Lord! We are thirsty so give us water to drink.` They will then be told: `Come along,' until they reach Hell, which will be destroying itself, (i.e., some parts of it will eat up others due to its intense heat) and they will be thrown into it.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] Imaam Al-Hasan may Allah have mercy upon him commented on this narration saying: “What do you think the condition will be of those who stood for fifty thousand years without eating or drinking, until they almost died of thirst and their stomachs burnt from hunger, and who were then taken to Hell and given boiling drinks in red hot pots (to drink)?”

· Imaam Ibn Al-Jawzi may Allah have mercy upon him described Hell saying: “It is an abode in which its dwellers are deprived of joy; their faces are dark; they are beaten with hooks that are stronger than steel; upon it are angels who are harsh and tough; (the inhabitants of Hell) will be lying on fire and drinking boiling water; they will be continuously in grief; they will never leave Hell because it will be their eternal abode; they will cry for having wasted their youth; their crying will be continuous and increasing; their Creator is angered by them; they will be exposed in front of others; what they collected in life will not benefit them; they will see the evil consequences of their sins; life will seem as if it was a dream to them; their bodies will burn, but whenever they are burnt out, they will be returned to their original form in order for them to taste more torture.”

Reference Link

A Description of Hellfire (part 2 of 5) - Its Appearance Its Location

There is no exact mention from the Quran or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad which pinpoint the location of Hell. No one knows its exact place except God. Due to some linguistic evidence and context of certain hadeeth, some scholars have stated that Hell is in the heavens, yet others say it is in the lower earth. Its Size Hell is huge and immensely deep. We know this through several ways. First, innumerable people will enter Hell, each, as described in a hadeeth, with the molar teeth as large as Uhud (a mountain in Medina)[1] The distance between the shoulders of its inhabitants has also been described as being equivalent to three days of walking.[2] Hell will house all the unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and there will still be room for more. God says: {On the Day when We will say to Hell: 'Are you filled?' It will say, 'Are there any more (to come)?'} [Quran 50:30] {يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ} [ق:٣٠]

Transliteration: Yawma Naqūlu Lijahannama Hal Amtala'ti Wa Taqūlu Hal Min Mazīdin The Fire of Hell is likened to a mill that grinds thousands and thousands of tons of grain and then waits for more to come. Second, a stone thrown from the top of Hell will take a very long time to reach the bottom. One of the companions of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, describes how they were sitting with the Prophet and heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed their lack of knowledge, he said: That was a stone thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it is yet in the way (the other « side) of Hell until now.» [3] Another report states: «If a stone as big as seven pregnant camels was thrown from the edge of Hell, it would fly through it for seventy years, and yet it would not reach the bottom.» [4] Third, a great many angels will bring Hell on the Day of Resurrection. God speaks of it: {And Hell will be brought near that Day…} [Quran 89:23] {وَجِيءَ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِجَهَنَّمَ...} [الفجر: ٢٣] Transliteration: Wa Jī'a Yawma'idhin Bijahannama The Prophet said: «Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels.» [5] Fourth, another report that indicates the vast size of Hell is that the sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell on the Day of Resurrection.[6] Its Levels Hell has various levels of heat and punishment, each is reserved according to the extent of their disbelief and sins of those being punished. God says: {Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.} [Quran 4:145] {إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ} [النساء:١٤٥] Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Munāfiqīna Fī Ad-Darki Al-'Asfali Mina An-Nāri The lower the level of Hell, the greater is the intensity of heat. Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, so will they be in the lowest part of Hell. God refers to the levels of Hell in the Quran: {For all will be (ranked) by degrees according to what they did.} [Quran 6:132] {وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا} [الأنعام:١٣٢] Transliteration: Wa Likullin Darajātun Mimmā `Amilū {Is one who seeks the good pleasure of God then like the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His abode is Hell - and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying grades with God, and God is All-Seer of what they do.} [Quran 3:162-163] {أَفَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ كَمَن بَاءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٦٢﴾ هُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ} [آل عمران: ١٦٣] Transliteration: 'Afamani Attaba`a Riđwāna Allāhi Kaman

Bā'a Bisakhaţin Mina Allāhi Wa Ma'wāhu Jahannamu Wa Bi'sa Al-Maşīru (162) Hum Darajātun `Inda Allāhi Wa Allāhu Başīrun Bimā Ya`malūna The Gates of Hell God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in the Quran: {And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class of sinners assigned.} [Quran 15:43-44)] {وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ} [الحجر:43-٤٤] Transliteration: Wa 'Inna Jahannama Lamaw`iduhum 'Ajma`īna(43) Lahā Sab`atu 'Abwābin Likulli Bābin Minhum Juz'un Maqsūmun Each gate has an allotted share of the damned who will enter through it. Each will enter according to his deeds and assigned a level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought to Hell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it forever: {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 (meaning the decree) of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.'} [Quran 39:71] {وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ} [الزمر:٧١] Transliteration: Wa Sīqa Al-Ladhīna Kafarū 'Ilá Jahannama Zumarāan Ĥattá 'Idhā Jā'ūhā Futiĥat 'Abwābuhā Wa Qāla Lahum Khazanatuhā 'Alam Ya'tikum Rusulun Minkum Yatlūna `Alaykum 'Āyāti Rabbikum Wa Yundhirūnakum Liqā'a Yawmikum Hādhā Qālū Balá Wa Lakin Ĥaqqat Kalimatu Al-`Adhābi `Alá Al-Kāfirīna They will be told after admission: {Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.} [Quran 39:72] {قِيلَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ} [الزمر: ٧٢] Transliteration: Qīla Adkhulū 'Abwāba Jahannama Khālidīna Fīhā Fabi'sa Mathwá Al-Mutakabbirīna The gates will be shut and there will be no hope of escape as God says: {But those who reject Our signs, they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (meaning the gates will be locked).[7]} ]Quran 90:19-20[ {وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ ﴿١٩﴾ عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ مُّؤْصَدَةٌ} [البلد:19-٢٠] Transliteration: Wa Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Bi'āyātinā Hum 'Aşĥābu Al-Mash'amahi (19)`Alayhim Nārun Mu'uşadahun Furthermore, God says in the Quran: {Woe to every scorner and mocker, who collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, Which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed down upon them in extended columns.} [Quran 104:1-9] {وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ ﴿٢﴾ يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ ﴿٣﴾ كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ ﴿٥﴾ نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ ﴿٦﴾ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ ﴿٧﴾ إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ ﴿٨﴾ فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ} [الهمزة:1- ٩] Transliteration: Waylun Likulli Humazatin Lumazahin(1) Al-Ladhī Jama`a Mālāan Wa `Addadahu (2) Yaĥsabu 'Anna Mālahu 'Akhladahu (3) Kallā Layunbadhanna Fī Al-Ĥuţamahi(4)Wa Mā 'Adrāka Mā Al-Ĥuţamahu (5) Nāru Allāhi Al-Mūqadahu (6)Allatī Taţţali`u `Alá Al-'Af'idahi (7) 'Innahā `Alayhim Mu'uşadahun (8) Fī `Amadin Mumaddadahin The gates of Hell are also closed before the Day of Judgment. The Prophet of Islam spoke of them closing in the month of Ramadan.[8] Its Fuel Stones and stubborn unbelievers make the fuel of Hell as God says: {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones...} [Quran 66:6] {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ...} [التحريم:٦] Transliteration: Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Qū 'Anfusakum Wa 'Ahlīkum Nārāan Waqūduhā An-Nāsu Wa Al-Ĥijāratu... {…then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.} ]Quran 2:24[ {... فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ} [البقرة:٢٤] Transliteration: ... Fa Attaqū An-Nāra Allatī Waqūduhā An-Nāsu Wa Al-Ĥijāratu 'U`iddat Lilkāfirīna Another source of fuel for Hell will be the pagan gods that were worshipped besides God: {Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.} [Quran 21:98-99] {إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ ﴿٩٨﴾ لَوْ كَانَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ آلِهَةً مَّا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ} [الأنبياء:٩٩] Transliteration: 'Innakum Wa Mā Ta`budūna Min Dūni Allāhi Ĥaşabu Jahannama 'Antum Lahā Wa Aridūna (98) Law Kāna Hā'uulā' 'Ālihatan Mā Waradūhā Wa Kullun Fīhā Khālidūna The Clothing of its Inhabitants God tells us that the dress of the people of Hell will be garments of fire tailored for them: {…But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water.} [Quran 22:19] {...فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ} [الفجر:١٩] Transliteration: ... Fa-Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Quţţi`at Lahum Thiyābun Min Nārin Yuşabbu Min Fawqi Ru'ūsihimu Al-Ĥamīmu {And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.} [Quran 14:49-50] {وَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ ﴿٤٩﴾ سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ} [إبراهيم:49-٥٠] Transliteration: Wa Tará Al-Mujrimīna Yawma'idhin Muqarranīna Fī Al-'Aşfādi(49) Sarābīluhum Min Qaţirānin Wa Taghshá Wujūhahumu An-Nāru --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes: [1] Saheeh Muslim [2] Saheeh Muslim [3] Mishkat [4] Sahih al-Jami' [5] Saheeh Muslim [6] Tahawi in Mushkal al-Aathaar, Bazzar, Baihaqi, and others. [7] Based on the explanation of Ibn Abbas ('Tafsir Ibn Kathir'). [8] Tirmidhi. By IslamReligion.com

Reference Link

The plight of the People of Hell

Hell has various levels and degrees of torment. In some of them, the torment and horror is greater than the others. The people who are to be doomed to enter Hell will be given different levels of punishment according to the deeds they used to do during their worldly life. The worse one's deeds were in the worldly life the lowest one's level will be in the Hellfire and the harder one's torment will be.

Ibn Rajab may Allah have mercy upon him said: “Know that the different levels of punishment suffered by the people of Hell will be according to the levels of their deeds for which they entered Hell.”

He then quoted the evidence for that, such as the words of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him: “The punishment of those who were extreme in their disbelief and spread corruption on earth, calling others to disbelief, will not be like the punishment of those who did not do such things.”

Then Ibn Rajab said: “Similarly, the punishments of the monotheists in Hell will be at different levels, according to their deeds. The punishment of those who were guilty of major sins will not be like that of those who were guilty of minor sins. The punishment may be reduced for some of them because of other good deeds, or for whatever reason Allah wills..." [At-Takhweef min An-Naar, P.181]

Prophet Muhammad sallaallaahu alayhi wa sallam said concerning the people of Hell: “There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and yet others up to their collarbones.” [Muslim]

In the long narration of Israa' (the miraculous Ascension of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) to heavens), the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) was reported to have seen different scenes of the Hell-dwellers. Among them were:

1- People who used to unjustly eat up the property of the orphans. They have flews similar to those of camels, swallowing red-hot stones and then issuing out of their backs.

2- Adulterers offered tasty fatty meat and rotten smelly one but they make option for the latter. The licentious women were also there hanging from their breasts.

3- People whose heads were being shattered, then every time they would return to their original state and be shattered again without delay. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "O Jibreel, who are these people?" He replied: "These are the people whose heads were too heavy (on their pillows) to get up and fulfill the prescribed prayers."

4- People who wore loincloths on the fronts and on their backs. They were roaming the way camels and sheep roam about. They were eating thistles and Zaqqoom (the fruit of the tree that grows in hell) and white-hot coals and stones of Fire. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) asked: "Who are these, O Jibreel?" He replied: "These are the ones who did not pay Zakat (obligatory charity) from what they possessed, whereas Allah never kept anything from them."

5- People who had in front of them excellent meat disposed in pots and putrid, foul meat, and they would eat from the foul meat and not touch the good meat. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "What is this, O Jibreel?" He replied: "These are the men from your Nation who had an excellent, lawful wife at home and who would go and see a foul woman and spend the night with her (i.e. have illicit relation); and the women who would leave her excellent, lawful husband to go and see a foul man and spend the night with him."

6- A man swimming in a river of blood and he was being struck in his mouth with rocks which he then swallowed. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) asked: "What is this, O Jibreel?" He replied: "This is what happens to those who eat usury."

7- A man who had gathered a stack of wood which he could not carry, yet he was adding more wood to it. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "What is this, O Jibreel?" He replied: "This is a man from your Nation who gets people's trusts when he cannot fulfill them, yet he insists on carrying them."

8- People whose tongues and lips were being sliced with knives. Every time they were sliced they would return to their original state to be sliced again without respite. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "Who are these, O Jibreel?" He replied: "These are the preachers from among your Nation who used to advise others to do what they themselves don't do…"

9- People who had copper nails with which they scratched their own faces and chests. He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) asked: "Who are these, O Jibreel?" He replied: "These are the ones who ate the flesh of people (i.e., by backbiting) and tarnished their reputations." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Reference Link

The levels of Jahannam (Hell Fire)

11-03-14, 02:40 AM
Allaah says:

لها سبعة أبواب لكل باب منه جزء مقسوم

"Indeed the hell fire is the dwelling place of them all. It has seven gates and within each gate there is an appropriate punishment for each inhabitant…" (Hijr: 44)

Imam As Sa'di (Rahimahullah) mentions in his tafseer: "The gates of Hell are structured one gate below the other descending, opposite the gates of paradise, which have one gate above the other ascending. The distance between each gate is 500 years prepared for Iblees and all of his followers."

The First Gate: This gate is called Jahannam, as Allah mentions in many verses in the Qur'an:

قالوا لا تنفروا في الحر قل نار جهنم أشد حرا لو كانوا يفقهون

"They said (i.e. the hypocrites): "Don't go out for war during the heat!" Say (i.e. Muhammad) the fire of Jahannam is even hotter if you only understood." (Tawbah: 81)

This gate is called Jahannam because the fire will scorch the faces of the men and women who enter it!!!

Their faces will be sullen and glum. It will eat away at their flesh and Allah says:

كلما نضجت جلودهم بدلنناهم جلودا غيرها ليذوقوا العذاب

"Every time the fire eats away their flesh We will replace it with new flesh so they can taste the punishment…" (Nisaa':56)

Imam As Sa'di (Rahimahullah) mentioned in his tafseer: "This is in response to their obstinacy and resistance in the life of this world. Just as they continued to reject obedience to Allah and submission to Him, likewise the fire will continue to burn up their flesh and when it reaches the point of almost being obliterated, Allah will remove the old flesh and replace it with new flesh, a just recompense for their rebellion in this life."

This is the lightest punishment that one can receive in Hell, outside of the specific punishment of Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam).

The Second Gate: This Gate is called Ladha', as Allah says in the Qur'an:

كلا إنها لظى نزاعة للشوى تدعوا من أدبر وتولى وجمع فأوعى...

"There is no way out for them, except the Ladha (i.e. Fierce Blaze) will certainly scorch the inward organs and the outward flesh! It will invite everyone who turned away from following the truth, heedless of it and gathered wealth but refused to spend it in the cause of Allah…" (Ma'arij:15)

This level of hell is called Ladha because the fire will eat away at their body parts one by one, both internally and externally. It will invite those who abandoned Tawheed (i.e. Islamic monotheism) and turned away from that which the Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) came with.

The Third Gate: This gate is called Saqar, as Allah says:

سأصليه سقر وما أدراك ما سقر ولا تبقي واتذر لواحة للبشر عليها تسعة عشر...

"We will throw him into the Saqar and what will make you know what Saqar is? It is a scorching fire, it spares nothing and leaves nothing behind it will shake them vehemently and over it are nineteen angels " (Mudathir: 26-30)

It is called "Saqar" because it will eat up the flesh of the human being and not his bones. But listen to what Allah mentioned about those who enter this particular level of hell:

في جنات يتسائلون عن المجرمين ما سلككم في سقر قالوا لم نك من المصلين ولم نك نطعم المسكين وكنا نخوض مع الخائضين
وكنا نكذب بيوم الدين حتى أتانا اليقين.

"Those in paradise will ask the criminals what has landed you all in Saqar? They will say: "We were not of those who used to pray, and we didn't feed the poor, and we used to talk vainly with those who talked vain talk; and we used to deny the Day of Recompense until death came to us and we saw the reality of all that we denied" (Mudathir:40-47)

So there are a total of four things that they were guilty of, which ultimately landed them in this level of the hell fire:
The First: They did not offer salat (i.e. prayer) and the scholars also use this as a proof to show that abandoning the salat is Kufr (i.e. disbelief). And it also shows how serious it is because it was the first thing they mentioned out of all the offenses they were guilty of. In essence they refused to give Allah His right.
The Second: They did not feed the poor. Meaning they refused to benefit the needy on all levels.
The Third: They used to talk vainly with those who talk in vain. Meaning they used to indulge in falsehood and used it to argue unjustly against the truth.
The Fourth: They used to deny and reject the Day of Recompense and this is the end result of delving into falsehood.

The Fourth Gate: This gate is called Al Hutamah, as Allah says:

كلا لينبذن في الحطمة وماأدراك مالحطمة نار الله الموقدة التي تطلع على الأفئدة إنها عليهم مؤصد فعمد ممددة

"Nay they will be thrown into Al Hutamah (i.e. Crushing Fire). And what will make you know what Al Hutamah is? The fire of Allah kindled by men and stones which scorches the hearts. Surely it is vaulted over them in pillars widely extended." (Humazah: 4-9)

It is called Al Hutamah because it will shatter the bones of the human being and burn the heart and other internal organs. The fire will start at his feet and burn all the way through until it reaches the heart!!! Allah says:

إنها ترمي بشرر كالقصر كأنه جمالة صفر

"Indeed it (i.e. the hell fire) spits out sparks the size of mansions, as if they were yellow herds" (Mursalat: 32-33)

The individual in the fire will turn completely black when the sparks ascend up and scorch their faces, hands and bodies. They will cry tears until their tear ducts are completely exhausted then they will cry blood and when the blood is completely exhausted they will cry pus until the pus is completely exhausted!!!! They will leave behind a pool so great that if a ship wanted to set sail on top of what they cried it would have no problem doing so!

The Fifth Gate: This particular gate is called Jaheem, as Allah mentions in many verses:

خذوه فغلواثم الجحيم صلوا ثم في سلسلة ذرعها سبعون ذراعا فاسلكوه إنه كان لا يؤمن بالله العظيم ولا يحض على طعام
المسكين...

"Seize him and shackle him!! Then roast him in Jaheem (i.e. hell fire) in chains that are seventy cubits long. This is because he did not believe in Allah, the Magnificent and he did not encourage the feeding of the poor." (Al Haqq: 30-34)

This gate is called Jaheem because it is actually one big piece of hot coal that is bigger than the lowest heaven as we know it. And look at the crimes of the one who enters this particular gate:
The First: He did not have the correct belief in Allah. This is to correct the misunderstanding of those who deride having the correct aqeedah and make discouraging statements such as "Why do they spend so much time studying Aqeedah?!!" or "We can learn Tawheed in 10 minutes!" or those who simply say: "I just believe in Allah!" This is a very nonchalant approach towards the greatest right over us as human beings, which is the right of Allah (i.e. Tawheed) the right to be worshiped alone without any partners.
The Second: They refused to give the creation their rights, which is the most important right after the right of Allah. He did not encourage the feeding of the poor.

The Sixth Gate: This gate is called Sa'eer, as Allah says:

فريق في الجنة وفريق في السعير

"A group in paradise and a group in Sa'eer (i.e. the blazing fire)" (Shurah: 7)

Allah also says about the people therein:

و قالوا لو كنا نسمع أو نعقل ما كنا في أصحاب السعير فاعترفوا بذنبهم فسحقا لأصحاب السعير

"And they will say: "If we had listened and used our intellect we would not be inhabitants of As Sa'eer (i.e. blazing fire)!! They confessed their sins but away with the companions of As Sa'eer" (Mulk: 10-11)

This gate of Hell is called As Sa'eer because it is constantly kindling, rather it has never ceased to kindle from the moment it was created!! In it are 300 castles and in each castle there are 300 houses and in each house there are 300 types of punishments.

In this particular level of hell there are scorpions and snakes, ropes, chains and shackles!! There is also something call the "Pit of Agony", which is incomparable and unparalleled to any other type of punishment in hell. When the door of this pit is opened the people in the hell fire will grieve austerely!!!

The Seventh Gate: This gate is called Al Haawiyah, as Allah says:

وأما من خفت موازينه فأمه هاوية وما أدراك ما هيه نار حامية

"As for the one whose scales are light, then the Hawiyah will embrace him like a mother embraces her child. And what will make you know what Al Hawiyah is? It is a kindled fir burning hot." (Al Qa'riah: 8-11)

This gate of hell is called Al Hawiyah because whoever enters this level of the hell fire will never come out! Notice Allah said that the fire will embrace him like a mother embraces her child! In this level of the hell fire there is a well that will let out a breeze of fire and when this breeze comes out it will be so hot and powerful that all of the fires in the other levels of hell will seek refuge in Allah from it!

In this level of the hell fire there is a mountain made of fire and the enemies of Allah will be laid on their faces on this mountain and their hands will be tied to their necks and their necks tied to their feet and over them will stand the Zabaaniyah, who are angels that guard this particular level of the hell fire, as Allah says:

سندعو الزبانية...

"And We will call the Zabaaniyah (i.e. angels who guard the hell fire)…" (Alaq: 18)

The hands of the Zabaaniyah will be like iron and when they strike one of those in the hell fire one time with their hands they let out a scream so loud that both the Jinn and mankind can hear.
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30 Signs of Hypocrisy ~ 7 Levels of Jahannam
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11-03-14, 02:40 AM
Re: The levels of Jahannam (Hell Fire)

Conditions and Stages of Jahannam (Hell) by Mufti Afzal Hoosen Elias

This publication is divided into two parts. One examines the conditions in Jahannam and the other examines the dwellers of Jahannam.

Depth of the pits of Jahannam

Hadhrat Abu Musa Ash'ari (Radhiallaahu-anhu) narrates that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said (while describing the depth of Jahannam):

"If a rock is dropped into Jahannam, it will remain plummeting for 70 years before touching the pith of Jahannam".

Hadhrat Abu Hurrairah (Radhiallaahu-anhu) states:

"Once while we were sitting in the company of Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) we heard the sound of a dropping object. Then Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) asked:

"Do you know what sound it is?"

"Allaah and His Rasul know best.” We replied.

"This is a stone which was dropped by Allaah from the mouth of Jahannam, and it has landed on the bottom after 70 years of continuous falling; this was the sound of the falling of the same stone." [Muslim]

Walls of Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) stated:

"Four walls surround Jahannam. The width of each wall is a walking distance of 40 years ".

Gates of Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan describes the gates of Jahannam in these words:

"And verily, Jahannam is the promised place for them all! Entering into it are seven gates; for each of these gates are assigned (special) class (of sinners)." [Qur'aan 15:43-44]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) himself explained:

"Jahannam has seven gates; one of them is for the one who unsheathes a sword against my Ummah." [Mishkat]

Fire and Darkness of Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) narrated:

"Jahannam was heated for a thousand years and its fire turned red; It was then heated for another thousand years and it became white; it was again heated for another thousand years and it turned black. At present, Jahannam is pitch black and dark." [Tirmidhi]

Bukhari and Muslim report that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"The fire in which one will burn is the 70th part of the Fire of Jahannum.'

Degrees of Torment in Jahannam
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Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Among the men of Jahannam, the least punishment given will be that both his shoes and laces will be made of fire, which will make his head boil like a cauldron such, that he will think that he is receiving the most severe punishment, although his punishment is the least." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Muslim reports Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"On the Day of Resurrection, a dweller of Jahannam who indulged excessively in lust, will be gripped and dipped into Jahannam and then asked:

"O son of Adam, have you ever enjoyed the comforts of life?"

He will reply: "Never by Allaah, I have never enjoyed the comforts of life."

Again, on the Day of Resurrection, a Jannati, who was surrounded with troubles in the world, will be put into Jannat and then asked:

"O son of Adam, have you ever experienced any trouble?"

He will reply: "By Allaah, I have never faced any trouble."”

Breath of Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

“When the heat is intense, Zuhr (Midday) salaat should be delayed a little, because the intensity of heat is due to the heat of Jahannam."

He further stated:

"Once Jahannam complained to Allaah Ta'aala against the increasing heat because one portion was eating into another. Then the Rabb of the Worlds allowed it to have two breaths -- one during summer and another during winter. Therefore the heat you feel is the effect of the heave of Jahannam (with it the breath is taken out) and similarly, the rigid cold you experience is the effect of the breath (taken in).” [Bukhari]

According to a tradition, Jahannam is kindled every day at noon.

Fuel of Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"O Muslims ! Save yourselves and your families from the Fire whose fuel is men and stones." [Qur'aan 66:6]

What are these stones? Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ud (Radhiallaahu-anhu) explained:

"Stones which are the fuel of Jahannam are made of sulphur (brimstone) which Allaah Ta'aala created in the nearest heaven on the day heaven and earth were created." [Hakim]

Besides these brimstones, those idols which the polytheists worshipped will also be present in Jahannam.

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Verily you, (Unbelievers) and the (false) gods that you worship besides Allaah, are (but) fuel for Jahannam! To it will you (surely) come!" [Qur'aan 21: 98]

Layers of Jahannam

It has already been mentioned that Jahannam has seven gates.

Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallaahu-anhu) has said that the gates of Jahannam are one upon each other . This denotes that Jahannam has layers.
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According to Allama Ibn Kathir (RA), Jahannam has seven gates.

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire." [Qur'aan 4:145]

Muslim Scholars name each layer with its details. According to them they are:

1. Hawia: This is for the hypocrite, Pharaoh and his associates. 2. Jahim: This is above Hawia which is for the polytheists.
3. Saqar: This is above Jahim which is for the Saibeen, a sect having no religion. 4. Nati: This if the forth which lies above Saqar . It is for Iblis and his associates. 5. Hatma: This is the fifth which lies above Nati .It is for the Jews.
6. Sa'ah: This is for the Christians.
7. Jahannam: This is the seventh and the uppermost which is meant for general Muslim sinners.

The Neck of Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) stated:

"On the Day of Resurrection, a neck will come out from Jahannam, having two eyes, two ears and one tongue to see, hear and speak. It will say that it has been designated for three types of persons:

a. On every rebellious and stubborn one;
b. On everyone who made an associate with Allaah; and c. On the painter of a picture.” [Tirmidhi]

Pillars of Fire

The Nobel Qur'aan says:

"(It is) the Fire of Allaah kindled (to a blaze), that which climb ( straight ) into the Hearts; It shall be made a vault over them, in columns outstretched." [Qur'aan 104: 6-7-8-9]

When a fire burns a person ,he dies before it reaches the heart. But since there is no death in Jahannam, the Fire will rise up to the heart, enclosing the entire body. "Pillars of Fire" refers to the high flames of Fire in which the dwellers of Jahannam will be encompassed. [Bayan al-Qur'aan]

Number of Angels appointed over Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan indicates their number as 19:

"Over it are Nineteen". [Qur'aan 74:30]

They have been commissioned to carry out various duties assigned to them by Allaah.

The Noble Qur'aan says about Jahannam:

"........... Over which are (appointed angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from Executing) the Command they receive from Allaah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded." [Qur'aan 66:5]

Anger of Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"For those who reject their Rabb (and Cherisher) is the Chastisement of Jahannam; and evil is (such) a destination. When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of breath even as it blazes , almost bursting with fury." [Qur'aan 67: 6-7-8]

AND.....
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"When it sees them from a place far off, they will hear its fury and its raging sigh. And when they are cast bound together, into a constricted place therein, they will plead for destruction there and then!" [Qur'aan 25: 12-13]

Ibne Abi Hatim reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), after reciting "Idha ra'at hum" proved that there are two eyes of Jahannam.

The Noble Qur'aan says: "Inviting (all) such that turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right), and collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)!" [Qur'aan 70: 17-18]

It is recorded in Ibne Khatir that Jahannam will pick out evil doers from the Resurrection surface just as animals pick up food grains. The above ayah refers to those who are in the habit of hoarding wealth.

Hadhrat Qatadah (Radhiallaahu-anhu) writes in his commentary of this ayah.

"One who fails to make any difference between permitted and prohibited and does not spend inspite of the clear order from Allaah is most unfortunate."

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Hakim (RA) never zipped the opening of his purse for fear of this ayah.

"O Son of Adam! you hear the truth and disapproval of Allaah and still go on hoarding wealth and property."

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"On the day of Resurrection men will be brought like children (in a state of disgrace) to Allaah, the Almighty who will ask him:

"Did I not give you wealth and property, cattle and slaves and other favours? How did you thank Me? "

Thereupon they would say:

"My Rabb ! I collected wealth and property, multiplied it abundantly and left behind more than I had. Thus let me bring all that."”

In short, that person had sent nothing ahead in the form of virtues. Hence he will be hurled into Jahannam. [Tirmidhi]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"His house is the world who has no house; his wealth who has not wealth; and who collected the world who has no wisdom at all." [Mishkat]

Reins of Jahannam and Angels Pulling them

Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ud (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:

"That Day, Jahannam will be hauled by 70 thousand angels ,appointed to each 70 thousand reins." [Muslim]

Hafiz Abdul Aziz Mundhari (RA ) writes in his ' Al-Targheeb wal-Tarhib' from Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu-anhu):

"If the angels release the reins of Jahannam, it will hold all the good and bad elements in its grip."

Snakes and Scorpions of Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Verily, there are long-necked camel-like snakes in Jahannam. If anyone of these smites a Jahanami , he will feel pain for 40 years."
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He then added:

"Verily, there are donkey size scorpions in Jahannam. If anyone of these stings a Jahanami , he will feel pain for 40 years." [Ahmad]

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"For them will We add Chastisement upon Chastisement because they spread mischief." [Qur'aan 16:88]

No Death in Jahannam

The Nobel Qur'aan says:

"No way will the (punishment) be lightened for them, and in despair will they be there overwhelmed." [Qur'aan 43:75]

AND....

"No term shall be determined for them, so they should die, or shall its Chastisement be lightened for them." [Qur'aan 35:36]

Meaning that none will die due to the torments of Jahannam but they will remain alive despite the endless punishments.

According to a Hadith, when the dwellers of Jannat will go to Jannat and the Jahannamis to Jahannam, death will be brought in the shape of a ram. Thereafter a proclaimer will proclaim:
"O Jannatis, now there will be no death; O Jahannamis now there will be no death; On hearing this call , the Jannatis will be delighted and the Jahanamis will become more depressed." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Call of Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan says:

“The Day We will ask Jahannam: "Are you full?' It will say: "Are there any more (to come?)'” [Qur'aan 50:30]

According to the Hadith, Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Jahanamis will continually be flung into Jahannam and despite being filled to the brim, it will demand more. In the end, Allaah Ta'aala will put His leg into it and it will get satisfied." [Mishkat]

No Salvation from Punishment In spite of being Patient

It is a pattern of worldly life that one receives comfort after enduring patience but as for the torment of Jahannam.

"Burn you therein: The same is it to you whether you bear it with patience, or not; yet but receive the recompense of your (own) actions." [Qur'aan 52:16]

Thorns of Fire as Food and Drink for Jahannamis

The Noble Qur'aan says:

“Then while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring, no food will there be for them but a bitter Dharri which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger." [ Qur'aan 99: 5-6-7]

Dharri is a thorny tree which is so poisonous that even animals stay away from it. If they eat it, they die immediately.

Foul Pus

The Noble Qur'aan says:
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"So no friend have you here this day. Nor have you any food except the foul pus from the washing of wounds. which none do eat but those in sin." [Qur'aan 35: 36-37]

Zaqqum

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Verily the Tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful, -- like molten brass, it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water." [Qur'aan 44: 43-44-45]

AND...

"As for you sinners who deny the truth ; you will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum. Then will you fill your insides therewith, and drink boiling water on top of it. Indeed you shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst! Such will be their fate on the Day of Requital!" [Qur'aan 56: 51-56]

AND FURTHER...

"For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Jahannam-Fire shoots of its fruit-stalks like the heads of devils." [Qur'aan 37 : 64-65]

Zaqqum is a famous tree which is dreadfully bitter, and the bitterness of the tree of Jahannam is beyond comparison. A horrible odour will emanate when they eat from that tree and on top of that they will drink boiling water like thirsty camels.

The Blessed Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said:

"If a bucket of Ghassaq is dropped into the world, the people of the entire world would rot." [Tirmidhi, Hakim]

What is Ghassaq? Scholars have explained :

1. It is the foul pus of the Jahannamis. 2. It is the tears of the Jahannamis.
3. It means the punishment of biting cold.

Melted Brass

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"If they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, but this will scale their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" [Qur'aan 18: 29]

Boiling Stinking Water

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"He is given for drink, boiling water, in gulps will he sip it, but never will he swallow it down his throat; death will come to him for every quarter, yet he will not die." [Qur'aan 14:17]

Boiling Water

The Noble Qur'aan says:

".... they shall dwell forever in the Fire, and given to drink, boiling water so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)." [Qur'aan 47:15]

Food that Throttles

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"With us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them). And a food that throttles, and a Chastisement Grievous." [Qur'aan 73: 12-13]
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Hadhrat Abu Darda (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"The dwellers of Jahannam will experience such intense hunger, that this alone be equal to the terrible torment which will be rendered . Then they will seek for food and they will be given food that will stick to the throat (i.e. it will neither go in nor come out.)" [Mishkat]

Different Ways of Punishment

The Fire of Jahannam with its scorching heat, snakes, scorpions, pugnacious food and drink, darkness, etc. are the punishment for the dwellers therein, the Qur'aan and Hadith explain many other chastisement. A few are given below.

Boiling Water Poured over Heads

The Noble Qur'aan says:

“'Over their heads will be poured boiling water. With it will be melted what is within their bodies. As well as (their) skins." [Qur'aan 22: 19-20]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Verily boiling water will be poured over the heads of Jahannamis, which will cut everything in their stomachs, then it will be restored to the original state, and this procedure will continue." [Tirmidhi, Baihaqi]

Rods of Iron

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"In addition there will be rods of Iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away therefrom, due to anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said). "Taste you the Chastisement of Burning!"” [Qur'aan 22:21-22]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"If the rod of iron is placed on the ground, all men and jinn put together will not lift it." [Ahmad]

Fresh Skins

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Those who reject Our Signs. We shall soon hurl into the Fire:. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall replace these for fresh skins, that they may taste the Chastisement; for Allaah is Exalted in Power, Wise." [Qur'aan 4:56]

Hadhrat Hasan Basri (R.A.) said:

"The Fire will burn the Jahannmis 70 thousand times every day. And each time the Fire burns them, it will be said: "Be as you were before, and they will become so."

Chastisement for Concealing Knowledge

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) stated:

"Anyone who conceals when asked whilst HAVING knowledge, will have a bridle of Fire in his mouth." [Mishkat]

Chastisement for Drinking Wine or Anything Intoxicating

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"My Exalted Rabb has sworn by His Honour that whoever among His servants drinks even a gulp of wine will be given pus to drink in the same quantity; and whoever abandons it for His fear will be made to drink from clean and pure containers." [Ahmad]
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Muslim reports that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Allaah has made a vow that anyone who drinks any intoxicating thing will be made to drink ‘tinatul khabul’ on the Day of Resurrection." The Companions (Radhiallaahu-anhu) submitted:

"What is ‘tinatul khabul’?"

He explained:

"It is the sweat of the Jahannamis." [Mishkat]

Preaching Without Practice

Rasululaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"On the night of Ascension I saw some people whose lips were going to be cut with the scissors of Fire. I asked:

"O Jabraeel, who are they?"

"These are those preachers of your Ummah who called for righteous deeds and forgot about themselves; they read and recited the Book of Allaah but did not put it into practice." [Mishkat]

Bukhari and Muslim reports, Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"On the Day of Qiyaamat, a person will be brought and hurled into Jahannam. His intestines will come out immediately and he will start revolving like the ass with the grinding stone. Having seen this, the men of Jahannam will centre around him and ask:

"What happened to you? You asked us to do good and avoid evil?"

"Yes, of course! I asked you to do good and avoid evil but did not do so myself.”"

Punishment for Using Utensils of Gold and Sliver

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) stated:

"One who eats and drinks in the utensils of gold and silver or the utensils having something of these metals will have his stomach filled with the Fire of Jahannam." [Darqutni]

Punishment for picture makers

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

“The picture makers will be given the severest punishment." [Bukhari, Muslim]

He is reported to have said further:

"Every picture maker will be in Jahannam; his pictures will be changed into a living figure who will then give punishment to him." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu-anhu) expressing his opinion about the above Hadith:

"If it is essential for you to make a picture, let trees and soulless objects be your subjects." [Mishkat]

Punishment for Suicide

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"One who commits suicide by falling from a mountain will be in Jahannam, and will keep on ascending an descending. One who dies by taking poison will have his poison in his hand and will be taking it in Jahannam; and the person who kills himself with an object of iron, will repeatedly pierce his stomach with an iron object in the fire of Jahannam." [Bukhari]
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Punishment for Arrogants

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"The arrogants will be raised in the forms of ants, having the body of ants and faces of humans. They will be driven towards the jail of Jahannam very disgracefully." [Mishkat]

Punishment for Boasting Devouts

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) is reported to have said:

"Seek refuge with Allaah from the well of sorrows."

"What is this well of sorrows?", the Companions asked.

He explained:

"There is a ditch in Jahannam which is such that Jahannam itself seeks refuge from it 400 times a day. The devouts who repeatly boast their virtues deeds will be there." [Mishkat]

Mountain of Fire

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Soon will I visit him with a mount of calamities!" [Qur'aan 74:17]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Su'ad is a mount of Fire upon which Jahannami will be made to ascend for 70 years and the same time one will take in falling from the that place and this procedure will continue." [Tirmidhi]

Very Long Chain

The Noble Qur'aan says:

(The stern command will say): "Seize him, and bind him, and burn him in the Blazing Fire. Further, insert him in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits!" [Qur'aan 69: 30-32]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"If a piece of metal is dropped from the sky to earth, it will touch the ground before nightfall, which is the duration of 500 years of journey. If it is released from one side of the chain of Jahannam, it will reach another side after a fall of 40 years."

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"For the Rejectors we have prepared chains, Yokes, and a Blazing Fire." [Qur'aan 76:4]

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"But soon shall they know, when the yokes (shall be) round their necks, and the chains; they shall be dragged along, in the boiling stinging fluid; then in the Fire shall they be burned." [Qur'aan 14:50]

Garments of Pitch

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Their garments of pitch, and their faces covered with Fire." [Qur'aan 14:50]

According to Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu-anhu) 'qateran' is melted brass. Jahannamis will be made to wear this dress which is extremely hot. [Ibn Kathir]

Muslim reports Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) saying:
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"The woman who cries at the dead and does not repent before her death, will be raised in a state that the garments of pitch will be given to her to wear."

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"But those who deny (their Rabb ), for them will be cut out garments of Fire." [Qur'aan 22:19]

Tauntings of the Inspectors of Jahannam

Besides many physical tortures of Chastisement, Jahannamis will have to endure a further torment, and that is the tauntings and chiding of the Inspectors of Jahannam.

The Noble Qur'aan says:

“Taste you the chastisement of the Fire, that which you rejected as false." [Qur'aan 32:20]

Hadhrat Zayd bin Aslam (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports:

"Once Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu-anhu) asked for water. He was given water mixed with honey. But he refused to drink it saying: 'Although it is tasteful but I will not take it because I have read in the Noble Qur'aan that Allaah Ta'aala condemns those who run after one's desire in this world and he will be told that he had enjoyed comforts of life in the world; I fear of the same consequences."

States and Conditions of Jahannam

Majority of Women in Jahannam

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"I glanced at Jannat and found majority of poor people; I looked into Jahannam and found majority of women." [Mishkat]

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports:

"Once Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) was going for Eid Salaat and he passed by some women in the way of the Salaat ground and remarked:

"O women! give charity, for I have seen women most in Jahannam."

"Why?" the women submitted.

"It is because you curse and show ungratefulness to your husband." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Ugliness of the dwellers of Jahannam

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"But those who have earned evil will have a reward of the like evil; disgrace will cover their (faces); no defender will they have from (the anger of) Allaah; their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the depths of the darkness of night." [Qur'aan 10:27]

This ayah denotes clearly that the faces of Jahannamis will be extremely black.

Hadhrat Abdullah Umar (Radhiallaahu-anhu) said:

"If any Jahannami is driven out to the world, all the worldly people will die of his horrific face and repulsive stink. Having said so, Hadhrat Abdullah (Radhiallaahu-anhu) wept distressly."

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"The Fire will burn their faces, and they will grin therein, with their lips displaced."

Tears of Jahannamis
11

Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) narrated to his Companions (Radhiallaahu-anhum):

"O people! Weep or at least appear to be weeping, for Jahannamis will weep in Jahannam so much that gutters of tears will flow from their faces; when tears will dry up, blood will commence flowing causing sores in the eyes." [Sharh Sunnah]

Tongues of the Jahannamis

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Verily the tongue of the Unbelievers will be pulled out up to one or two 'fersakh'1 (three miles) and the people will walk over it."

Bodies of Jahannamis

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"The distance between two shoulders of an Unbeliever will be so wide that it will take three days if a mount covers it rapidly; his jaw-tooth will be equal to Mount Uhad, and the thickness of his skin will be equal to the passage of three days." [Muslim]

Tirmidhi reports from Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam):

"On the day of Qiyaamat the jaw-tooth of the Unbeliever would be equal to Mount Uhad; his thigh would be equal to Mount Baida; and his sitting place would be long and wide as the distance between Madinah and Radha village." [Mishkat]

Falling into Jahannam While Passing through Pulsiraat

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"Not one of you but will pass over it; this is, with your Rabb , a Degree which must be accomplished." [Qur'aan 19:71]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Pulsiraat will be on the back of Jahannam. And among the Ambiyaa, I shall be the first to pass over it with my Ummah. That day only the Ambiyaa will speak and the words will be: "Allaahumma sal'lim sal'lim.""

Thereafter he stated:

"Pulsiraat has crocked nails like those of thorns. On the Day of Resurrection they will try to drag the wrongdoers towards Jahannam resulting in some of them falling into Jahannam. Some of them will never emerge while others will come out after being punished."

According to some other traditions some of them will pass over in the twinkling of an eye; while others will pass over with lightening speed, some with the speed of fast running horses and camels; some of them will pass over peacefully, some after being injured, while some of them will be pushed into Jahannam upside down. [Bukhari, Muslim]

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"But we shall save those who guarded against evil, and we shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees." [Qur'aan 19:72]

Nature of Entrance

The ayats of the Noble Qur'aan describe how the Jahanamis will enter Jahannam.

1 One 'fersakh' is equal to three miles.
2 The Bridge over which the righteous will pass into paradise.
12

"And We shall drive the sinner into Jahannam, (like thirsty cattle driven to water).” [Qur'aan 19:86]

“Then they will be flung headlong into the (Fire), they and those straying in evil, and the whole hosts of Iblis together." [Qur'aan 26:94-95]

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaahu-anhu) explains the above:

"Hands and legs of the sinners will be broken into pieces and they will be cast into Jahannam." [Al-Targhib wal Tarhib]

The Noble Qur'aan says:

“"Bring you up" It shall be said to the wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped besides Allaah, "and lead them to the way to the (Fierce) Fire! But stop them. For they must be asked: "What is the matter with you that you help not each other?" Nay, but that they shall submit (to judgement).” [Qur'aan 37:22-26]

Shaytaan And the Jahannamis

On one hand the Jahannamis will be repenting for following Shaytaan. On the other hand, the Shaytaan will be condemning them.

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"And Shaytaan will say when the matter is decided: 'It was Allaah Who gave you a promise of Truth: I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you, but you listened to me, then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can you listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allaah. For wrong-doers there must be grievous Chastisement." [Qur'aan 14: 23]

The Jahanami will indeed suffer immensely when Shaytaan absolves himself of all aid to the evil-doers. One can just imagine the anger and anguish of the Jahanami.

Anger of Jahannamis

Jahannamis will become very angry against their misguided and they will say:

"For us, we but followed you; can you then avail us at all against the Wrath of Allaah?" [Qur'aan 14:21]

They will reply:

"If we had received the guidance of Allaah, we should have given it to you; to us it makes no difference (now) whether we rage, or bear (these) torments with patience: for ourselves there is no way of escape." [Qur'aan 14:21]

Following their wrath against the misguided, they will submit to Allaah Ta'aala.

"Our Rabb ! Show us those, among jinn and men, who misled us: we shall crush them beneath our feet, so that they become the vilest." [Qur'aan 41:29]

Argument with the Inspectors of Jahannam

The Jahannamis will start arguing and entreating the inspectors of Jahannam.

"Pray to your Rabb to lighten on us the Chastisement for a day (at least)." [Qur'aan 40:49]

"Did there not come to your messengers with clear signs?" [Qur'aan 40:50]

Thereupon the Jahannamis will reply "Bala", i.e. yes, they did come but we did not listen to what they said to us. Thereupon the angels will reply:

"Then pray (as you like): But the Prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile wondering) in (mazes of ) error." [Qur'aan 40:50]
13

Thereafter they will submit to the master of Jahannam.

"O Malik! would that your Rabb put an end to us!" He will say: "Nay, but you shall abide." [Qur'aan 43:77]

At last they will pray to Allaah Ta'aala for none is more Exalted then He:

"They will say: "Our Rabb ! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we became a people astray! Our Rabb ! Bring us out of this: if ever we return (to evil) then shall we be wrong-doers indeed!" [Qur'aan 23: 106-107]

Hadhrat Abu Darda (Radhiallaahu-anhu) used to say:

"On this rejection of Allaah the Exalted, they will be disappointed and will start braying like asses." [Mishkat]

Ibn Kathir says that their faces will change and become disfigured to the extent that some of the Jannatis will approach to intercede but will fail to recognise the Jahanamis. Thereupon the Jahannami will say:

"I am so and so."

To this the Jannatis will reply:

"You are wrong: we recognise you not"

Thereafter the gates of Jahannam will be closed.

Screaming and Crying of the Jahannamis

Allaah Ta'aala says:

"Those who are wretched shall be in the Fire . Therein (nothing but) the heaving of sighs and sobs." [Qur'aan 11:106]

Ransom for Salvation from Chastisement of Jahannam

"Even if the wrong-doers had all that there is on earth, and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom for the pain of the Chastisement on the Judgement." [Qur'aan 39:47]

Sura Ma'arij denotes that on that Day every sinner will express his desire to get rid of this Chastisement even after offering his sons, wife, brother and his entire family. But there will neither be any wealth and property to be offered in return for wrong deeds; even if these things are there nothing from these will be accepted.

The Noble Qur'aan says:

"As to those who reject Faith, if they had everything on earth, and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the Chastisement of the Day of Qiyaamat, it would never be accepted from them. Theirs would be a grievous Chastisement." [Qur'aan 5:36]

Laughter of the Jannatis

"But on this Day the Believers will laugh at the Unbelievers: On raised couches they will command (a sight) of all things." [Qur'aan 83:35]

Hadhrat Qatada (Radhiallaahu-anhu) is reported to have said that Jannatis will see the state of the Jahannamis through windows and will laugh at them out of revenge as they used to laugh at the Believers in the world.

They would laugh at them by winking at one another and talk about them in jest.

The Noble Qur'aan says:
14

"Those in sin used to laugh at those who believed." [Qur'aan 83:29]

It is mentioned in Sura Mumunun that Allaah, the Exalted will say addressing the Jahannami:

"A group of Believers would say: O our Rabb! we believed and hence forgive us and send Your mercy on us and You are the greatest of all the mercifuls", "But you laughed at them and kept yourselves away from remembering Me. I have, today given you the return of patience."

Anxiousness and Trust

The events regarding Jahannam and the Jahannamis which you have read up till now was not meant to merely think about for a while and then to be forgotten.

In fact all the events and incidents related thus far must be read through again and again to change the wrong actions in our lives. This can only be done by seriously pondering over it and by taking some action as well. The basic fact is strengthening Faith in Allaah Ta'aala and His Rasul and taking account of one's deeds and evil -actions.

The Believers regularly take stock of their lives and seek mercy, forgiveness and salvation from the Fire of Jahannam. How can a person who is aware of all these sad and depressing plights keep himself engaged in hankering behind comforts and luxuries of life?

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

“Jahannam has been concealed by pleasure, while Jannat by unpleasant things." [Bukhari, Muslim]

Those indulged in the pleasure of life are engaged in those actions which lead to Jahannam while the unpleasant tasks lead to Jannat. And for those who think that they will get rid of the sorrows and sufferings of life by committing suicide, they should start associating with people who are in a worse plight than themselves. Indeed self pity is the root of many evils and opens the doors for Shaytaan through depression and ungratefulness.

In fact, if the Fire of Jahannam, its snakes, scorpions, garments of Flames, modes of Chastisement, food of Jahannam, etc. are kept constantly in focus by the people, then the temporary comforts of this world, after which people kill steal and sell their characters, will be put into perspective and the value of the Aakhirat will increase in their souls and hearts.

Can anyone who has knowledge about the hunger in Jahannam abandon Saums (fasts)? Can anyone fail to offer Salaat (prayer) who knows about the punishment in Jahannam? Can anyone paint a picture who knows about the consequences of doing it? Can anyone consume wine who is aware of the punishment of drinking in Jahannam? No, no at all.

Truly speaking, we pay only lip service to the consequences of Jannat and Jahannam. What is required of us is the total Faith and Trust in their existence.

Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallaahu-anhu) said:

“If Jannat and Jahannam are placed in front of me , these will increase nothing to my Faith and Trust. Meaning , my Faith in the Unseen is so strong that I do not rely on even the vision of my healthy eyes in comparison to it." [Ahmad]

The Noble Rasul (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) once asked Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis-Salaam):

"What is the reason that I have never seen Mikail (Michael)?"

"Since the day Jahannam was created, Mikail never laughed." he submitted.

Muslim reports that Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"By One in Whose possession lies my life, had you witnessed that scene that I have viewed, you would weep more and laugh less!”

The companions (Radhiallaahu-anhu) submitted: "What have you seen?”

"I have seen Jannat and Jahannam." [Targhib]
15

Hadhrat Ibn Masud (Radhiallaahu-anhu) says:

"I am astonished that people laugh although they are not sure of being safe from Jahannam."

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports:

"Once Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) came out and saw the people laughing heartily. Thereupon he remarked:

"Had you remembered that which removes the pleasures of life (i.e. death), you would have found no time for doing what I see." [Mishkat]

In short, it is wise to make efforts to improve our Aakhirat (Hereafter), because when surrounded by its torments it is futile to repent and entreat as clearly warned in the Qur'aan:

"Ah! would that (death) had made an end to me! Of no profit to me has been my wealth! My power has perished from me!" [Qur'aan 69: 27-29]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Seek Jannat as far as possible and keep away from Jahannam as far as possible, for the seeker of Jannat and the one fleeing from Jahannam cannot have (careless) sleep." [Al-Targhib wal-Targhib]

Hadhrat Yahya bin Maudh (Radhiallaahu-anhu) said:

"If a man fears Jahannam as much as he fears poverty, he is sure to go straight to Jannat."

When Hadhrat Muhammad bin al Munkhadir (RA) wept, he rubbed his tears on his mouth and beard. He explained that he had been informed that the Fire of Jahannam does not touch the areas which had been touched by tears.

An Ansari offered Tahajjud prayer and wept bitterly saying:

"I request you O'Allaah to look into my affairs."

Having heard this, Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) stated: "You have made angels weep."

Hadhrat Zainul Abdin (Radhiallaahu-anhu) was once saying Salaat. In the meantime his house was set on fire. But he remained engaged in Salaat. When the people enquired:

"Were you not aware?"

"The Fire of the Aakhiraat (Hereafter) kept me unaware of the fire of the world." he replied.
A person used to retire to bed to sleep but could not do so inspite of all his efforts. Thus he would rise and perform Salaat. He would then implore Allaah Ta'aala:

"O Allaah, You know it very well that the fear of the fire of Jahannam has constantly broken my sleep."

Having said so he would resume his prayer.

It is reported that Hadhrat Abu Yazid (RA) would always keep weeping. When he was asked the reason he explained:

"Had Allaah said that if you sinned you would have been made a captive in a bathroom, I would keep control over my shedding tears; how can I check my tears; when I have been frightened with the Fire of Jahannam on committing sin."

Conclusion

"O' Allaah I seek Your refuge from the Chastisement of Jahannam; I seek Your refuge from the torment of the grave, and from the mischief of Dajjal , and from the calamities of life and death."
16

Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallaahu-anhu) reports:

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) would very often invoke:

"Our Rabb! Give us good in this world and good in the Aakhiraat (Hereafter). And save us from the punishment of the Fire!" [Qur'aan 2:201]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) informed a Companion named Muslim (Radhiallaahu-anhu):

"If you say 'Allahumma ajirni minannaar 'are' seven times after Maghrib (after sunset) Salaat before talking to anyone and die the same night, you will get salvation; similarly, if you do so after Fajr (before sunrise prayer) you will get salvation." [Abu Dawud]

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) said:

"Anyone who seeks Jannat three times, it invokes Allaah: 'Allahumma adkhilul-jannatah' (O' Allaah make him enter Jannat).

Similarly, anyone who seeks refuge from Jahannam, it invokes Allaah: ‘Allahumma ajirhu minannare’ (O' Allaah! save him from Jahannam).” [Targhib]

Last Lines

"This is sufficient for men of comprehension; and for the negligent, even a volume is ineffective. The readers are requested to pray for mercy of Allaah upon us."

1418-1997 By Mufti Elias
Last edited by |Sister|; 11-03-14, 02:58 AM.
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Re: The levels of Jahannam (Hell Fire)

Description of Jahannam (part 1 of 5)

Islam teaches that Hell is a real place prepared by God for those who do not believe in Him, rebel against His laws, and reject His messengers. Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of mind or a spiritual entity. The horrors, pain, anguish, and punishment are all real, but different in nature than their earthly counterparts. Hell is the ultimate humiliation and loss, and nothing is worse than it:

“Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers.” (Quran 3:192)

“Know they not that whoever opposes God and His Messenger (Muhammad), certainly for him will be the Fire of Hell to abide therein? That is the extreme disgrace.” (Quran 9:63)
The Names of Hell

Hell Fire has different names in Islamic texts. Each name gives a separate description. Some of its names are:

Jaheem – fire - because of its blazing fire.

Jahannam - Hell - because of the depth of its pit.

Ladthaa - blazing fire - because of its flames.

Sa’eer - blazing flame - because it is kindled and ignited.

Saqar - because of the intensity of its heat.

Hatamah - broken pieces or debris - because it breaks and crushes everything that is thrown into it.

Haawiyah - chasm or abyss - because the one who is thrown into it is thrown from top to bottom
Paradise and Hell Presently Exist and are Eternal

Hell exists at the present time and will continue to exist forever. It will never die down, and its inhabitants will remain in it forever. No one will come out of Hell except sinful believers who believed in the Oneness of God in this life and believed in the specific prophet sent to them (before the coming of Muhammad). The polytheists and unbelievers will reside in it forever. This belief has been held from classical times and is based on clear verses of the Quran and confirmed reports from the Prophet of Islam. The Quran speaks of Hell in the past tense and states that it has already been created:

“And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers.” (Quran 3:131)

The Prophet of Islam said:

“When any of you dies, he is shown his position (in the Hereafter) morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise, he is shown the place of the people of Paradise. If he is one of the people of Hell, he is shown the place of people of Hell. He is told, ‘this is your position, until God resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

In another report, the Prophet said:

“Surely, the soul of a believer is a bird hanging on the trees of Paradise, until God returns it to his body on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muwatta of Malik)

These texts make it clear that Hell and Paradise exist, and that souls may enter them before the Day of Resurrection. Speaking of Hell’s eternity, God says:

“They will long to leave the Fire, but never will they leave there from; and theirs will be a lasting torment.” (Quran 5:37)

“…And they will never leave of the Fire.” (Quran 2:167)

“Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever.” (Quran 4:168-169)

“Surely, God has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide for ever.” (Quran 33:64)

“And whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.” (Quran 72:23)
The Keepers of Hell

Mighty and stern angels stand over Hell who never disobey God. They do precisely as ordered. God says:

“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are (appointed) angels, stern and severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands they receive from God, but do (precisely what) they are commanded.” (Quran 66:6)

They are nineteen keepers of Hell as God says:

“Soon I will cast him into Hell Fire. And what will explain to you what is Hellfire? Nothing does it allow to endure, and nothing does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of man! Over it are nineteen (angels as keepers of Hell).” (Quran 74:26-30)

One should not think that the inhabitants of Hell will be able to overcome the keepers of Hell because there are just nineteen of them. Everyone of them has the strength to subdue all humanity by himself. These angels are called the Guards of Hell by God in the Quran:

“And those in the Fire will say to the Guards of Hell, ‘Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!’” (Quran 40:49)

The name of the chief angel guarding over Hell is Malik, as mentioned in the Quran:

“Surely, the disbelievers will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever. (The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein. We wronged them not, but they were the wrongdoers. And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He will say: ‘Surely, you shall abide forever.’ Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Quran 43:74-78)

A Description of Hellfire (part 2 of 5): Its Appearance

Hell is huge and immensely deep. We know this through several ways.

First, innumerable people will enter Hell, each, as described in a hadeeth, with the molar teeth as large as Uhud (a mountain in Medina)[1] The distance between the shoulders of its inhabitants has also been described as being equivalent to three days of walking.[2] Hell will house all the unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and there will still be room for more. God says:

“On the Day when We will say to Hell: ‘Are you filled?’ It will say, ‘Are there any more (to come)?’” (Quran 50:30)

The Fire of Hell is likened to a mill that grinds thousands and thousands of tons of grain and then waits for more to come.

Second, a stone thrown from the top of Hell will take a very long time to reach the bottom. One of the companions of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, describes how they were sitting with the Prophet and heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed their lack of knowledge, he said:

“That was a stone thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it is yet in the way (the other side) of Hell until now.”[3]

Another report states:

“If a stone as big as seven pregnant camels was thrown from the edge of Hell, it would fly through it for seventy years, and yet it would not reach the bottom.”[4]

Third, a great many angels will bring Hell on the Day of Resurrection. God speaks of it:

“And Hell will be brought near that Day…” (Quran 89:23)

The Prophet said:

“Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels.”[5]

Fourth, another report that indicates the vast size of Hell is that the sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell on the Day of Resurrection.[6]
Its Levels

Hell has various levels of heat and punishment, each is reserved according to the extent of their disbelief and sins of those being punished. God says:

“Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145)

The lower the level of Hell, the greater is the intensity of heat. Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, so will they be in the lowest part of Hell.

God refers to the levels of Hell in the Quran:

“For all will be (ranked) by degrees according to what they did.” (Quran 6:132)

“Is one who seeks the good pleasure of God then like the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His abode is Hell – and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying grades with God, and God is All-Seer of what they do.” (Quran 3:162-163)
The Gates of Hell

God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in the Quran:

“And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class of sinners assigned.” (Quran 15:43-44)

Each gate has an allotted share of the damned who will enter through it. Each will enter according to his deeds and assigned a level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought to Hell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it forever:

“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 (meaning the decree) of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’” (Quran 39:71)

They will be told after admission:

“Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.” (Quran 39:72)

The gates will be shut and there will be no hope of escape as God says:

“But those who reject Our signs, they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (meaning the gates will be locked).[7]” (Quran 90:19-20)

Furthermore, God says in the Quran:

“Woe to every scorner and mocker, who collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, Which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed down upon them in extended columns.” (Quran 104:1-9)

The gates of Hell are also closed before the Day of Judgment. The Prophet of Islam spoke of them closing in the month of Ramadan.[8]
Its Fuel

Stones and stubborn unbelievers make the fuel of Hell as God says:

“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones...” (Quran 66:6)

“…then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” (Quran 2:24)

Another source of fuel for Hell will be the pagan gods that were worshipped besides God:

“Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)
The Clothing of its Inhabitants

God tells us that the dress of the people of Hell will be garments of fire tailored for them:

“…But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water.” (Quran 22:19)

“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Quran 14:49-50)

Footnotes:

[1] Saheeh Muslim

[2] Saheeh Muslim

[3] Mishkat

[4] Sahih al-Jami’

[5] Saheeh Muslim

[6] Tahawi in Mushkal al-Aathaar, Bazzar, Baihaqi, and others.

[7] Based on the explanation of Ibn Abbas (‘Tafsir Ibn Kathir’).

[8] Tirmidhi

Part 3 of 5

The intense heat, food, and drink of the people of Hell is described in Islamic religious sources.
Its Heat

God says:

“And the companions of the left – what are the companions of the left? (They will be) in scorching fire and scalding water and a shade of black smoke, neither cool nor beneficial.” (Quran 56:41-44)

Everything people use to cool down in this world – air, water, shade – will be useless in Hell. The air of Hell will be hot wind and the water will be boiling. The shade will not be comforting or cooling, the shade in Hell will be the shadow of black smoke as mentioned in the verse:

“And shadow of black smoke.” (Quran 56:43)

In another passage, God says:

“But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, will have his home in a (bottomless) pit. And what will explain to you what this is? (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely.” (Quran 101:8-11)

God describes how the shade of Hell’s smoke will rise above the Fire. The smoke that rises from Hell will be divided into three columns. Its shade will neither cool nor offer any protection from the raging Fire. The flying sparks will be like huge castles similar to string of marching yellow camels:

“Proceed to a shadow (of smoke) having three columns (but having) no cool shade and availing not against the flame. Indeed, it throws sparks (as huge) as a fortress, as if they were yellow camels (marching swiftly).” (Quran 77:30-33)

The Fire consumes everything, leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin reaching all the way to the bones, melting the contents of the stomach, leaping up to the hearts, and exposing the vital organs. God speaks of the intensity and affect of the Fire:

“I will drive him into Hellfire. And what can make you know what is Hellfire? It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned), altering the skins.” (Quran 74:26-29)

The Prophet of Islam said:

“Fire as we know it is one seventieth part of the Fire of Hell. Someone said, ‘O Messenger of God, it is enough as it is!’ He said, ‘It is as if sixty-nine equal portions were added to fire as we know it.’” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Fire never extinguishes:

“So taste you (the results of your evil deeds). No increase shall We give you except in torment.” (Quran 78:30)

“…Whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” (Quran 17:97)

The torment will never be reduced and the unbelievers will not have any break:

“…Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.” (Quran 2:86)
The Food of its Inhabitants

The food of the people of Hell is described in the Quran. God says:

“No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.” (Quran 88:6-7)

The food will neither nourish nor taste good. It will only serve as a punishment to the people of Hell. In other passages, God describes the tree of zaqqum, a special food of Hell. Zaqqum is a repulsive tree, its roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, its branches stretching all over. Its ugly fruit is like the heads of the devils. He says:

“Indeed, the tree of zaqqum is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.” (Quran 44:43-46)

“Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. And, indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies. Then, indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. Then, indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.” (Quran 37:62-68)

“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 hospitality on the Day of Recompense.” (Quran 56:51-56)

People of Hell will get so hungry that they will eat from the obnoxious tree of zaqqum. When they will fill their bellies with it, it will start to churn like boiling oil causing immense suffering. At that point they will rush to drink extremely hot water. They will drink it like thirsty camels, yet it will never quench their thirst. Rather their internals will be torn. God says:

“…They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)

The thorny bushes and zaqqum will choke them and stick in their throats because of their foulness:

“Surely, with us are fetters (to bind them) and a ranging Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes and a penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)

The Prophet of Islam said:

“If a drop from zaqqum were to land in this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would rot. So how must it be for one who must eat it?” (Tirmidhi)

Another food served to the people of Hell will be festering puss that oozes out of their skin, the discharge that flows from the private parts of adulterers and the decaying skin and flesh of those being burnt. It is the “juice” of the people of Hell. God says:

“So no friend has he here this Day, nor has he any food except filth from the washing of wounds which none do eat but those in sin.” (Quran 69:35-37)

“This – so let them taste it – is scalding water and (foul) purulence. And other (punishments) of its type (in various) kinds.” (Quran 38:57-58)

Lastly, some sinners will be fed fire from Hell as a punishment. God says:

“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire.” (Quran 4:10)

“Indeed, they who conceal what God has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price – those consume not into their bellies except the Fire.” (Quran 2:174)
Its Drink

God tells in the Quran about the drink of people of Hell:

“They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)

“…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)

“Before him is Hell, 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)

“A boiling fluid and fluid dark, murky, intensely cold.” (Quran 38:57)

The types of drink people of Hell will get to drink are as follows:

· Extremely hot water as God says:

“They will go around between it and scalding water, heated (to the utmost degree).” (Quran 55:44)

“They will be given drink from a boiling spring.” (Quran 88:5)

· Flowing puss from the flesh and skin of an unbeliever. The Prophet said:

“Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabal. They asked, ‘O Messenger of God, what is the mud of khabal?’ He said, ‘The sweat of the people of Hell’ or the ‘juice of the people of Hell.’” (Saheeh Muslim)

· A drink like boiling oil described by the Prophet as:

“It is like boiling oil, when it is brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

A Description of Hellfire (part 4 of 5): The Horrors of Hell I

The intensity of the fire of Hell will be such that people will be willing to give up their dearest possessions to escape it:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek to) ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.” (Quran 3:91)

The Prophet of Islam said:

“One of the people of Hell who found most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord.”[1]

Few moments in Hell and the person will forget all the good times they had. The Prophet of Islam informs us:

“On the Day of Resurrection, God will ask the one whose punishment in the Fire is lightest, ‘If you had whatsoever you wanted on earth, would you give it to save yourself?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ God will say, ‘I wanted less than that from you when you were still in the loins of Adam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me.’”[2]

The horror and intensity of the Fire is enough to make a man lose his mind. He would be willing to give up everything he holds dear to saved from it, but he never will be. God says:

“The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife and his brother, and his nearest kindred who shelter him, and all – all that is on earth – so it could save him. No! Indeed, it is the Flame (of Hell), plucking out (his being) tight to the skull!” (Quran 70:11-16)

The punishments of Hell will vary in degree. The torment of some levels of Hell will be greater than others. People will be put in a level according to their deeds. The Prophet of Islam said:

“There are some whom the Fire will reach their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and yet others up to their necks.”[3]

He spoke of the lightest punishment in Hell:

“The person who will receive the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day Resurrection will be a man, a smoldering ember will be placed under the arch of his foot. His brains will boil because of it.”[4]

This person will think no one else is being punished more severely than himself, even though he will be the one receiving the lightest punishment.[5]

Many verses of the Quran speak of various levels of punishment for the people of Hell:

“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145)

“and on the Day that Judgment will be established (it will be said to the angels): Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest penalty!” (Quran 40:46)

The Fire kindled by God will burn the skin of the people of Hell. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the site of sensation where the pain of burning is felt. God will replace the burnt skin with a new one to be burnt again, and this will keep on repeating:

“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, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 4:56)

Another punishment of Hell is melting. When super-heated water will be poured on their heads, it will melt away the internals:

“…poured upon their heads will be scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and (their) skins.” (Quran 22:19-20)

Prophet Muhammad said:

“Super-heated water will be poured onto their heads and will dissolve through it until it cuts up their innards, expelling them; until it comes out of their feet, and everything is melted. Then they will be restored as they were.”[6]

One of the ways God will humiliate the sinful in Hell is by gathering them on Judgment Day on their faces, blind, deaf, and dumb.

“and We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.” (Quran 17:97)

“And brings an evil deed — such will be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said), ‘Are you recompensed for anything but what you used to do?’” (Quran 27:90)

“The Fire will burn their faces and they will grin therein, their lips displaced.” (Quran 23:104)

“The Day their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger.’” (Quran 33:66)

Another painful punishment of unbelievers will be getting dragged on their faces into Hell. God says:

“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 Hell.’” (Quran 54:47-48)

They will be dragged on their faces while they are tied in chains and fettered:

“Those who deny the Book (the Quran) and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know, when the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged in boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled (with flame).” (Quran 40:70-72)

Footnotes:

[1] Saheeh Muslim

[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[3] Saheeh Muslim

[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[5] Saheeh Muslim

[6] Tirmidhi

Part 5 of 5

God will blacken the faces of the people of Hell:

“On the Day (some) faces will turn white and (some) faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black. (to them it will be said), ‘Did you reject faith after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject.’” (Quran 3:106)

Their faces will be such as if the night has covered them:

“But they who have earned (blame for) evil doings – the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from God no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they). Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Quran 10:27)

The Fire will surround the unbeliever on all sides just as sins surrounded him like a sheet wound around his body:

“Theirs will be a bed of Fire and over them coverings (of Fire)…” (Quran 7:41)

“On the Day when the torment (of Hell) will cover them from above them and from underneath their feet.” (Quran 29:55)

“…and surely Hell will surround the unbelievers…” (Quran 9:49)

The Fire of Hell will leap up to the hearts. The Fire will penetrate their super-sized bodies and reach the innermost depths:

“No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts.” (Quran 104:4-7)

The Fire will split the entrails as mentioned by the Prophet:

“A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, ‘O so-and-so, what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do wrong?’ He will say, ‘I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it myself.’ Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill.”[1]

God has described the chains, yokes, and fetters of Hell. They will be tied up with chains and dragged with yokes on their necks:

“for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire.” (Quran 76:4)

“With Us are fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)

“We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be requital for their evil deeds.” (Quran 34:33)

“when yokes will be put round their necks and the chains, they will be dragged along.” (Quran 40:71)

“(The stern command will say): seize him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Quran 69:30-32)

The pagan gods and all other deities that were worshipped besides God who people thought will be their intercessors with God and bringing them closer to Him will be thrown into Hell with them. This will be to humiliate and demonstrate that these false gods have no power,

“Indeed, you (disbelievers), and that which you worship other than God,[2] are but fuel for Hell. Verily, you will enter it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have entered there, but all will eternally abide therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)

When the unbeliever will see Hell, he will be filled with remorse, but it will not be of any benefit:

“And they will feel regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.” (Quran 10:54)

The unbeliever will pray for his death when they sense its heat,

“And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction. (They will be told), ‘Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction.’” (Quran 25:13-14)

Their screams will get louder and they will call onto God hoping He will take them out of Hell:

“And they will cry out therein, ‘Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness – other than what we were doing!’” (Quran 35:37)

They will realize theirs sins and the error of stubborn disbelief:

“And they will say, ‘If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.’ And they will admit their sin, so (it is) alienation for the companions of the Blaze.” (Quran 67:10-11)

Their prayers will be rejected:

“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return (to evil), we would indeed be wrongdoers.’ He will say, ‘Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.’” (Quran 23:106-108)

After that, they will call the keepers of Hell asking them to intercede to God on their behalf for reduction in torment:

“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.’” (Quran 40:49-50)

Their will even plead for their own destruction to relieve themselves of the pain:

“And they will call, ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!’ He will say, ‘Indeed, you will remain.’” (Quran 43:77)

They will be told the punishment will never be reduced, it is eternal:

“Then be patient or impatient – it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed for what you used to do.’” (Quran 52:16)

They will weep for a long time:

“So let them laugh a little and then weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.” (Quran 9:82)

They will weep until no tears are left, then that they will weep blood, which will leave its traces as described by the Prophet:

“The people of Hell will be made to weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left. Then they will weep blood until they have, as it were, channels in their faces, if ships were put in them, they would float.”[3]

As you have seen, the descriptions of Hell in the Islamic scripture are clear and graphic, as are the descriptions of the people who deserve their fate therein. Such is the clarity that any person who believes in Judgment Day and the eternal destinies of the Hereafter must be motivated to at least try not to be of the people thrown inside. The best, and really only, way of avoiding this fate is to seriously search into the true religion God has mandated for humanity. A person should never follow a religion merely because it was that which he was “born into”, nor should they take religion to be a new age fashion. Rather, they should look into the truth about this world and the life to come, and be sure that they have prepared for that judgment from which there is no return, by living a life and system of belief revealed and unchanged from the One High Above.

Reference Link

So I have warned you of a blazing fire ( 92:14 )

In the previous surah Salih (as) warned the people to watch out and to not kill the she-camel. In this surah Allah (swt) himself is giving a warning and He (swt) is not warning people about the danger of performing a bad deed rather He (swt) is warning of the consequences. In the previous surah the consequence in the dunya of their disobedience was described when Allah (swt) crushed and levelled the ground with them whilst in this surah the punishment in the akhira is described. The word taladhdhaa is something that keeps sparking and is the kind of flame that makes a popping and crackling type of noise. The word indhaar means to sit someone down and to make them thoroughly aware of the situation they are in, as if they do not fully appreciate it’s peril, and to make them realise that there is great danger ahead of them if they continue on this path. By using this word here Allah (swt) is saying that the Quran is enough for one to fully understand the situation they are in, where they are headed and what the outcome will be. Allah (swt) is warning man about the fire using the past tense in this verse as whenever He (swt) warns about one thing specifically He (swt) uses the past tense. In another place in the Quran Allah (swt) warns in the present tense by means of revelation as revelation can warn you by means of worldly consequences, shortage of good deeds, earning to many bad deeds etc. So, Allah (swt) used the past tense to give the ultimate warning of the hereafter and used the present tense to warn man through revelation as wahy keeps coming down during the life of the messenger (saw).
Reference Link