Hell Fire
Summary
1) The objective behind creating the creations.
2) The description of Hell Fire.
3) The torment of the people of Hell.
4) Taking refuge in Allaah from Hell.
5) A warning against Hell and encouraging repentance.
First Khutbah
O Muslims! Allaah created the creations so that they would worship Him. He provided them with evidences proving His greatness in order that they may fear Him; He described to them the harshness of His torment and the place of His punishment in order that they would control themselves from corruption and sinfulness and in order that it would be an incentive for them to achieve success and to be guided. Beware of that which Allaah warned you against, and fear that which He scared you from.
Fear the Hell Fire which He described in His Book and through His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. It is a dwelling which has its own fury and roar. Its heat is great. It is black and dark, depressing and burning. Allaah says which means, “It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned). Altering (i.e. blackening the skins. Over it are Nineteen (angels).” (Al-Muddaththir: 28-30). Its flame never extinguishes; a dwelling in which Allaah deprives its people from being close to Him and from joy and happiness, Allaah says that which means, “Hell, which they will (enter to) burn, and wretched is the resting place.” (Saad: 56).
The mention of its levels and its steep bottom surrounding walls terrifies the hearts of the people fearful of Allaah. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, “I swear by The One in Whose Hand my soul is, if you saw what I saw you would laugh little, and cry excessively”, people said, ‘O Prophet of Allaah! What did you see?’ He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied, “I saw Paradise and Hell” (Muslim).
Nu’maan Ibn Al-Basheer, may Allaah be please with him, said ‘I heard the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam saying, “I warn you of the Fire, I warn you of the Fire” until his over garment fell from his shoulders to his feet’ (Ahmad and others). He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said, “Do not forget the two great things, do not forget the two great things: Paradise and Hell”. Then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said while crying, "I swear by The One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, if you know what I know, you would climb the mountains and pour dust on your heads (out of fear)" (Abu Ya'laa) .
O Muslims! Ibn Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Paradise is closer to one of you than his shoelace, and Hell is likewise” (Bukhaari). He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said, according to the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, “The fire which you light is one of the seventy parts (of heat) from the fire of Hell. It (Hell Fire) was increased by sixty nine parts, each part is just as hot” (Bukhaari).
What you feel from heat during summer is but a small breath from Hell to remind you with it. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “The Fire complained to its Lord saying, O Lord! I am eating up myself (burning), so Allaah allowed it to release two breaths, one during the winter and one during the summer; the coldest days you experience result from the breath of Zamhareer (cold punishment in Hell), and the hottest days you experience result from the breath of Fire” (Bukhaari)
Hellfire will come on the Day of Resurrection being led by seventy thousand handles. Each handle will be pulled by seventy thousand angles. It will come in an angry state and the criminals will be certain of the consequence of their deeds which they are to face, when they see it. Nations will drop to their knees, and Man will remember what he had set forth. Allaah says, which means, “And brought (within view) that Day, is Hell - that Day man will remember, but how (i.e. what good) to him will be the remembrance? He will say: 'Oh. I wish I had sent ahead (some good) for my life.' So on that Day none will punish (as severely) as His punishment, And none will bind (as severely) as His binding (of the evildoers). (Al-Fajr: 23-26).
It takes seventy years to reach its bottom. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard a sound of a rock, “This is a rock which was thrown in Hell Fire seventy years ago, and it just reached its bottom now” (Muslim).
The Siraat (a bridge) will be set over Hell with all the harshness of its Fire and its hooked rods. The believers will pass over it with a speed according to their deeds, some will pass as fast as the blink of an eye, some as fast as the blowing of the wind, some as birds fly, and some as fast as quick horse. Some people will pass safely, others will be scratched and others will be taken down into the Fire. The Fire will reach up to some people’s ankles, while it will reach others to their knees, others to their waists and yet others to their throats. The people of Hell will be led to it tired and scared. They will be pushed towards it and shoved. They will be dragged in its heat and then thrown into its flames. Fire will be boiling with them in it like water boils in a pot, Allaah says, which means, “When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a (dreadful) inhaling while it boils up” (Al-Mulk: 7).
They will ask for food, and they will be granted the most revolting rations which have been prepared for the wrong doers, Allaah says which means, “Indeed the tree of Zaqqum, is the food for the sinful. Like murky oil, it boils within bellies. Like the boiling of scalding water” (Ad-Dukhaan: 43-46).
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “If a drop from Zaqqoom (a tree in Hell) were to be dropped on earth, it would make people’s life bitter, so how would the case be for those whose food is Zaqqoom, and have nothing else as food” (Ahmad).
When they ask for help they would be provided with a poisonous thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger. It will have thorns which will neither reach their stomachs nor come out of their mouths. They would ask for help and they would be given as food the filth from the washing of wounds, pus and blood which comes out of the flesh of the people of Hell. When their thirst reaches its ultimate, they would be given water from a boiling spring with extremely high temperature, which would split up their stomachs, damage their sinful bodies, and burn their disobedient faces. Allaah says which means, “And say, 'the truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever disbelieves - let him disbelieve.' 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.” (Al-Kahf: 29).
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “Boiling water will be poured on their heads and it would pierce their skulls until it reaches their stomachs; this will make their guts melt and go down to their feet, then everything would be returned to its original condition again” (Ahmad & Tirmithi).
An-Nu’maan Ibn Al-Basheer, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “The least among the people of Hell in punishment is one whose sandals and laces are of fire from which his brain boils as a pot of water would boil (when set on fire), he will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in reality, he is the least in punishment” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
They will suffer in Hell in different ways: torment of fire, garments made of pitch which solid strong mountains cannot tolerate. They will be tied up with their hands and feet to their necks in fetters, its chains overburdening them. Their feet will be tied to their foreheads and their faces will turn gloomy as a result.
Doors will become sealed and the hardship that lies therein will be great, Allaah says which means, “It has seven gates; for every gate is of them (i.e. Satan's followers) a portion designated” (Al-Hijr: 44).
They will cry and be saddened, and will cry out loud from the severity of the torment while they are in its valleys, Allaah says which means, “And they will call:' O Maalik, let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'Indeed you will remain.' ” (Az-Zukhruf: 77).
Their sorrow will be continuous, so they will never feel happy. Their destiny is certain (in fire) and they will never depart from it, the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said as narrated by ‘Abdullaah Ibn Qays, may Allaah be pleased with him, “The dwellers of Hell will cry so much that ships can sail in their tears, and their tears will be of blood” (Al-Haakim). They will be crying because they wasted their lives without taking provisions from it for the hereafter, and the more they weep the more they feel the craving to cry. What a moment to regret for having their Creator angry with them! They will call, as Allaah says, which means, “And they will cry out therein, 'Our Lord, remove us; We will do righteousness - other than what we were doing! But did we not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the Warner had come to you? So taste (the punishment), for there is not for the wrongdoers and helper.'" (Faatir: 37). And also, “If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord (saying), 'Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us (to the world); we will work righteousness. Indeed, they are (now) certain” (As-Sajdah: 12). Also, “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.'” (Al-Mu’minoon: 106-107).
They will call unto to the Lord Whom they continued to disobey, transgress His boundaries, and were enemies of His devout slaves; they will be calling unto The Lord whose judgment is just on them, and His wrath and punishment befell them. Allaah says which means, “He will say, 'Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.'” (Al- Mu’minoon: 108).
That day, the one who cries is not sympathized with, and the one who supplicates is never responded to; it is too late to get what they desire. Their sins surround them. They continue to hope for rescue until a sound calls saying, O people of Paradise it is an eternal life which has no death, O people of Hell it is an eternal life which has no death. A Fire which cannot be resisted, and a soul which does not die, Allaah says, which means, “Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal – indeed, for him is hell; he will neither die therein nor live.” (Taa Haa: 74).
They blame each other and belie each other, Allaah says which means, “(Allaah) will say, 'enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.' Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, 'Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.' He will say, 'For each is double, but you do not know.'” (Al- A’raaf: 38). Also, “And (Ibraheem) said, 'You have only taken other than Allaah idols as (a bond of) affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers.'” (Al- ‘Ankaboot: 25).
They become furious with those who led them astray and increased their misguidance, Allaah says, which means, “And those who disbelieved will (then) say, 'Our Lord show us those who misled us of the jinn and men (so) we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest.'” (Fussilat: 29).
The one who blinded himself from the remembrance of Allaah would say to his intimate companion who hindered him from the Qur’aan and made disobedience look appealing. Allaah says, which means, “At length, when such a one comes to Us, he says to his evil companion: Would that between me and thee were the distance of East an West! Ah! Evil is the companion indeed!”(Az- Zukhruf: 38).
But this would not benefit them because they will be sharing the punishment, Allaah says, which means, ““(Allaah) will say, 'enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.' Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, 'Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.' He will say, 'For each is double, but you do not know.'” (Al- A’raaf: 38).
Slaves of Allaah! These are some of the descriptions of the Fire and its people, so ask Allaah to protect you from Hell Fire. Ask Allaah to keep you away from any words or deeds which would bring you closer to Hell Fire. We live in a time during which evil and trials are successive; trials of doubts and fast busy life, which lead anyone who falls in its trap to turn away from his faith, manners and behavior. Abu Baarzah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Amongst the things which I fear on you the most are following your desires regarding your provisions and private parts and doubts (regarding the religion)” in another narration he sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “and trials” (Ahmad).
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Paradise is surrounded by difficulties and Fire is surrounded by temptations” (Bukhaari).
Overcome these difficulties and awaken your hearts from its heedlessness. Keep yourselves away from the sources of temptations and guard yourselves with the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. Know that you have time now, yet you are awaiting a sudden death. One who will not benefit from his present life, certainly will not benefit from what will come after. There is no disaster greater than being heedless and having a dead heart. There nothing which will warn you better than the graying of your hair, and no destiny worse than Hell. Allaah says, which means, “and We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And we have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve – that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease (i.e. hypocrisy) and the disbelievers will say, 'What does Allaah intend by this as an example?' Thus does Allaah lead astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it (i.e. mention of the fire) is not but a reminder to humanity. No! By the moon, and (by) the night when it departs, and (by) the morning when it brightens, Indeed, it (i.e. the Fire) is of the greatest (afflictions), as a warning to humanity – To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind.” (Al-Muddaththir: 31-37).
Second Khutbah
O Muslims! Protect yourselves from the Fire, and take lessons from those who came before you, before those who come after you take lessons from you. Follow the footsteps of those who repented, and take the path of those who returned to Allaah, because this is the time to turn to Allaah and ask His forgiveness and abandon sinning.
Slaves of Allaah! O you who transgressed the boundaries and stayed away from the right path! Hasten to repentance, and wash yourselves from the filth of sins; protect yourselves from Hell. I do not know how sinners can live comfortably while Allaah says, which means, “And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby” (Saba’: 51).
Salves of Allaah! Rescue yourselves from the Fire. Beware of the wrath of The Compeller, ‘Uday Ibn Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Allaah will speak to each one of you without an interpreter; you will look to your right and see only what you set forth from your deeds, look behind and see only what you set forth from your deeds, and look in front of you and see Hell facing him; so protect yourselves from Hell even if you spend as little as half a date, or a kind word” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
Slaves of Allaah! Protect yourselves, your wives, your children and those under your responsibility from Hell. Abandoning prayers, imitating the disbelievers, looking at prohibited things via satellite channels, consuming alcohol, and women not adhering to the Islamic dress code of hijaab, are all from the deeds and actions of the people of Hell. Every disobedience to Allaah and His Messenger is from the deeds of the people of Hell; so protect yourselves from the Fire, Allaah says, which means, “And whoever disobeys Allaaah and His messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put Him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.” (An-Nisaa’: 14).
O Muslims! O You who accepted Allaah as your Lord, Islam as your religion and Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam as your prophet and messenger, respond to Allaah, repent to Him and listen to His call, Allaah says, which means, “Oh 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 Allaah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded” (At-Tahreem: 6).
http://www.alminbar.com/khutbaheng/2598.htm
Those who enter the hellfire but will not remain in it forever
Who are They?
Those who will enter the Hellfire and then come out of it are the people of Tawheed. They are the ones who do not associate anything with Allaah. However, they have accumulated many sins. Their evil deeds have exceeded the limit and their good deeds have become light on the scale. These individuals will enter the Hellfire because of their sins: Afterwards, they will come out of it due to the intercession of the interceders. By the Mercy of Allaah, groups of people who never produced any good deeds will be extracted from the Hellfire.
Sins Punishable In The Hellfire
I will mention here some of the sins, which there is evidence for , informing us that those who commit them will be punished by means of the Hellfire:
Splitting Up Into Groups That Oppose The Sunnah
Aboo Sufyaan narrated: "The Messenger of Allaah stood among us one day and said; 'Indeed those before you from the People of the Book divided seventy-two groups. And this group (Muslims) will divide into seventy-three. Seventy-two groups will be in the Fire and one of them will be in Paradise. And it is the Jamaa'ah.'" [2]
This is an authentic hadeeth. Al-Haakim, after checking its chains of narration, said about it. "These chains present evidence in favor of the authenticity of the hadeeth."
Imaam ath-Thahabee agreed with this. Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said, "It is a well known authentic hadeeth."
It has also been authenticated by ash-Shaatibee in his book of al-`Itisaam. Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al_Albaanee gathered its routes of narration, discussed their chains, and clarified that it is an authentic hadeeth, there being no doubt concerning its authenticity. [3]
However, Sideeq Hasan Khaan is of the opinion that the addition to the hadeeth 'All of them are in the Hellfire except one'
And similar addition, such as; 'Seventy-two are in the Hellfire' are all weak additions to the hadeeth. He cites this claim of weakness from his teacher Imaam ash-Shawkaane and before him, Aboo al-Wazeer, and before him, Ibn Hazm. And he has approved of the saying, "These additions are from the schemes of the apostates. For indeed, in them are a means for turning away from Islaam and a reluctance from entering into its fold." [4]
Shaykh al-Albaanee has refuted those who claim that such addition are weak from two angles:
1. The rules of hadeeth criticism regarding the additions for the hadeeth prove its authenticity, for there is no basis in the statement of the one who has claimed that it is weak.
2. That those who have graded it authentic are greater in number and knowledge than Ibn Hazm. This is especially the case, since he is known among the people of knowledge for this severity in such criticism. We should not make use of it (his criticism) when it goes solely among lack of opposition. So how can we use it when it is opposed (by other more knowledgeable scholars)?
As for Aboo al-Wazeer, he rejected and additions to the hadeeth based upon their meaning, not due to the chain. Sideeq Hasan Khaan has spoken of this in his book al-'Ibaarah, clarifying that the one who goes by this addition is stating that those who enter Paradise from this Ummaah are few. Meanwhile, the authentic and confirmed texts show that those entering Paradise from the Ummaah will be many, almost reaching half of the inhabitants of Paradise. [5]
This may be refuted in a number of ways;
1. The meaning of the division of this Ummaah into seventy-three sects is not that the majority of this Ummaah will be in the Hellfire. This is because the majority of the Ummaah consists of common folk who do not enter into the fold of these sects. And those who divide into sects and remain in opposition to the Sunnah are fewer in description than those who avoid that in its totality.
2. Everyone who opposes the carriers of the Sunnah in an issue among the many issues of religion does not fall into the category of being in a sect in opposition to the Sunnah. Rather, the correct understanding is that they set up principles by which they become groups divided among themselves, abandoning much of the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah due to it. This is the case with the Khawaarij, the Mu'tazilah and the Raafidah. As for those who establish the Qur'aan and Sunnah and do not abandon these two, but differ in an issue from the many issues in Islaam, they do not fall into any of the sects.
3. The additions in the narrations are evidence that the divided sects will be in the Hellfire. However, this does not imply absolutely that they will reside in the Hellfire forever.
What is well know is that some of the people of these sects are disbelievers who will remain eternally in the Hellfire, such as the hidden extremists. They are the one who make apparent their eemaan, yet hide their disbelief, such as the Ismaa'eelees, the Drooz, the Naseereeyah and others.
Among the sects are those who oppose Ahl-us-Sunnah in major important issues. However, their differences are not based upon disbelief. There is not a definite promise for these people that they will enter Paradise. However they fall under the Will of Allaah. However they fall under the Will of Allaah. If He wills, He will forgive them, and if He wills, He will punish them. Perhaps they may have a great number of righteous deeds that will save them from the Fire. They will also be saved from the Fire by the intercession of the interceders. And they will enter the Hellfire and abide therein as long as Allaah wills for them to do so. Then they will be extracted from there, due to the intercession of the interceders and by the Mercy of the Most Merciful.
Those Who Hold Back From Hijrah (Migration)
It is not permissible for the Muslim to reside in the lands of the disbelievers when there are Muslim lands that exist. This is especially so if his residence in the lands of disbelief will involve him in fitnah [trouble for his religion]. Allaah does not accept the excuse of those refrain from making Hijrah (migration). Thus, Allaah informs us that the angles will reproach this group of people at the time of death and they will not accept their excuses when they plead to them saying that they were oppressed in the land.
Allaah says (which means): "Verily, as for those who the angles take in death while they are wronging themselves, they say to them: " In what state were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed in the land." They (angles) say: "Was not Allaah's Earth spacious enough for you to migrate?" Such men will find their abode in Hell--what and evil destination! Except the weak among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they able to make their way." [6]
Allaah does not accept the excuses from such individuals, except for those who are weak and can not find the method to leave, and they are not able to make a way by which they will directed to the land of Islaam. [Note from the editors: this is a general rule that has been under-explained here. One is encouraged to see what the great wise scholar Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained about related guidelines in the book "Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islaam (al-Hidaayah Publishing)
Injustice In Passing Judgment
Allaah has revealed His Sharee'ah (Diven Law) for passing judgment between mankind with equity. And He has commanded His servants with justice and fairness.
Allaah says (which means): "Verily, Allaah enjoins al-'adl (justice) and al-ihsaan (beneficence)."[7]
Thus He has made it obligatory upon the rulers and the judges that they rule with justice and avoid injustice.
Allaah says (which means): "Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those who they are due, and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. How excellent is the teaching that He (Allaah) gives you! Truly, Allaah is the Hearer of all, the Seer of all." [8]
Allaah threatens those who do not judge in truth with the Hellfire. Buraidah Bin Haseeb has narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: 'The judges are of three types: One in Paradise and two in the Hellfire. As for the one in Paradise, he is the one who knows the truth and judges by it. For the one who knows the truth and does not do justice in his ruling, then he is in the Fire. And as for the one who passes judgment between people out of ignorance, then he also is in the Fire.' [9]
Lying Upon The Messenger Of Allaah
Ibn al-Atheer has compiled a chapter in his book Jaami' al-Usool in which he lists many ahaadeeth which warn against lying upon the Messenger of Allaah. Among them, is that which has been recorded by Imaams al-Bukhaaree, Muslim and at-Tirmithee, on the authority of 'Alee who said that the Messenger of Allaah said, "Do not lie upon me. For indeed, the one who lies upon me will be tormented by the Hellfire."
In another hadeeth the Prophet said, "Whoever attributes a statement to me of which I did not say , then let him find his seat in the Hellfire." [10]
Also, the Messenger of Allaah said, "Whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire." [11]
Among the other hadeeths is the one where Allaah's Messenger said, "Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else. So whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire!" [12]
Pride
Among of the major sins is pride. Aboo Hruayrah narrared that the Messenger of Allaah said, "Allaah said: 'Pride is my cloak and greatness is my lower garment. Whoever disputes with me regarding any of these will be cast into the Fire.'" [13]
And he also said: 'The one who has a speck of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise.'
So a man said to him "Indeed a man likes to have nice clothes and nice sandals." He said: 'Allaah beautiful and He loves beauty. Pride is disregarding the truth and belittling people.' [14]
Killing An Individual Without Due Right
Allaah says (which means): "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allaah are upon him, and the great punishment is prepared for him." [15]
The killing of an individual Muslim is not permissible in Islaam except for one of three cases, as has been stated in the following hadeeth, in which the Messenger of Allaah said, "The blood of an individual who testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship besides Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah, is not lawful, except for one of three cases. They are: A life for a life, a married person who commits adultery, and the one who abandons his religion and breaks away from the Jamaa'ah." [16]
The Prophet also said "The believer will remain within the margins of his religion, as long as he does not spill blood illegally." [17]
Ibn `Umar said: "Of those dilemmas which there is no way out for the one who fails, is the shedding of blood without due reason." [18]
The Messenger of Allaah has warned the Muslims from killing one another. And he has informed us that the killer and the one killed are both in the Fire.
Aboo Bakrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said, "When two Muslims face each other with their swords, then the killer and the one killed are (both) in the Fire." I said 'I understand the killer, but what of the one who is killed?' He said, "Indeed, he was intent upon killing his companion." [19]
Due to this, the righteous servant refrains from killing his brother, fearing that he might be of the dweller of the Fire. And so the killer will attain his sin and the sin of the one he is killing.
Allaah says (which means): "And recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Aadam in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allaah. It was accepted from one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; 'I will surely kill you.' The former said: 'Allaah accepts only from those who give Him due reverence. If you stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allaah the Lord of the Worlds. I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dweller of the Fire. And that is the recompense of the wrong doers.'" [20]
Consuming (Ribaa) Interest Or 'Usury
Among the sins that destroy the individual performing it, is usury. Concerning those who take interest after knowledge has reached them of its prohibition, Allaah says (which means), "But whoever returns to ribaa, such are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein" [21]
And He says (which means): "O you who believer! Do not consume ribaa, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allaah that you may be successful. and fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers." [22]
The Prophet has counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that destroy the one performing it. It is recorded in the Two Saheeh collection that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins."
They said: 'And what are they, O Messenger of Allaah?' So he said, "To associate partners with Allaah (shirk), magic, killing individual which Allaah has forbidden except with due right, consuming interest, taking the wealth of the orphan, running away from the battlefield, and slandering chaste believing women." [23]
Taking The Wealth Of The People Unjustly
Among the greatest forms of oppression bringing a guarantee of the Hellfire is the consumption of people's wealth unjustly. This is as Allaah says (which means): "O you who believe! Do not consume property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade among you by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allaah." [24]
One who unjustly consumes the wealth of people also takes the wealth of the orphan unjustly. Allaah has specifically mentioned their wealth, due to their frailty, the ease at which their wealth can be consumed, and the detestableness of such crime. "Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat only fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the Blazing Fire!" [25]
The Picture-Makers
The people who will receive the worst punishment on the Day of Judgment are the picture-makers. [Editor's note: There are a number of crimes in addition to this one, for which the Prophet mentioned they would warrant the worst punishment.] They are the ones who compete with Allaah's ability to create. Ibn Mas'ood reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "The people with the worst punishment according to Allaah are the picture-makers." [26]
Ibn 'Abbaas said that he heard the Prophet say: " Every picture-maker is in the Hellfire. A soul will be placed for him into every picture that he fabricated, and Allaah will punish him (by it) in the Hellfire." [27]
`Aaishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said concerning a cushion that had pictures on it, "Indeed the makers of these pictures will be tormented on the Day of Judgment. It will be said to them: Bring life to that which you have created." [28]
He also said, "The people who will receive the worst torment are those who try to imitate the creation of Allaah." [29]
Aboo Hurayrah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "Allaah says: And who is worse than he who tries to create the likes of My creation. Then let them create a seed, or let them create a kernel or grain." [30]
Those Who Rely On Evil-Doers (Dhalimoon)
From among the means that cause the entrance into the Hellfire, is the reliance on evildoers, the enemies of Allaah, and befriending them.
Allaah says (which means):
"And incline not towards those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you and you have no protectors other than Allaah, nor will you then be helped."[31]
The Women Who Will Be Clothed Yet Naked And The Ones Who Will Whip The Backs of People
Among the types of people that will enter the Hellfire, are the evil women who display their beauty indecently. They put the servants of Allaah to trial and do not themselves abide in the obedience of Allaah. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, "There are two types of people from the dwellers of the Fire that I have never seen before. A people who have whips like tails of cows by which they will be beating the people. And women who will be clothed yet naked, swaggering and bent over, their heads will be like the slanted humps of the bukht camel. They will not enter Paradise, nor will they sense its odor, even though its can be sensed from such and such distance." [32]
Concerning those with whips like the tails of cows, al-Qurtubee said: "The description of the ones with whips is visible among us even now , in Morocco."
Commenting on the words of al-Qurtubee, Sideeq Hasan Khaan said: "Rather they are present in every time, at every place, increasing day by day among the leaders and the notables. Thus we seek refuge from all that Allaah hates." [33]
I say, we can still see this type of people in many of the lands, whipping the backs of people. May they and their likes perish!
And the women who appear naked in spite of their being clothed are many in our time. Perhaps their evil has not grown so widespread before as it has these days. They are just as the Messenger of Allaah has described them, clothed yet naked, bent-over and swaggering, and upon their heads is the hump of the bukht camel.
Those Who Torture Animals
"The Hellfire was presented to me and I saw in it a woman from the Tribe of Israa'eel who was being punished for a cat she had tied up and did not feed it, nor did she let it go so that it may eat the rodents of the earth, until it died of starvation."[34]
If this is the condition of the one who tortures a cat, then how is it for the one who is tested by torturing the servants of Allaah? And how much more is it, if the torture is for the righteous ones among them because of their eemaan and their Islaam?
The Lack Of Sincerity In seeking Knowledge
Al-Haafiz al-Munthiree cited many hadeeths which warn against seeking knowledge for other than Allaah's sake. I have chosen only some of them. The Messenger of Allaah said: 'Whoever acquires knowledge, by which the Face of Allaah is sought, and he does not learn it except to attain honor by it in this world, he will not perceive the odor of Paradise on the Day of Judgment." [35]
Jaabir reported that the Prophet said: "Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. So whoever does that, then: The Fire, the Fire." [36]
Ibn `Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever acquires a knowledge for other than Allaah's sake, or desiring other than that, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire."[37]
Those Who Drink From Gold And Silver Vessels
Umm Salamah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "One who drinks from a gold a silver vessel is only gulping the fire of Jahannam (Hellfire) into his stomach." [38]
In other similar narration, he said: "The one who eats and drinks from a gold and silver vessel, is only.." [39]
Huthayfah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say: "Do not wear silk garments nor silk brocade. And do not drink from gold and silver vessels, nor eat from such bowls. For, indeed they are for them (disbelievers) in this world, and they are for you in the next." [40]
The One Who Cuts Down The Lote-Tree Which Shades The People
The Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever cuts down a lote-tree, Allaah will pour Fire on his head."[41]
`Aa'ishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Indeed the ones who cut down the lote-tree, a molten Fire will be poured on their heads." [42]
The Recompense of Suicide
It has been confirmed in the two Saheehs that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever kills himself with a weapon, then that weapon will be in his hand, stabbing him in the stomach in the Hellfire eternally. And whoever kills himself with poison, then the poison will be in his hand, he will be sipping it in the Hell Fire eternally. And whoever throws himself from mountain and kills himself, then he will be falling down in the Hell Fire eternally." [43]
Aboo Hurayrah said that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in the Hell Fire. And the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in the Hell Fire." [44]
Notes:
1. Taken from a chapter from al-Yawn al-Aakhir: al-Jannah wan-Naar. Translated by Isma'eel Ibn al-Arkaan, edited for Hudda.
2. Reported by Aboo Daawood, ad-Daarimee, al-Haakim, Ahmad and others.
3. As-Saheehah (no. 204)
4. Al-`Itibaar, pg. 206
5. See as-Saheehah (no. 204)
6. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:97-98)
7. Surat an-Nahl (16:90)
8. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:58)
9. An authentic hadeeth narrated by Aboo Daawood. The of Jaamir 'al-Usool (al-Arnaa'oot) (10:167) graded it saheeh.
10. Recorded by al-Bukhaaree, from the hadeeth of Salamah Bin al-Akwa'.
11. Al-Bukhaaree and Aboo Daawood.
12. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, on the authority of al-Mugheerah Bin Shu'bah. These narrations can be found in Jaami' al-Usool (10:611).
13. Muslim.
14. See these two hadeeths as well as others regarding the topic of pride and the calling away from it in Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh (3:634-635)
15. Surat an-Nisaa ' (4:93)
16. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer (2:355)
17. Al-Bukhaaree, on the authority of Ibn `Umar .
18. See Fath al-Baaree (12:187)
19. Muslim (4:2213)
20. Surat al-Maa'idah (5:27-29)
21. Surat al-Baqarah (2:275)
22. Surah Aali `Imraan (3:130-131)
23. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim
24. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:29-30)
25. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:10)
26. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. See Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh (2:505)
27. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
28. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
29. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, on the authority of `Aa'isha.
30. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. All the narrations in this section, as well as their checking, can be found in Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:505).
31. Surah Hood (10:113)
32. Recorded by Muslim, Ahmad and al-Bayhaqee. See as-Saheehah (no. 1326).
33. Al- 'Itibaar pg. 113.
34. Saheeh Muslim. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeh (3:688)
35. Reported by Aboo Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibban and al-Haakim who said that it was authentic according to the condition of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
36. Reported by Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh, and al-Bayhaqee.
37. Recorded by at-Tirmithee and Aboo Daawood. See this hadeeth and all others in this section, as well as their checking, in the book at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb by al-Haafiz al-Munthire, (1:91)
38. Al-Bukhaaree. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:462)
39. Muslim.
40. Al-Bukhaaree and Musilm
41. Aboo Daawood. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:215) Al-Albaanee has declared it authentic in his Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 6352) [Old Edition]
42. Reported by al-Bayhaqee. See Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 88) [Old Eidtion]
43. See at-Takhweef min-an-Naar pg. 148.
44. See Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 114) [Old Edition]
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Hellfire: Its People And Its Terror
Saalih Ibn Humayd
First Khutbah
Praise be to Allah. I praise and thank Him, exalted is He, and I glorify and revere him. Forever does He merit attributes of veneration and perfection. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner and I thus admit His Oneness. I also testify that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger, the selected Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) who is of a better lineage than the entire humanity and is far more honorable than them all. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his righteous companions, people of benevolence and honesty and those who follow the way of Allah’s messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) and his righteous companions.
O People, I advise you and myself to fear Allah, glorified is He, Allah says which translates as: “And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah” (Al-Baqarah: 281). Beware of a Day when you will stand for a long time awaiting a thorough judgment. Fellow Muslims, every soul will be held accountable only for the deeds s/he has committed. No one will be punished for a sin s/he did not commit. On Judgment Day, every soul will stand alone in his/her defense.
Sinful desires lead many people astray. Their faith is not reflected in their deeds. They speak but they never act on what they say. This is the position of the unintelligent persons. Having learned the truth, they then deny it. They declare permissible what Allah and His messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) have decreed as prohibited. Al-Hassan Al-Basri may Allah bless his soul, exclaims: Do they believe in Judgment Day? No, I swear by the Master of the Day of Resurrection, they are liars. No one is admitted to paradise except one who genuinely seeks it and no one will be saved from the Hellfire except one who truly fears it. Entering in to the Hellfire is an indisputable fact, As Allah says which translates as: “There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a decree which must be accomplished” (Maryam: 71) but is salvation from the Hellfire an indisputable fact too?
Who shows signs of real fear from it? Who would be truly delighted to be saved from it? Musa Ibn Sa’d said: Whenever we were in the company of Sufyan, we would feel that we were surrounded by the hellfire because of the look of fear and terror we saw on his face. Whoever honestly fears the Hellfire strives to avoid it and whoever strives to avoid it attains Paradise. As in the Qur’an which translates as: “Saying: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah), But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the fire, Verily, We used to invoke Him (Alone and none else) before. Verily, He is Al-Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful” (At-Tur: 26–28). Truly, Allah guides and has mercy on those who fear Him.
Brothers in Islam, our sermon seeks to remind and warn of the hellfire and fill your hearts with the fear of what was mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an and what Prophet Muhammad, (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), said concerning the punishment of the disbelievers and those who do not abide by Allah’s laws. Our sermon is about the Hellfire, its people, and its terror. We seek refuge in Allah’s mercy from it, as Allah says which translates as: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded” (At-Tahrim: 6).
Al-Hassan Al-Basri, may Allah bless his soul, states: By Allah! It is never that a servant of Allah honestly believes in the Hellfire, but he feels as if the spacious earth has become incredibly narrow, whereas if the Hellfire was right behind a hypocrite, he would still not believe in it until he tumbles into its burning depths. I swear that the servants of Allah have never been warned against anything more horrific.
Allah says which translates as: “Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell); None shall enter it save the most wretched, Who denies and turns away” (Al-Layl: 14- 16). This is the Hellfire, of which those who fear it will never sleep. Fear of the Hellfire torments the righteous. Allah says which translates as: “Verily, it {Hell, or their denial of prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) or the Day of Resurrection} is but one of the greatest calamities. A warning to mankind, To any of you that chooses to go forward (by working righteous deeds), or to remain behind (by commiting sins)” (Al-Muddaththir: 35- 37).
Do you not know that even angels and prophets are warned against the Hellfire? Concerning angels, Allah says which translates as: “And if any of them should say: Verily, I am an Ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah)’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc)” (Al-Anbiya: 29). As regards to the prophets, He says which translates as: “And set not up with Allah any other Ilah (god) lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected, (from Allah’s Mercy)” (Al-Isra’: 39).
O People, avoid the Hellfire by giving away as little as a date. Avoid the Hellfire by saying a good word. Mention the Hellfire repeatedly and seek to be saved from it, as Allah says which translates as: “With this Allah does frighten His slaves: “O My slaves, therefore fear Me!” (Az-Zumar: 16). The Hellfire is the worst abode, its torment is the most horrific of all, its heat is extreme, its pit is bottomless, and its maces are made of iron. A stone may continue to fall for seventy years before if reaches its depth. Its ways are narrow, it is constantly ablaze, terribly drawing its breath, and its gates are locked. Its scorching columns are outstretched. Its heat is continuously increasing. It is the wrath of Al Jabbar and His punishment.
Whole nations will be brought to their knees. Those who were unjust to themselves will realize the consequences of their actions. The disbelievers will be dispatched to a shadow of smoke ascending in three columns, which yields no shade or coolness and is of no use against the fierce blaze. The flames of a blazing fire will surround them. They will hear its exhalations and groaning and witness its rage and fury. They will be called on by the angels of the Hellfire, as the Qur’an says which translates as: “So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode will be for the arrogant” (An-Nahl: 29). They will be gathered in the Hellfire, with the angels of the punishment crushing them. They will groan in its straits as they tumble downwards. You will see the sinners on that day bound together in fetters, their garments will be made of liquid pitch, and their faces will be covered with fire. Their necks will be shackled and they will be dragged by chains, pulled by the forehead and feet, and then thrown into the Hellfire. A burning fluid will be poured onto their heads and it will melt their skins and their stomachs. Their hands will be shackled with iron fetters, and their foreheads, sides, and backs will be burnt.
“Taste you the touch of Hell” (Al-Qamar: 48). They will be made to eat bitter Zaqqum and Dari, which will neither nourish nor satisfy their hunger. They will be made to drink a boiling fluid and a dark, murky, and intensely cold liquid that will burn their faces and tear up their stomachs. The Qur’an describes which translates as: “He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat” (Ibrahim: 17) “Therein they will cry: “Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do” (Allah will reply): “Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc) there is no helper” (Fatir: 37) “ … As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment … ” (An-Nisa’: 56) They will wish to die, only there will be no way out of the Hellfire, nor will there be an escape. The Qur’an describes which translates as: “And they will cry: O Malik let your Lord make an end of us, he will say: Verily you shall abide forever. Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Az-Zukhruf: 77-78). Their inhalation and exhalation will then be heard even louder when they are deprived of what they desire. Their despair will be increased and they will think to themselves, “ … It makes no difference to us, whether we rage, or bear with patience. There is no place of refuge for us” (Ibrahim: 21). We seek refuge in Allah, from His wrath and severe punishment.
Brothers in Islam, these are indisputable facts about the Hellfire which I swear by Allah will be fulfilled. Allah says which translates as: “ … but the Word from Me took effect, that I will fill Hell with Jinn and mankind together” (As-Sajdah: 13).
Woe unto every disbeliever and wicked person who does wrong, prefers worldly life and does not believe in Judgment Day, as Allah says which translates as: “The Mujrimoon (polythiests, idolaters, and disbelievers) will be known by their marks (black faces)” (Ar-Rahman: 41) “And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless. A slanderer, going about with calumnies. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinfull. Cruel, after all that base-born (of illegitimate birth)” (Al-Qalam: 10- 13). Those who do not believe in Allah, the Almighty, nor encourage the feeding of the poor, who never prays nor feeds the poor, joining with the disbelievers in denying Judgment Day. These are the people of the Hellfire. We seek refuge in Allah from them.
Servants of Allah, people of the Hellfire will include wine drinkers, those who sever kinship relations, believe in magic, remind others of the charity they gave them, backbite others, let their garments hang down below their ankles, hoard silver and gold and refuse to spend in the way of Allah. Among the people to be most severely tortured are those who create pictures and statues to imitate Allah’s creation and those who oppress people in this world.
What would be the position of the reciters of the Qur’an, scholars and mujahideen (fighters in Jihad) whose deeds are for showing off, and those who command people to do good deeds yet do not do them themselves, who forbid people from committing sins, yet do not refrain from committing sins themselves, who never practice what they preach, who rebuke when they advice and turn a deaf ear when advised and who judge without knowledge or without justice. These are people of the hellfire.
“A ruler who betrays his people will be condemned to the Hellfire”.
“A person who pledged allegiance to the Imam but for the sake of the world (material gains). If the Imam bestowed on him (something) out of that (worldly riches) he stood by his allegiance and if he did not give him, he did not fulfill the allegiance” such a person is condemned”.
“Whoever cuts off the right of a Muslim man by his oath, Allah forbids him the Garden an obliges the Fire for him”.
“Whoever eats or drinks from gold or silver utensils is indeed filing his stomach with the fire of hell”.
Allah says which translates as: “ … Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a fire into their own bellies, they will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire” (An-Nisa’: 10).
Woe to the one who devours usury! The fire is the only worthy punishment for him whose body is nourished by usury or by what is forbidden. There will be two types of people who are destined for the Hellfire: people with whips, like the tails of cows, who beat the people (i.e. tyrannical rulers who are the enemies of their own people), and woman who although clothed, are yet naked, seducing and being seduced, their hair styled like tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the Garden nor will its fragrance even reach them” “If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she will be made to stand on the Day of Resurrection wearing a trousers of pitch and a shirt of mange” “Cheat and deceit will be condemned to the fire” “Indecency leads to the Hellfire” “The worst of people in the sight of Allah is he who people avoid due to his indecency, aggressiveness, and vulgarity”. Woe unto those who wish that indecency would spread among those who believe, they will be severely tortured in this world and in the Hereafter.
Dear Muslims, may Allah have mercy on you and I, and save us from this horrible torture. These are the various types of punishments in the Hellfire and the different characteristics of the people of the Hellfire. So fear Allah and avoid the Hellfire by shedding tears out of fear of Allah, for no man who cried out of fear of Allah will ever be tortured in the Hellfire. Two eyes will never be touched by the Fire; and eye that sheds tears out of fear of Allah, and a vigilant eye that stayed awake on guard for the sake of Allah (in Jihad). Whoever fasts a day is distanced from the Hellfire by a space to be covered in seventy years. Seek refuge with Allah from the Hellfire, for this is one of the characteristics of the righteous, who constantly remembers Allah.
The angels will pass by those who remember Allah in parties and Allah will say, “From what do they seek refuge?” The angels reply: ‘They seek refuge from the hellfire Allah says, “Did they see it? The angels say: ‘No by Allah, O Lord! They did not see it, Allah says: ‘How it would have been if they saw it? The angels say: ‘If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it. Then Allah says, ‘I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them”.
In another narration: Whenever a Muslim prays to be admitted to paradise three times, paradise says: O Allah, admit him to paradise. Whenever a Muslim seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times, The Hellfire seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times for that Muslim, The Hellfire says: O Allah, grant him refuge from me. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. As in the Qur’an, which translates as: “ … Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the fire” (Al-`Imraan: 16). “ … our Lord, avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment. Evil indeed it is as an abode and as a place to dwell” (Al-Furqan: 65, 66). May we all benefit from the Glorious Qur’an.
Second Khutbah
Praise be to Allah, the Originator, the restorer, who effects all He wills, I praise and thank Him. Exalted is He, for it is with gratitude that one’s blessings last and are increased. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger who has warned all people, be they near or far. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his household, his wives, his companions, and those who piously follow their example until Judgment Day.
O People, the mention of the Hellfire terrifies the hearts of those who are afraid of it and dispels sleep from the eyes of worshippers.
Fellow Muslims, contemplate the Day of Resurrection with your hearts, think of the destination of the two kinds of people, either to paradise or to the Hellfire, and determine which of the two you want and ponder with your imagination. Make your hearts and your bodies sense the heat of the Hellfire, its fetters, its depths, its fuel, its rocks, its chains and shackles, its boiling fluid, its dark murky fluid. Think of the Blazing fire and its severely intolerable heat. Cry and call on one another to cry. Visualize in your hearts the image of the wrongdoers being tormented in the flames of the Hellfire. Allah says which translates as: “They shall have coverings of fire, above them and covering beneath them … ” (Az-Zumar: 16). “ … whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the fire” (Al-Isra’: 97). “Seize him and fetter him. Then throw him in the blazing fire. Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits” (Al-Haqqah: 30-32). “In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke. Neither cool, nor good” (Al-Waqi`’a: 42-44).
So, fear Allah so that He may have mercy on you. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from Hellfire, and from any word or deed that may bring us near to it. Avoid the Blazing Fire, that Abode that has been reserved for the disbelievers.
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Hell-fire and its people
Khutbah by Shaykh Salaah al-Budayr
O Muslims! Allah created the creations so that they would worship Him. He provided them with evidences proving His greatness in order that they may fear Him; He described to them the harshness of His torment and the place of His punishment in order that they would control themselves from corruption and sinfulness and in order that it would be an incentive for them to achieve success and to be guided. Beware of that which Allah warned you against, and fear that which He scared you from.
Fear the Hell-fire which He described in His Book and through His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. It is a dwelling which has its own fury and roar. Its heat is great. It is black and dark, depressing and burning. Allah says which means, “It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned). Altering (i.e. blackening the skins. Over it are Nineteen (angels).” (Al-Muddaththir: 28-30). Its flame never extinguishes; a dwelling in which Allah deprives its people from being close to Him and from joy and happiness, Allah says that which means, “Hell, which they will (enter to) burn, and wretched is the resting place.” (Saad: 56).
The mention of its levels and its steep bottom surrounding walls terrifies the hearts of the people fearful of Allah. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, “I swear by The One in Whose Hand my soul is, if you saw what I saw you would laugh little, and cry excessively”, people said, ‘O Prophet of Allah! What did you see?’ He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied, “I saw Paradise and Hell” (Muslim).
Nu’maan Ibn al-Basheer, may Allah be please with him, said ‘I heard the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam saying, “I warn you of the Fire, I warn you of the Fire” until his over garment fell from his shoulders to his feet’ (Ahmad and others). He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said, “Do not forget the two great things, do not forget the two great things: Paradise and Hell”. Then he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said while crying, “I swear by The One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, if you know what I know, you would climb the mountains and pour dust on your heads (out of fear)” (Abu Ya’laa).
O Muslims! Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Paradise is closer to one of you than his shoelace, and Hell is likewise” (Bukhari). He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said, according to the narration of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, “The fire which you light is one of the seventy parts (of heat) from the fire of Hell. It (Hell Fire) was increased by sixty-nine parts, each part is just as hot” (Bukhari).
What you feel from heat during summer is but a small breath from Hell to remind you with it. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “The Fire complained to its Lord saying, O Lord! I am eating up myself (burning), so Allah allowed it to release two breaths, one during the winter and one during the summer; the coldest days you experience result from the breath of Zamhareer (cold punishment in Hell), and the hottest days you experience result from the breath of Fire” (Bukhari)
Hell-fire will come on the Day of Resurrection being led by seventy thousand handles. Each handle will be pulled by seventy thousand angles. It will come in an angry state and the criminals will be certain of the consequence of their deeds which they are to face, when they see it. Nations will drop to their knees, and Man will remember what he had set forth. Allah says, which means, “And brought (within view) that Day, is Hell – that Day man will remember, but how (i.e. what good) to him will be the remembrance? He will say: ‘Oh. I wish I had sent ahead (some good) for my life.’ So on that Day none will punish (as severely) as His punishment, And none will bind (as severely) as His binding (of the evildoers).” (Al-Fajr: 23-26).
It takes seventy years to reach the bottom of Hell. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard a sound of a rock, “This is a rock which was thrown in Hell-fire seventy years ago, and it just reached its bottom now.” (Muslim).
The Siraat (a bridge) will be set over Hell with all the harshness of its Fire and its hooked rods. The believers will pass over it with a speed according to their deeds, some will pass as fast as the blink of an eye, some as fast as the blowing of the wind, some as birds fly, and some as fast as quick horse. Some people will pass safely, others will be scratched and others will be taken down into the Fire. The Fire will reach up to some people’s ankles, while it will reach others to their knees, others to their waists and yet others to their throats. The people of Hell will be led to it tired and scared. They will be pushed towards it and shoved. They will be dragged in its heat and then thrown into its flames. Fire will be boiling with them in it like water boils in a pot, Allah says, which means, “When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a (dreadful) inhaling while it boils up” (Al-Mulk: 7).
They will ask for food, and they will be granted the most revolting rations which have been prepared for the wrong-doers, Allah says which means, “Indeed the tree of Zaqqum, is the food for the sinful. Like murky oil, it boils within bellies. Like the boiling of scalding water” (Ad-Dukhaan: 43-46).
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “If a drop from Zaqqum (a tree in Hell) were to be dropped on earth, it would make people’s life bitter, so how would the case be for those whose food is Zaqqum, and have nothing else as food” (Ahmad).
When they ask for help they would be provided with a poisonous thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger. It will have thorns which will neither reach their stomachs nor come out of their mouths. They would ask for help and they would be given as food the filth from the washing of wounds, pus and blood which comes out of the flesh of the people of Hell. When their thirst reaches its ultimate, they would be given water from a boiling spring with extremely high temperature, which would split up their stomachs, damage their sinful bodies, and burn their disobedient faces. Allah says which means, “And say, ‘the truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever disbelieves – let him disbelieve.’ 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.” (Al-Kahf: 29).
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “Boiling water will be poured on their heads and it would pierce their skulls until it reaches their stomachs; this will make their guts melt and go down to their feet, then everything would be returned to its original condition again” (Ahmad and Tirmithi).
An-Nu’maan Ibn al-Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, “The least among the people of Hell in punishment is one whose sandals and laces are of fire from which his brain boils as a pot of water would boil (when set on fire), he will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in reality, he is the least in punishment” (Bukhari and Muslim).
They will suffer in Hell in different ways: torment of fire, garments made of pitch which solid strong mountains cannot tolerate. They will be tied up with their hands and feet to their necks in fetters, its chains overburdening them. Their feet will be tied to their foreheads and their faces will turn gloomy as a result.
Doors will become sealed and the hardship that lies therein will be great, Allah says which means, “It has seven gates; for every gate is of them (i.e. Satan’s followers) a portion designated” (Al-Hijr: 44).
They will cry and be saddened, and will cry out loud from the severity of the torment while they are in its valleys, Allah says which means, “And they will call:’ O Maalik, let your Lord put an end to us!’ He will say, ‘Indeed you will remain.’” (Az-Zukhruf: 77).
Their sorrow will be continuous, so they will never feel happy. Their destiny is certain (in fire) and they will never depart from it, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by ‘Abdullaah Ibn Qays, may Allah be pleased with him, “The dwellers of Hell will cry so much that ships can sail in their tears, and their tears will be of blood” (Al-Haakim). They will be crying because they wasted their lives without taking provisions from it for the hereafter, and the more they weep the more they feel the craving to cry. What a moment to regret for having their Creator angry with them! They will call, as Allah says, which means, “And they will cry out therein, ‘Our Lord, remove us; We will do righteousness – other than what we were doing! But did we not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the Warner had come to you? So taste (the punishment), for there is not for the wrongdoers any helper.’” (Faatir: 37). And also, “If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord (saying), ‘Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us (to the world); we will work righteousness. Indeed, they are (now) certain” (As-Sajdah: 12). Also, “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.’” (Al-Mu’minoon: 106-107).
They will call unto to the Lord Whom they continued to disobey, transgress His boundaries, and were enemies of His devout slaves; they will be calling unto The Lord whose judgment is just on them, and His wrath and punishment befell them. Allah says which means, “He will say, ‘Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.’” (Al- Mu’minoon: 108).
That day, the one who cries is not sympathised with, and the one who supplicates is never responded to; it is too late to get what they desire. Their sins surround them. They continue to hope for rescue until a sound calls saying, O people of Paradise it is an eternal life which has no death, O people of Hell it is an eternal life which has no death. A Fire which cannot be resisted, and a soul which does not die, Allah says, which means, “Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is hell; he will neither die therein nor live.” (Taa Haa: 74).
They blame each other and belie each other, Allah says which means, “(Allah) will say, ‘enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.’ Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, ‘Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.’ He will say, ‘For each is double, but you do not know.’” (Al-A’raaf: 38). Also, “And (Ibraheem) said, ‘You have only taken other than Allah idols as (a bond of) affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers.’” (Al-‘Ankaboot: 25).
They become furious with those who led them astray and increased their misguidance, Allah says, which means, “And those who disbelieved will (then) say, ‘Our Lord show us those who misled us of the jinn and men (so) we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest.’” (Fussilat: 29).
The one who blinded himself from the remembrance of Allah would say to his intimate companion who hindered him from the Qur’an and made disobedience look appealing. Allah says, which means, “At length, when such a one comes to Us, he says to his evil companion: Would that between me and thee were the distance of East and West! Ah! Evil is the companion indeed!” (Az-Zukhruf: 38).
But this would not benefit them because they will be sharing the punishment, Allah says, which means, “(Allah) will say, ‘enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.’ Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, ‘Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.’ He will say, ‘For each is double, but you do not know.’” (Al-A’raaf: 38).
Slaves of Allah! These are some of the descriptions of the Fire and its people, so ask Allah to protect you from Hell-fire. Ask Allah to keep you away from any words or deeds which would bring you closer to Hell-fire. We live in a time during which evil and trials are successive; trials of doubts and fast busy life, which lead anyone who falls in its trap to turn away from his faith, manners and behaviour. Abu Baarzah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Amongst the things which I fear on you the most are following your desires regarding your provisions and private parts and doubts (regarding the religion)” in another narration he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “and trials” (Ahmad).
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Paradise is surrounded by difficulties and Fire is surrounded by temptations” (Bukhari).
Overcome these difficulties and awaken your hearts from its heedlessness. Keep yourselves away from the sources of temptations and guard yourselves with the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Know that you have time now, yet you are awaiting a sudden death. One who will not benefit from his present life, certainly will not benefit from what will come after. There is no disaster greater than being heedless and having a dead heart. There nothing which will warn you better than the greying of your hair, and no destiny worse than Hell.
Allah says, which means, “and We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And we have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease (i.e. hypocrisy) and the disbelievers will say, ‘What does Allah intend by this as an example?’ Thus does Allah lead astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it (i.e. mention of the fire) is not but a reminder to humanity. No! By the moon, and (by) the night when it departs, and (by) the morning when it brightens, Indeed, it (i.e. the Fire) is of the greatest (afflictions), as a warning to humanity - To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind.” (Al-Muddaththir: 31-37).
Slaves of Allah! Protect yourselves, your wives, your children and those under your responsibility from Hell. Abandoning prayers, imitating the disbelievers, looking at prohibited things via satellite channels, consuming alcohol, and women not adhering to the Islamic dress code of hijaab, are all from the deeds and actions of the people of Hell. Every disobedience to Allah and His Messenger is from the deeds of the people of Hell; so protect yourselves from the Fire, Allah says, which means, “And whoever disobeys Allah and His messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put Him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.” (An-Nisaa’: 14).
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Islam Questions & Answers
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Question Reference Number:: 26792
Title: Hell will never cease to exist and neither will its people
Home > Basic Tenets of Faith > Belief > Belief in the Last Day and the Signs of the Hour > Paradise and Hell >
Question:
Allaah threatens the kaafirs and atheists with Hell, “they will abide therein for ages” [al-Naba’ 78:23]. Will their torment in the Fire continue forever, and if so, doesn’t that contradict Allaah’s justice and mercy? Or will their punishment last for ages the length of which is known to Allaah, and if so, what will their fate be after that, is there any reference to that in the Qur’aan or Sunnah?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
What Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah believe is that Hell will never cease to exist or be extinguished, and no one will be brought forth from it except the sinners among the people of Tawheed. As for the kuffaar and atheists, they will abide therein forever.
Imaam Ibn Hazm said in his book Maraatib al-Ijmaa’: “Hell is real; it is an abode of torment that will never cease to exist, and its people will never cease to exist, they will remain there without end.”
And he said in his book al-Fasl fi’l-Milal wa’l-Ahwa’ wa’l-Nihal: “All the sects of the ummah are agreed that Paradise and its delights will never cease to exist, and that Hell and its torments will never cease to exist, except for al-Jahm ibn Safwaan, Abu’l-Hudhayl al-‘Allaaf and some of the Raafidis. As for Jahm, he said that Paradise and Hell will cease to exist, as will their people. Abu’l-Hudhayl said that Paradise and Hell will not cease to exist, and neither will their people, but their movements will cease and they will remain immobile, never moving, and their people will be alive, being blessed or tormented. And that group of Raafidis said that the people of Paradise will come out of Paradise, and the people of Hell will come out of Hell, to wherever Allaah wants to take them.”
(al-Fasl 4/154, Dar al-Jeel edition)
Al-Tahhaawi said in his ‘Aqeedah: “Paradise and Hell are two created entities that will never cease to exist or come to an end.”
There is a great deal of evidence in the Qur’aan and Sunnah to confirm this belief. For example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
“They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom; and theirs will be a lasting torment”
[al-Maa'idah 5:37]
“(The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein”
[al-Zukhruf 43:75]
“Their reward with their Lord is ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever”
[al-Bayyinah 98:8]
“No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it [Paradise]”
[al-Hijr 15:48]
“And they will never get out of the Fire”
[al-Baqarah 2:167]
“and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle”
[al-A’raaf 7:40]
“Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!”
[Faatir 35:36]
In the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Death will come on the Day of Resurrection like a black and white ram, and it will stand between Paradise and Hell. It will be said, ‘O people of Paradise, do you recognize this?’ They will crane their necks and look, and will say, ‘Yes, it is death.’
It will be said, ‘O people of Hell, do you recognize this?’ They will crane their necks and look, and will say, ‘Yes, it is death.’ Then the command will be issued and it will be slaughtered. Then it will be said, ‘O People of Paradise, it is eternal and there is no death. O people of Hell, it is eternal and there is no death.’” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not”
[Maryam 19:39]
(Narrated by Muslim, 5087, from the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri)
This clear saheeh text leaves no room for doubt concerning this matter, which is that the people of Hell will abide therein forever, and will not die or come out, just as the people of Paradise will abide therein forever.
The commentator of al-Tahhaawiyyah said: “Many reports of the Sunnah indicate that those who said Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah will be brought forth from Hell. The ahaadeeth about intercession clearly indicate that the sinners among the people of Tawheed will be brought forth from Hell and that this applies only to them; if the kuffaar were to be brought forth from it, they would be like the believers, and that contradicts the exclusiveness indicated in the hadeeth.”
(Sharh al-Tahhaawiyyah, p. 430, al-Maktab al-Islami edition).
With regard to the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“They will abide therein for ages [ahqaab].
Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.
Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges”
[al-Naba’ 78:23-25]
what is meant, as al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, is “They will stay in the Fire for as long as those ages last, and these ages will never cease. Every time one age ceases, another will come. Huqub means a lifetime or an age, and (the plural) ahqaab means ages. Hiqbah means a year, the plural of which is hiqab. Huqb means eighty years, or it was said that it means more than that, as we shall see, and the plural is ahqaab. The meaning in this verse is that they will abide therein for the ages of the Hereafter, to which there is no end. The verse does not specifically mention the Hereafter (by saying “the ages of the Hereafter”) because it is clear that the context here is speaking of the Hereafter. It is like saying the days of the Hereafter, days after days, without end. If it was referring to time it would have mentioned a specific length of time, such as five ages or ten ages, etc. The word ahqaab/huqub is used because that was the longest period of time according to the Arabs, so they would understand that. It is a metaphor for eternity, i.e., that they would abide therein forever. And it was said that ages (ahqaab) were mentioned rather than days because ahqaab is more indicative of eternity. These meaning are very similar.
This eternal abiding is for the mushrikeen. The verse may also be interpreted as referring to the sinners who will be brought forth from Hell after these ages have passed.
And it was said that ahqaab refers to the time when they will drink the hameem (boiling water) and ghasaaq (dirty wound discharges). When that comes to an end they will have another kind of punishment. Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
‘They will abide therein for ages [ahqaab].
Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.
Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges’
[al-Naba’ 78:23-25].”
(From Tafseer al-Qurtubi)
With regard to the aayah:
“As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.
They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the Doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills).”
[Hood 11:106-107 – interpretation of the meaning]
Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned in his Tafseer eleven scholarly opinions, all of which indicate that the kuffaar will abide forever in Hell. One of these opinions states that the exception applies only to the sinners among the believers, who will be brought forth from Hell after some time. On this basis, the phrase ‘As for those who are wretched’ is general and applies to both kaafirs and sinners, and the exception refers to the word ‘khaalideena [translated here as dwell therein for all the time]’. In al-Saheeh it is narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Some people will enter Hell, then when they are like ashes, they will be brought forth from it and admitted to Paradise, and it will be said, ‘These are the Jahannamiyyeen (the hellish ones).’”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6896).
Another view is that illa (except) here [ in the phrase translated as They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills] means siwa (apart from), as in the phrase ma ma’i rajulun illa Zayd (there is no man with me apart from Zayd). So the meaning here is: so long as the heavens and the earth endure, apart from (or in addition to) the eternity which Allaah wills they should abide therein.
We have refrained from quoting all the opinions here for the sake of brevity, but the reader may benefit from referring to them.
Hence we may note that the teaching of the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and scholarly consensus (ijmaa’), that Hell and its people will remain forever, is not contradicted by any clear saheeh text of the Book of Allaah or the Sunnah of His Messenger, or by any report from the Sahaabah and Taabi’een.
So this is the answer to your question, “Or will their punishment last for ages the length of which is known to Allaah, and if so, what will their fate be after that, is there any reference to that in the Qur’aan or Sunnah?”
We may add here that in the texts that we have quoted and in others that we have not mentioned, there is evidence to confirm the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah in this matter. The fact that the texts do not say anything about their fate after those ages proves what we have mentioned, that those ages will not come to an end. May Allaah protect us and you from that.
There is nothing in what we have mentioned that contradicts the mercy and justice of Allaah. Rather this is what is implied by His justice and mercy, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism), for them will be the fire of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!
Therein they will cry: ‘Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.’ (Allaah will reply:) ‘Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there is no helper.’”
[Faatir 35:36-37]
“Verily, the Mujrimoon (criminals, sinners, 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 Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers).
And they will cry: ‘O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He will say: ‘Verily, you shall abide forever.’
Indeed We have brought the truth (Muhammad with the Qur’aan) to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth”
[al-Zukhruf 43:74-78]
“Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers)?
What is the matter with you? How judge you?”
[al-Qalam 68:34-35]
“Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah SYMBOL 190 \f "Symbol" Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death? Worst is the judgement that they make.
And Allaah has created the heavens and the earth with truth, in order that each person may be recompensed what he has earned, and they will not be wronged”
[al-Jaathiyah 43:21-22]
“To Him is the return of all of you. The Promise of Allaah is true. It is He Who begins the creation and then will repeat it, that He may reward with justice those who believed and did deeds of righteousness. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of boiling fluids and painful torment because they used to disbelieve”
[Yoonus 10:4]
Whoever ponders these blessed verses will be certain that Allaah is All-Wise, All-Knowing, Most Merciful, and He does not wrong any soul in the slightest. Your Lord is not unjust towards His slaves and
“He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned”
[al-Anbiya’ 21:23 – interpretation of the meaning]
And Allaah knows best.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Descriptions of Hell in Islam
The Creation of Hell-Fire
"Fear the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers."
[Ali'-Imran, 3: 131]
"Truly Hell is lying in wait- a destination for the transgressors."
[an-Naba, 78: 21-22]
(One’s rejection of faith is transgression against Allah and himself).
Abdullah bin Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: “Allah Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘When someone dies, he is shown his destination morning and evening and if he belongs to the people of Paradise, (he will be shown his place) among the people of Paradise, and if he is from the people of Hell, (he will be shown his place) among the people of Hell.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There was a dispute between Hell and Paradise during which Hell said, ‘The haughty and the proud will find abode in me.’ And Paradise said, ‘The meek and the humble will find their abode in me.’ Thereupon, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, (addressing Hell) said, ‘You are the means of My punishment by which I punish those of My servants whom I wish.’ (and addressing Paradise), He said, ‘You are My mercy by means of which I will show mercy to those whom I wish. And each one of you will be full.’”
[Muslim]
The Gates of Hell
“The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds until, when they arrive there, its gates will be opened..”
[az-Zumar, 39: 71]
“And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all. It has seven gates: to each of those gates is a specific class of sinners assigned.”
[al Hijr, 15: 43-44]
“To them will be said, ‘Enter you the gates of Hell to dwell therein. And how evil is this abode of the arrogant.’”
[az Zumar, 39: 72]
“But those who reject Our signs are the companions of the left hand – on them will be fire vaulted over.”
[al Balad, 90: 19-20]
In Arabic, the phrase “on them will be fire vaulted over” indicates that the gates of Hell be closed. In other words, the fire will encompass the companions of the Fire, and the gates of Hell will imprison them within. As well, the gates of Hell will be locked, vaulted all around, and outstretched columns will cover the doors.
“It is the fire of Allah, kindled to a blaze, which mounts right to the hearts. It will be a vault over them in outstretched columns.”
[al Humazah, 104: 6-9]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
‘When the month of Ramadan begins and the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Levels of Hell
“To all are degrees or ranks according to their deeds.”
[an-An'am, 6: 132]
“Is the man who follows the good pleasure of Allah like the one who draws upon himself the wrath of Allah and whose abode is in Hell – an evil refuge? They are varying grades in the sight of Allah, and Allah sees well all that they do.”
[ali'-Imran, 3: 162-163]
“Indeed the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of the Fire; you will find no helper for them.”
[an Nisa, 4: 145]
Capacity and Depth of Hell
On the Day of Judgment the inhabitants of Hell will see their destined abode face to face and will realize the error of their ways. But, of course, it will be too late. The Qur’an states: “No! When the earth is pounded to powder, and your Lord comes with His angels, rank upon rank, and Hell, that Day, is brought [face to face] – on that Day will man remember? But how will that remembrance profit him?”
[al Fajr, 89: 21-23]
“On the Day We will say to Hellfire, ‘have you been filled?’ it will say, ‘Are there some more?’”
[Qaf, 50: 30]
Ibn Mas'ud (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Hell will be brought on that Day. IT will have seventy thousand reins with seventy thousand angels drawing it by each rein.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“And his (the disbeliever’s) seat in Hellfire is as much as (the distance) between Makkah and Madinah.”
[at-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported: “While we were in the company of Allah’s Messenger (SAW), we heard a terrible sound. Thereupon, Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Do you know what that sound is?’ When we answered, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said. “That is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years ago and has been constantly falling until now when it finally reached the bottom.’”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Hell and Paradise fell into a dispute during which Hell said, ‘I have been distinguished by the proud and the haughty.’ And Paradise said, ‘What is the matter with me that only the meek and the humble and the downtrodden and the simple enter me?’
Thereupon, Allah said to Paradise, ‘You are the means of My mercy whereby I show mercy to those of My servants whom I wish.’ Then HE said to Hell, ‘You are the means of punishment whereby I punish those of My servants whom I wish. Both of you will be full.’ Hell will not be filled up until Allah puts His foot over it. Then Hell will say, ‘Enough, enough, enough,’ at which point it will be filled up, all of its parts integrated together.”
[Muslim]
Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Hell will continue to ask, ‘Is there anything more?’ until Allah, the Exalted, and High will place His foot thereon, Then it will say, ‘Enough, enough, by Your honor,’ and some of its parts will draw close together.’”
[Muslim]
The Fuel of Hell-Fire
People:
“Those who has disbelieved – their wealth and their children will never benefit them anything with Allah. And those are the ones who are the fuel of Hellfire.”
[ali'-Imran, 3: 10]
Jinn:
“And there are among us Muslims (in submission to Allah) and others who deviate from justice. And whoever accepts Islam has sought out the right path. As for those who deviate, they will be firewood for the Hellfire.”
[al-Jinn, 72: 14-15]
Stones:
“But if you cannot – and of a surety you cannot – then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, which is prepared for those who reject faith.”
[al Baqarah, 2: 24]
“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 do not disobey Allah in what He orders them and who do precisely what they are commanded.”
[al-Tahreem, 66: 6]
False Gods
“Verily, you (unbelievers) and what you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hellfire, You will surely come to it. If those had (truly) been gods, they would not have come to it. But all will abide therein eternally.”
[al-Anbiya, 21: 98-99]
“And the Fierce Fire will be brought out before those straying in evil, and it will be said to them, ‘Where are those you worshipped besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?’ Then they will be thrown into it (the Hellfire) on their faces – they and those straying in evil and the soldiers of Iblees, all together.”
[ash Shu'ara, 26: 91-95]
The Intensity of its Fire
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: “When Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘Your ordinary fire is one of the 70 potions of the Hellfire,’ someone commented, ‘O Messenger of Allah, would it (ordinary fire) not be sufficient (to burn the wrongdoers)?’ At that, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, ‘The Hellfire has 69 more portions than ordinary (worldly) fire, and all of them are as hot as this (worldly fire).’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
“Verily, Allah has cursed the disbelievers and prepared for them a Blazing Fire. Dwelling therein forever, and they will find no protector or helper.”
[al-Ahzab, 33: 64-65]
“But he who is given his record behind his back will soon cry for destruction, and he will enter a blazing Fire.”
[al Inshiqaq, 84: 10-12]
“No, they deny the Hour (of the judgment to come), but We have prepared a blazing fire for such as deny the Hour. When it sees them from a far off place, they will hear its fury and its raging sigh. And when they are cast, bound, in chains, into constricted place therein, they will plead therein for destruction. Do not plead today for a single destruction; plead for destruction oft-repeated.”
[al-Furqan, 25: 11-14]
“The companions of the left hand – what are the companions of the left hand? (They will be) in the midst of a fierce blast (of fire) and in boiling water.”
[al Waqi'ah, 56: 41-42]
“But, he whose scales are light his home will be a pit. And what will make you understand what that is? (It is ) a fire, blazing fiercely.”
[al Qari’ah, 101: 8-11]
“Soon will I cast him into Saqar (the Hellfire). And what will explain to you what Saqar is? It permits nothing to endure, and it leaves nothing alone, darkening and changing the color of man.”
[al Muddaththir, 74: 26-29]
“Their abode will be Hell. Every time it abates. We will increase for them the blaze (the fierceness) of the fire.”
[al Isra, 17: 97]
“Those are the ones, who have exchanged the Hereafter for the gains of this worldly life. The punishment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be aided.”
[al Baqarah, 2: 86]
“So taste, (the result of your deeds), for We will not increase you except in punishment.”
[an Naba, 78: 30]
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The most favored man among the dwellers of the Earth will be brought from among the people of the Fire on the Day of Resurrection. He will be dyed in the Fire but once, and then it will be said to him, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen good at all? Has any pleasure ever come to you?’ He will say, ‘No, by Allah, O Lord.’ Then the most miserable people in the world will be brought from the people of Paradise and will be dyed with the dye of Paradise. It will be said to him, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen any misery, and has any hardship ever come to you? ‘ He will say, ‘No, by Allah, O my Lord. No misery ever came to me, nor did I see any hardship.’”
[Muslim]
The Shade of Hell
“The companions of the left hand – what are the companions of the left hand? (They will be) in the midst of a fierce blast (of fire) and in boiling water and in the shades of black smoke – nothing cool and nothing beneficial.”
[Waqi’ah, 56: 41-44]
“And woe that Day to the deniers (of truth). ([It will be said], ‘Depart to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns, [which yields] no shade of coolness and is of no use against the fierce blaze.’”
[Mursalat, 77: 28-31]
The Sparks of it's Fire
Indeed, it throws about sparks [as huge] as a palace, as if they were yellow camels.”
[al-Mursalat, 77: 32-33]
The Names of Hell-Fire
Jahannam:
“Truly Jahannam (the Hellfire) is lying in wait.”
[an-Naba, 78: 21]
Latha:
“By no means! For it is Latha (the fire of Hell) burning away right to the skull.”
[Ma’arij, 70: 15-16]
Al-Hutamah: (Crusher which Smashes or Breaks to Pieces):
“By no means! He will certainly be thrown into al-Hutamah. And what will make you understand what al-Hutamah is? It is the fire of Allah, kindled to a blaze, which mounts right to the hearts.”
[al Humazah, 104: 4-7]
Sa’eer (the Burning Fire):
“…a group in Paradise and a group in Sa’eer.”
[ash-Shura, 42: 7]
Saqar:
“Soon will I cast him into Saqar. And what will explain to you what Saqar is? It permits nothing to endure and it leaves nothing alone, darkening and changing the color of man.”
[al Muddaththir, 74: 26-29]
Al-Jaheem (The Fierce Fire):
“And al-Jaheem will be brought out before those straying in evil.”
[ash-Shu’ara, 26: 91]
Al-Hawiyah (The Pit)
“But he whose scales are light – his home will be a pit. And what will make you understand what that is? (It is) a fire, blazing fiercely.”
[al Qar’iah, 101: 8-11]
The Keepers of Hell
“Those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Pray to your Lord to lighten for us the penalty for a day (at least).’ They will say, ‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear signs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They will reply, ‘Then pray as you like. But the prayer of those without faith is not but in error.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 49-50]
“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, and who do not disobey Allah in what He orders them and who do precisely what they are commanded.”
[at-Tahreem, 66: 6]
“Over it are nineteen. And We have not made the guardians of the Fire except angels. And We have made their number only as a trial for the unbelievers – in order that the People of the Book may be certain and that the believers may increase in faith, and so that the People of the Book and the believers would not doubt, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the unbelievers would say, ‘What example does Allah intend by this?’ Thus does Allah leave to stray whom he pleases and guides whom He pleases. And none can know the soldiers of your Lord except He. And this is nothing other than a warning to mankind.”
[Muddaththir, 74: 30-31]
“They will cry out, ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us.’ He will say, “Surely, you will stay (as you are).’”
[adh-Dhukhrub, 43: 77]
Samurah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Last night I saw [in a dream] two men coming to me. One of them said, ‘The one who lights the fire is Malik, the gatekeeper of Hell; I am Jibreel, and this is Mika’eel.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) related: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘On the night of my ascent to Heaven. I saw Musa (who was a tall, brown, curly-haired man) as if he was one of the men of the Shan’awah tribe. Then I saw ‘Isa, a man of medium height, of moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors, and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gatekeeper of the Hellfire.’”
[Muslim]
The Effects upon the Present World
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The Hellfire complained to its Lord, saying, ‘O my Lord, my different parts eat each other up.’ So Allah allowed it to take two breaths – one in the winter and the other in the summer. This is [the cause pf] the severe heat and the bitter cold you experience.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Ibn Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Fever is from the breath of the Hellfire; so cool it with water.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Abu Dharr (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: “While the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was on a journey, he said [regarding the performance of the thuhr prayer], ‘Wait until it gets cooler.’ He said the same thing again until the shade of the hillocks extended, and then he said, ‘Delay the [thuhr] prayer until it gets cooler, for the severity of heat is from the breath of Hell.’” (thuhr period is just before 'Asr)
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
The Great number of inhabitants
“And most of the people are not believers even though you take great care in this respect.”
[Yusuf, 12: 103]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘The first man to be called on the Day of Resurrection will be Adam, who will be shown his descendants. And it will be said to them, “This is your father, Adam.” Adam will say, [responding to the call], “Labbayk wa sa’dayk.” Then Allah will say [to Adam], “Bring forth from your descendants the delegations of the Fire.” He will say, “O Lord, how many should I bring?” Allah will answer, “From every hundred, ninety-nine.’”
The companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if ninety-nine out of every one hundred of us are brought forth , then what will remain of us?’ The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) stated, ‘My nation among other nations is like a white hair on a black bull.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
The Size of its inhabitants
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The molar tooth of an unbeliever or the canine tooth of an unbeliever will be like [Mount] Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will be like a three night’s journey.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The distance between the two shoulders of the non-believer in Hell will be like a three day’s journey for a swift rider.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Indeed, the thickness of the disbeliever’s skin will be the length of forty-two forearms of those of giants, his molar tooth like [Mount] Uhud, and his seat in Hellfire [the distance] between Makkah and Madinah.”
[at-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim]
Some of its inhabitants
Imran bin Husayn (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I looked into Paradise and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were the poor, and I looked into Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Usamah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) stated:
“I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of the people who entered it were the poor, while those of means were held [for account], except the companions of the Fire, who were already ordered to [be taken to] the Fire. And I stood at the gate of the Fire and [saw that] the majority of those who entered it were women.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) stated: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘I looked into the Hellfire, and the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful.’ It was asked, ‘Did they disbelieve in (i.e. were ungrateful to ] Allah?’ He replied, ‘They were ungrateful to their husbands and were ungrateful for favors and the good deeds done for them. If you had always been good to one of them and then she saw something in you not to her liking, she would say, ‘I have never seen any good from you at all.”’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Pharaoh:
“And We sent Musa with Our clear [signs] and an authority manifest unto Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they followed the command of Pharaoh. And the command of Pharaoh was no right guide. He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment and lead them into the Fire. And how evil will be the place to which they are led. And they are followed by a curse in this [life] and on the Day of Judgment. And evil is the gift which will be given [to them].”
[Hud, 11: 96-99]
“The Fire – they will be exposed to it morning and evening, and on the Day that judgment will be established [it will be said], ‘Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 46]
The Wives of Nuh and Lut:
“Allah has given an example of those who disbelieve: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them; so they [the two prophets] did not benefit them [the wives] before Allah at all, and they were told, ‘Enter the Fire with those who enter.’”
[at-Tahreem, 66: 10]
Abu Lahab and His Wife:
“May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth will not avail him nor that which he gained. He will enter a flaming fire and his wife [as well] – the carrier of firewood – around her neck a rope of palm fiber.”
[Masad, 111: 1-5]
Amr bin Luhayy:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw ‘Amr bin Luhayy bin Qam’a bin Khindif, brother of Bani Ka’b, dragging his intestines in the Fire.”
[Muslim]
Amr bin Amir al-Khuya'i:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) stated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw 'Amr bin 'Amir al-Khuya'i dragging his intestines in the Fire; he was the first who dedicated to animals to false deities.”
[Muslim]
Abu Talib:
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be Abu Talib; he will be wearing a pair of shoes which will cause his brain to boil.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
“He will say, ‘Enter into the company of communities who passed away before you – of jinn and men – into the Fire.’”
[al-A'raf, 7: 38]
“If your Lord had so willed, He could have make mankind one people, but they will not cease to dispute except those on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy. And the word of your Lord will be fulfilled: ‘Certainly I will fill Hell with jinn and men all together.’”
[Hud, 11: 118-119]
“Then they will be thrown into it [the Hellfire] on their faces – they and those straying in evil and the soldiers of Iblees, all together.”
[ash-Shu'ara, 26: 94-95]
Categories of its inhabitants
Disbelievers:
“But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein.”
[Sahih al-Baqarah, 2: 39]
“Those who have disbelieved and died while they are disbelievers will have the curse of Allah upon them and the [curse of the ] angels and all of mankind. [they will abide] eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will the punishment be postponed.”
[Sahih al-Baqarah, 2: 161-162]
Hypocrites:
“Indeed the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire; you will find no helper for them.”
[an-Nisa, 4: 145]
“The hypocrites are afraid that a surah be sent down about them, showing them what is [really] in their hearts. Say, ‘Ridicule you! But verily, Allah will expose all that you fear.’ If you question them, they declare, ‘We were only talking idly and playing.’ Say, ‘Is it Allah and His signs and His messengers that you were mocking?’ Make no excuses that you were rejected faith after having accepted it. IF We pardon some of you, We will punish others because they were criminals. The hypocrites – men and women are of one another. They enjoin evil and forbid what is just and close their hands [in stinginess]. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Verily, the hypocrites are rebellious and perverse. Allah has promised the hypocrites men and women and the rejecters of faith the fire of Hell; they will dwell therein. It is sufficient for them. And Allah will curse them, and they will have an enduring punishment.”
[at-Tawbah, 9: 64-68]
Polytheists (Those who Associate Something with Allah):
“Those who reject [truth] among the People of the Book and the polytheists were not going to depart [from their ways] until there comes to them clear evidence – a messenger from Allah, rehearsing pure scriptures, wherein are upright laws [or decrees]. Nor did those who had been given the scripture make schisms until after there had come to them clear evidence. And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, sincere in religion to Him, to establish regular prayer, and to pay zakah. And that is the upright religion. Those who reject [truth] among the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, dwelling therein forever. They are the worst of creatures.”
[al-Bayyinah, 98: 1-6]
People of the Book (Who Reject Islam):
“Those reject [truth] among the People of the Book are the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, dwelling there therein forever. They are the worst of creatures.”
[al-Bayyinah, 98: 6]
Arrogant Rejecters of the Truth:
“But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance – they are the companions of the Fire, dwelling therein forever.”
[al-A'raf, 7: 36]
Sinners and Criminals:
“Indeed the criminals will be in the punishment of Hell, dwelling therein forever. It will not be lightened for them, and they will be overwhelmed there in despair. And We have not wronged them, but it is they who have wronged [themselves].”
[az-Zukhruf, 43: 74-76]
The Unjust:
“Then it will be said to those who were unjust, ‘Taste the eternal punishment. Are you recompensed except for what you used to earn?’”
[Yunus, 10: 52]
Transgressors:
“But when there comes the Greatest Event – the Day when man will remember what he strove for and the Hellfire will be brought forth for [all] to see – then for him who had transgressed and preferred the life of this world, indeed Hellfire will be his shelter.”
[an-Nazi'at, 79: 34-39]
Concealers of Allah’s Revelations:
“Those who conceal what We have sent down of proofs and guidance after We have made it clear to the people in the scripture- those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who [are entitled to] curse.”
[Surah al Baqarah, 2: 159]
("those who curse" refers to the angels and believers.)
Tyrants:
“But they asked victory, and disappointment is the lot of every obstinate tyrant. In front of him is Hell, and he is given pus to drink. He will gulp it but will hardly be able t oswallow it, and death will come to him from every place, yet he will not die. And in front of him will be a heavy punishment.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 15-17]
“[It will be said to the two angels], ‘Throw into Hellfire every obstinate rejecter [of Allah] – who prevented good, transgressed, and doubted, who set up another god besides Allah – throw him into the severe punishment.’”
[Qaf, 50: 24-26]
Murderers:
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally – his recompense is Hell to abide therein forever, and the warth and the curse of Alllah is upon him, and He has prepared for him a great punishment.”
[an-Nisa, 4: 93]
Persecutors of Believers:
”Those who presect [or draw into temptations] the believers – men and women – and then do not turn in repentance will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.”
[al-Buruj, 85: 10]
Those who Prefer this world and Neglect the Hereafter:
“Whoever wishes for the immediate – We hasten to grant him such things as We will to whom We will. Then We have mark for them hallmark they will burn therein, disgraced and rejected.”
[al-Isra', 17: 18]
Those who Commit Suicide:
Abu Huraiarh (radiAllahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
‘He who kills himself with a steel [weapon] will be eternal inhabitant of Hell, and he will have that [weapon] in his hand and will be thrusting it into his stomach forever and ever; he who kills himself by drinking poison will sip in the fire of Hell, forever and forever. He will kills himself by throwing himself from a the top of a mountain and will constantly fall in the fire of Hell forever and ever.”
[Muslim]
Other Inhabitants:
Harithah bin Wahb narrated (radiAllahu anhu) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) say:
“Shall I not inform you who the people of Paradise are? [They are comprised of] every person who is weak and taken advantage of, but if he swore that Allah would do something, He (suhanahu wa ta’ala) would comply. And shall I not inform you who the people of Hell are? [They are comprised of ] every one who is cruel, proud and arrogant.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It is narrated: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘The inhabitants of Hell are five: 1) the weak who lack self-restraint, who follow blindly and do not care for family or property (i.e. they care neither for the benefits of the Hereafter nor of this world); 2) the treacherous who does not show himself but his greed is such that he is deceitful even in small things; 3) a person who would betray you morning and evening regarding your family and your property.’ He also made mention of 4) the miser of the liar and 5) one who is in the habit of abusing people and using obscene and foul language.”
[Muslim]
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Paradise and Hell fell into a dispute for, accommodating the haughty and proud, and Paradise said, ‘What is the matter with me that only the meek and the humble and the downtrodden and simple will find abode in me?’ Thereupon, Allah said to Paradise, ‘You are a means of My mercy. I will show mercy through you to whom I will from among My servants.’ Then He said to Hell, ‘You are a sign of My chastisement, and I will chastise through you whom I will from among My servants. Both of you will be full.’ And as regards to Hell, it will not be full until Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, places His foot over it. Then Hell will say, ‘Enough, enough, enough!’ at which point it will be full and will be compressed. Allah will not treat unjustly anyone among His creation. As for Paradise, He will create another creation to fill it.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There are two types of inhabitants of Hell whom I have not seen in my lifetime: People who have whips like the tails of oxen with them and will be beating people, and women who will be dressed yet undressed, who will be inclined to evil and will make others incline towards it. Their heads will appear like the humps of Persian camels inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise, nor will they even smell its odor, although will be smelled from long distances away.”
[Muslim]
(When the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) saw Hell, many different kinds of people were there; however, there were two types whom he did not recognize because they did not exist at the time when he was alive, (seventh century). These two types of people are the following:
1) those carrying whips who were beating others (oppressors)
2) women wearing revealing outfits much like the fashionable clothing of today. These women have unusual hairstyles, perhaps like the ones worn by modern-day women. Through this hadith the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) predicted the nature of women’s clothing in the future- he foretold that clothing considered fashionable would reveal much of the body – and he also predicted the nature of the hairstyles and wigs of modern times worn by those women who will be among the inhabitants of Hell).
The Food of Hell
"No food will there be for them except bitter dhari (a thorny plant), which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger."
[Surah al-Ghashiyah, 88: 6-7]
“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.”
[ad-Dukhan, 44: 43-46]
“Is that (Paradise) the better hospitality or the tree of Zaqqum? For We have truly made it as a torment for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottoms of Hellfire; the shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils. Truly they will eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture of boiling water.”
[as-Saffat, 37: 62-67).
“Then will you truly –O you who have gone astray an denied – you will surely eat of the trees of Zaqqum. Then will you fill your stomachs with it and drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink like diseased camels, raging with thirst. Such will be their hospitality on the Day of Requital.”
[al-Qaqi’ah, 56: 51-56]
“With Us are yokes (to bind them) and fire (to burn them) and food that chokes and a grievous punishment.”
[al-Muzzammil, 73: 12-13]
“So he has no friend here this Day, nor does he have any food except what comes from the washing of wounds, which none will eat except the sinners.”
[al Haqqah, 69: 35-37]
“Thus, All this. But indeed for the oppressors will be an evil place of final return. It is Hellfire – they will burn therein, and how evil is that bed, Thus, then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 55-58]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited the following verse: ‘Fear Allah with the fear due to Him, and do not die except as Muslims.’ Then he said, ‘If a drop of Zaqqum would have fallen into a house in this world, it would have spoiled all the provisions of the people of this world. Then how will it be with one whose food it has become?’”
[at-Tirmidhi, Surah ali'-Imran, 3: 102]
“Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans are only eating fire into their bellies. They will soon be driven into a blazing fire.”
[an-Nisa, 4: 10]
“Truly, those who conceal what Allah has revealed from the scripture and exchange it for a small price – they are not taking into their stomachs except fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Judgment, and He will not purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.”
[al-Baqarah, 2: 174]
The Drinks of Hell
Hameem (Boiling Water):
“Here is a parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised. In it are rivers of water, incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, delicious to those who drink; and rivers of honey, pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord [Can those in such bliss] be compared to such as will dwell forever in the Fire and be given boiling water to drink that will cut up their bowels?”
[Muhammad, 47: 15]
“This is the Hell which the criminals deny. They will go back and forth between it and boiling hot water.”
[ar-Rahman, 55: 43-44]
“Thus. Then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 57-58]
“Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming Event? Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated, laboring hard, weary. They will be driven into a blazing fire. They will be given drink from a boiling spring.”
[al-Ghashiyah, 88: 1-5]
“To Him will be your return all of you. The promise of Allah is true. It is He who begins the process of creation and repeats it that HE may reward those who believe and work righteousness with justice. But those who reject Him will have a drink of boiling fluids and a painful punishment because of their rejection.”
[Yunus, 10: 4]
“Then will you truly – O you who have gone astray and denied – you will surely eat of the trees of Zaqqum. Then will you fill your stomachs with it and drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink like diseased camels raging with thirst. Such will be their hospitality on the Day of Requital.”
[al Waqi’ah, 56: 51-56]
“Truly they will eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture of boiling water. Then their return will be to Hellfire.”
[as Saffat, 37: 66-68]
Ghassaq (a Fluid of pus & blood which has oozed from their skins) “Thus, then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 57-58]
“In front of him is Hell, and he is given pus to drink. He will gulp it but will hardly be able to swallow it, and death will come to him from every place, yet, he will not die. And in front of him will be a heavy punishment.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 16-17]
Water Like Molten Brass:
“Say, The Truth is from your Lord, so let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject it.’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls surround them. If they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink. How evil the resting place.”
[al Kahf, 18: 29]
The Garments of Hell
Garments from Fire:
“These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord. But those who disbelieve will have garments of fire cut out for them. Over their heads will be poured boiling water.”
[al Hajj, 22: 19]
Garments from Black Pitch:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes- their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with fire.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 49-50]
Beds and Bedcovers of Hell
“They will have from Hellfire a bed and over them from it coverings. Thus do We reward the unjust.”
[al-Araf, 7: 41]
“It may be that your Lord may show mercy unto you, but if you revert to your sins. We will revert to Our punishments. And We have made Hell a mat for the disbelievers.”
[al Isra', 17: 8]
Yokes, Chains and Maces
“Do you not see those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah – how they are turned away from truth? Those who reject the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – soon they will know. When the yokes will be round their necks and the chains. They will be dragged in the boiling water. Then in the Fire they will be burned.”
[Ghafir, 40: 69-72]
“They will conceal their regret when they see the penalty. And We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?”
[Saba, 34: 33]
“For the disbelievers We have prepared chains, yokes and a blazing fire.”
[al Insan, 76: 4]
“With Us are yokes to bind them and fire to burn them.”
[al Muzzammil, 73: 12]
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 49]
“It will be commanded, ‘Seize him and bind him. Then drive him into the Hellfire. Then in a chain whose length is seventy cubits bind him.’ For indeed, he would not believe in Allah, Most Great, and would not encourage the feeding of the poor. So he has no friend here this Day.”
[al Haqqah, 69: 30-35]
“And for them are maces of iron to punish them. Every time they wish to get out from it and from anguish, they will be returned to it, and it will be said, ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!’”
[al Hajj, 22: 21-22]
Variance in Degree of Penalties
“Indeed the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of the Fire; you will find no helper for them.”
[an Nisa, 4: 145]
“The Fire – they will be exposed to it morning and evening, and on the Day, that judgment will be established [it will be said], ‘Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 46]
“Those who disbelieved and hindered [mankind] from the path of Allah – We will increase them in punishment over [their] punishment, for they used to spread corruption.”
[an Nahl, 16: 88]
Samurah bin Jundub (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There will be some to whose ankles the fire will reach, some to whose knees the fire will reach, some to whose waists the fire will reach, and some to whose collarbones the fire will reach.”
[Muslim]
Nu’man bin Basheer (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Verily, of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be one who will have a pair of sandals and s traps of fire. His brain will boil from them as a kettle boils. He does not see that anyone is suffering a punishment more severe than him, while he is the one with the easiest punishment.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be Abu Talib; he will be wearing a pair of shoes which will cause his brain to boil.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Examples of Punishments
“No, but stain has covered their hearts from that which they have earned. Verily, they will be concealed [and prevented] from their Lord that Day. Then they will enter Hellfire. Then it will be said to them, ‘This is [the reality] which you used to deny.’”
[al Mutaffifeen, 83: 14-17]
Skins Will be Roasted:
“Those who have disbelieved in Our signs – We will burn them in fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We will exchange them for other skins so that they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”
[Surah an-Nisa, 4: 56]
Skins and Intestines will be Scalded:
“These two opponents dispute [with each other] about their Lord. But those who disbelieve will have garments of fire cut out for them. Over their heads will be poured boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bellies as well as [their] skins.”
[al-Hajj, 22: 19-20]
Faces will be Burned:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes – their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with fire.”
[Surah Ibrahim, 14: 49-50]
“But those who scales [of good] are light, those are the ones who have lost their souls; [they will abide] in Hell eternally. The fire will burn, their faces, and they will [appear to] grin therein, their lips displaced.”
[al Mu’minun, 23: 103-104]
“If only the unbelievers knew [about] when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and [that] they will not be helped. No, but it will come to them suddenly and confound them. And they will not be able to avert it, nor will they be given respite.”
[al Anbiya, 21: 39-40]
“The Day that their faces will be turned from side to side in the fire, they will say, ‘We wish that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.’”
[al-Ahzab, 33: 66]
“Is, then, one who will confront with his face the evil of the punishment on the Day of Judgment [like one protected from it]? It will be said to the wrong-doers, ‘Taste what you used to earn.’”
[az-Zumar, 39: 24]
Sinners will be Dragged:
“Truly, the criminals are in error and madness. The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, [they will hear], ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’”
[al Qamar, 54: 47-48]
“Do you not see those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah – how they are turned away [from truth]? Those who reject the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – soon they will know. When the yokes [will be] round their necks and the chains. They will be dragged in the boiling water. Then in the Fire they will be burned.”
[Surah Ghafir, 40: 69-72]
Faces will Be Darkened:
“Do not be like those who are divided among themselves and fall into disputes after receiving clear proofs, for those will have a great punishment on the Day when some faces will be white and some faces will be black. As for those who faces are black, [it will be said], ‘Did you reject faith after accepting it? Taste, then, the punishment for what you used to reject.’”
[ali'-Imran, 3: 105-106]
“For those who do good is good – and extra! No darkness or shame will cover their faces. They are companions of the Garden. They will abide in it forever. But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil; humiliation will cover their faces. They will have no defender from [the wrath of] Allah. Their faces will be covered with pieces of the darkness of night. They are the companions of the Fire. They will abide in it forever.”
[Yunus, 10: 26-27]
Fire will Surround Them from All Directions:
“On the Day that the punishment will cover them from above them and below them, layers. With this Allah warns His servants, ‘O my servants, then fear Me!’”
[az-Zumar, 39: 16]
“Say, ‘The Truth is from your Lord, so let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject [it].’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls surround them. If they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink. How evil the resting place.”
[al Kahf, 18: 29]
Fire will Mount Right up to the Hearts:
“[It is] the fire of Allah kindled [to a blaze], which mounts right to the hearts. It will be a vault over them in outstretched columns.”
[al Humazah, 104: 6-9]
Intestines will come out of Bellies:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) stated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw ‘Amr bin ‘Amir al Khuya’I dragging his intestines in the Fire; he was the first who dedicated animals to false deities.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw ‘Amr bin Luhayy bin Qam’a bin Khindif, brother of Bani Ka’b, dragging his intestines in the Fire.”
[Muslim]
Abu Zayd Usamah bin Zayd bin Harithah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“On the Day of Judgment a man will be brought and thrown into Hell. As a result of this, his intestines will come out of his belly, and he will circumambulate, holding his intestines like a donkey running a mill. His companions in Hell will say to him, ‘O so and so, what is this? Did you not ask people to do good and avoid evil?’ He will say, ‘That is true. However, I told others to do good but did not do it myself, and I forbade them to do evil, but did it myself.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
No Defense:
“Upon you, [O jinn and mankind], will be sent a flame of fire [to burn] and [molten] brass. You will have no defense!”
[ar-Rahman, 55: 35]
Weeping, Sighing and Sobbing of Its Inhabitants:
“Those who are wretched will be in the Fire. In it there will be for them the sound of exhaling and inhaling. They will dwell in it for all the time that the heavens and earth endure, except for what your Lord wills. For your Lord is the sure accomplisher of what He intends.”
[Hud, 11: 106-107]
“Verily, you [unbelievers] and what you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hellfire. You will surely come to it. If those had [truly] been gods, they would not have come to it. But all will abide therein eternally. There, for them will be heaving, deep signs, and they will not hear there [anything else].”
[al Anbiya, 21: 98-100]
“Therein they will cry out [for assistance], ‘Our Lord, remove us [and ] we will work righteousness – other than what we used to do.’ But did We not give you long enough life that whoever would be reminded therein could be reminded, and the warner had come to you? So taste [the result of your deeds]. There is no helper for the wrongdoers.”
[Fatir, 35: 37]
Regret, Grief and Self-Recrimination:
“They will conceal their regret when they see the penalty. And We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?”
[Saba, 34: 33]
“For those who reject their Lord is the penalty of Hell, and evil is such a destination. When they are cast therein, they will hear the terrible drawing in of its breath even as it blazes forth. It is almost bursting with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask, ‘Did no warner come to you?’ They will say, ‘Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has revealed nothing. You are but in great delusion.’ And they will say, ‘Had we listened or used our intelligence, we would not now be among the companions of the Blazing Fire.’ So they will confess their sin, but far will be forgiveness from the companions of the Blazing Fire.”
[al Mulk, 67: 6-11]
“If only you could see when the criminals hang their heads before their Lord, [saying], ‘Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so sent us back [to the world]; we will work righteousness, for we are indeed certain [now].’ If We had willed, We could certainly have brought every soul its guidance, but the Word will be realized: ‘I will fill Hell with jinn and men all together. Taste, then- for you forgot the meeting of this, your Day, We, [too], will forget you. And the taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do.’”
[as Sajdah, 32: 12-14]
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from this; if ever we return [to evil], then we will indeed be wrongdoers.’ He will say, ‘Remain humiliated therein, and do not speak to Me!’”
[al Mu'minun, 23: 106-108]
“For We had certainly sent unto them a Book which We had detailed with knowledge, a guide and a mercy to a people who believe. Are they waiting for it to be realized? On the Day it is realized, those who disregarded it before will say, ‘Indeed, the messengers of our Lord came with the truth. Are there no intercessors [now] to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back to do other than we used to do?’ They will have lost their souls, and lost from them is [all] that which they used to invent.”
[al-A’raf, 7: 52-53]
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, you have made us lifeless twice and You have given us life twice. Now we have confessed our sins, so is there any way to get out?’ [The answer will be], ‘That is because when Allah was invoked alone you rejected [this], but if partners were associated with Him, you believed. The ruling [judgment] is with Allah, the Exalted, Most Great.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 11-12]
“How clearly they will see and hear the Day that they will come to Us. But the unjust today are in manifest error. But warn them of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be determined; yet, they are unmindful, and they do not believe.”
[Maryam, 19: 38-39]
Abu Sa’eed (radiAllahu anhu) reported: “Allah Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘Death will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a white-colored ram. [Abu Kurayb added: “Then it will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell.”] It will be said to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Do you recognize this?” They will stretch forth their necks and look towards it, saying, ‘Yes, it is death.” Then it will be said to the inhabitants of the Hellfire, ‘Do you recognize this?” And they will stretch forth their necks, look, and say, ‘Yes it is death.” Then the command will be given for slaughtering the ram, and it will be said, ‘O inhabitants of Paradise, [there is now] eternity and no death.” And then it will be said to the inhabitants of Hellfire, “O inhabitants of Hell, [there is now] eternity and no death.”’ Allah’s Messenger (SAW) then recited the following verse, pointing with his hand to this material world: ‘But warn them of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be determined; yet, they are unmindful, and they do not believe.’”
[Muslim, surah Maryam, 19: 39]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) related that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“None will enter Paradise except that he will be shown the place that he would have occupied in Hellfire if he had been evil – so that he will be more thankful; each one of those who enter Hellfire will be shown the place that he would have occupied in Paradise if he had been good – so that he will increase in regret.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
We hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord! To You is the journey's end.
[surah Baqarah, 2: 285]
Ameen.
