'Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar
Based on the Book by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar
Bi'idhnillaah a very important series begins on the list today, concerned with
the subject of al-Jannah and an-Naar - the Paradise and the Hell-Fire. One of these two will be the end destination, moreover
the eternal abode, for each and every one of us. Therefore it is crucial for us to reflect on what Allaah has prepared for
mankind - for those who are obedient and recognise His favours, and for those who reject His sins and rebel against Him.
It is my intention with these posts, after seeking the pleasure of Allaah azza
wa jall, to touch the hearts of each and every one of you, as the book, on which this series is based - "The Final Day: Paradise
and Hell" by Dr. 'Umar Suleiman al-Ashqar, Professor at the College of Shariah, University of Jordan - touched mine. To fill
your hearts with fear of Allaah's punishment as reading it did mine; To fill your hearts as mine was filled with Love for
Allaah subhaanahu wa ta'ala and an incredible yearning for the beauty and bliss of al-Jinaan, the Gardens; and insha'Allaah
to put this dunyaa in perspective and thus to inspire us to devote our lives to the cause of Allaah and His Deen, to work
to save our heels from even feeling the heat of the Hell-fire.
So I ask Allaah, for the sake of our own souls, that we read each word carefully,
and deeply reflect upon the Aayaat of Allaah and the sayings of His Messenger, so that insha'Allaah we will live our lives,
as if we could see the Fire on one side of us, and the Garden on the other.
Surely, as the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi was-sallam said, there is no life but
the life of al-aakhirah.
Definition and Explanation
Hell is the abode which Allaah (swt) has prepared for those who do
not believe in Him (swt), those who rebel against His (swt) laws and disbelieve in His Messengers. It is the punishment for
His (swt) enemies, the prison for evildoers.
It is the ultimate humiliation and loss; there is nothing worse:
"Our Lord! Verily, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed, You have disgraced
him, and never will the Dhaalimoon [polytheists and wrongdoers] find any helpers" (3:192)
"Know they not that whoever opposes and shows hostility to Allaah and His
Messenger, certainly for him will be the fire of Hell to abide therein? That is extreme disgrace". (9:63)
"The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day
of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!" (39:15)
How could Hell be other than we have described, when it is full of utterly
indescribable torment, pain and grief? It is eternal and its inhabitants will remain there forever. Allaah (swt) has condemned
them and their place in the Fire:
"Evil indeed it [Hell] is as an abode and as a place to dwell" (25:66) "This is so! And for the Tagheen
[transgressors] - will be an evil final return - Hell! Where they will burn, and worst [indeed] is that place to rest!" (38:55-6)
Paradise and Hell Have Already Been Created
at-Tahhaawi said, in his book on al-'Aqeedah al-Salafiyyah (correct belief in
accordance with that of the early generations of Islaam) that is known as al-'Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah.
"Paradise and Hell have already been created. They will never come to an end or
cease to exist. Allaah (swt) created Paradise and Hell before the rest of creation, and He (swt) created inhabitants for each
of them. Whoever He (swt) wishes (will enter) Paradise by His grace and mercy, and whoever He (swt) wishes (will enter Hell)
as a result of His (swt) justice. Every person will behave according to that for which he was created, and his destiny will
be that for which he was created; good deeds and evil deeds are foreordained for all men".
Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abul-'Izz al-Hanafi remarked, in his commentary
on this text:
"With regard to his saying that Paradise and Hell have already been created, Ahl
as-Sunnah agree that Paradise and Hell have been created and are in existence at the present moment. Ahlus-Sunnah continued
to hold this view, until some odd ideas of the Mu'tazilah and Qaadariyyah came along, which denied that. These groups said:
"Allaah will create them (ie Paradise and Hell) on the Day of Resurrection." They said this because of their false arguments
by means of which they seek to improve regulations on what Allaah (swt) should do; (they say) it befits Allaah (swt) to do
this, or it does not befit Allaah (swt) to do that. They compare Him to His creation and their actions. This is a kind of
anthropomorphism with regard to deeds; they have allowed the ideas of Jahmiyyah (a sect of Mu'tazilah named after the deviant,
Jahm ibn Safwan) to creep into their thinking, and have become mu'attalah (those who deny that Allaah can see). They said,
"It does not make sense for Paradise to be created before the time of reward, because it will not be used or inhabited for
a very long time. They rejected the aayaat and reports that contradict these false notions they seek to project onto Allaah
(swt). They misinterpreted the texts and accused those who disagreed with them of going astray and concocting bid'ah".
Proofs from the Qur'aan and Hadeeth in support of this are, for example:
"Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your
Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah
and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allaah, which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allaah is the Owner of Great
Bounty". (57:21)
"...for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for al-Muttaqun" (3:133)
"And fear
the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers" (3:131)
"And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him (Jibreel) at a second descent (ie another
time), near Sidrat al-Muntahaa (lote tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass), near it is the Paradise of
Abode" (53:13-15)
The Prophet (saw) saw Sidrat al-Muntahaa, a tree in Heaven, and
near it, Paradise, as is mention in al-Bukhaari, and Muslim in the hadith of Anas (ra). At the end of this narrative of al-Israa,
the Prophet (saw) said, "Then Jibreel brought me to Sidrat al-Muntahaa which was veiled in colours indescribable. Then I entered
Paradise, and its lights were of pearls and its soil was musk".
Muslim, Abu Dawud and Imaam Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah (ra)
that the Messenger (saw) said, "When Allaah (swt) created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibreel to Paradise, saying "Go and look
at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants". So he went and looked at it and at what Allaah had prepared
therein for its inhabitants.... then He sent him to Hellfire saying, "Go and look at it and what I have prepared therein for
its inhabitants" So he looked at it and saw that it was in layers, one above the other...."
Muslim reports from Aishah (ra) that there was a solar eclipse
in the time of the Messenger (saw) and he said, "Whilst I was standing here I saw everything that you have been promised,
I even saw myself picking some of the fruits of Paradise, when you saw me stepping forward. And I saw Hellfire, parts of it
consuming other parts, when you saw me stepping backward".
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Ibn 'Abbas the same incident,
"I saw Paradise and I tried to take a bunch of its fruit. If I had managed to do so, you would have eaten from it until the
end of time. And I saw the Fire of Hell, and I have never seen anything so horrific or terrifying. I saw that the majority
of its inhabitants are women."
Muslim also reports from Anas that the Prophet (Saw) said, "By
the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you had seen what I saw, you would laugh little and cry much." They said, "What did you
see, O Messenger of Allaah?", He said, "I saw Paradise and Hell".
The Prophet (saw) also ascended into jannah on the night of Mi'raj in his
'Isra (night journey): for example -
* "...I saw four rivers flowing out from beneath Sidrat al-Muntahaa, two visible
and two hidden." (Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab al-'Israa, 1/150, no.164) * "Whilst I was walking in Paradise I saw a river
whose banks were domes of hollow pearls and I asked, "What is this, O Jibreel?" He said, "This is al-Kawthar which your Rabb
has given to you". (from Anas ibn Maalik, Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab fil-Hawd, Fath al-Baari, 11/464)
* al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah said,
"I entered Paradise where I saw ar-Rumaysa, the wife of Abu Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, "Who is that?" He (Jibreel)
said, "That is Bilaal". And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, "Whose is this?" They said, It is for 'Umar
ibn al-Khattab" (Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 3/226)
Imaam Ahmed, Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet
(saw) said, "The children of the believers are in Paradise, being cared for by Ibraahim (as) [and in the narration of Abu
Nu'aym, ad-Dawylami, and Ibn Asakir it adds- "and Sarah, until they give them back to their parents on the day of Resurrection"]
al-Bukhaari and Muslim also report from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (ra)
that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "When anyone of you dies, he will be shown his position morning and evening. If he
is one of the people of Paradise then he will be one of the people of Paradise, and if he is one of the people of Hell, then
he will be one of the people of Hell, and he will be told, "This is your position, until Allaah (swt) resurrects you on the
Day of Resurrection".
According to al-Muwatta of Imaam Maalik and as-Sunaan, Abu Dawood,
"Ka'b ibn Maalik said the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Verily the soul of the believer is a bird hanging on to the trees
of Paradise, until Allaah Swt returns it to its body on the day of Resurrection"
This makes it clear that souls will enter Paradise before the Day of Resurrection.
As for the specious arguments of those who say that Hell has not
been created yet, they say: If it was already created now, then it would of necessity have to come to an end of the Day of
Resurrection and everyone in it would have to perish because Allaah says: "Everything will perish save His Face" (28:88) and
"Everyone shall taste death.." (3:185) The response to this is: If you mean that Paradise does
not exist until the Trumpet is blown and people are resurrected from their graves, then this is incorrect and is refuted by
the evidence quoted above and other proofs which we have not mentioned here. If you mean that Allaah (swt) has not yet completed
the creation of everything that He will prepare for the inhabitants of Paradise and that He is still creating more and more
things in it, and that when the believers enter Paradise, Allaah (swt) will create even more things in it, then this is true
and cannot be refuted, and the evidence that you give can only mean this, but when you use the aayah - "Everything will perish
save His Face" - as evidence, your problem is that you misinterpret this aayah. Using it to prove that Paradise and Hell do
not yet exist is like your colleagues using it to prove that they will both be destroyed and their inhabitants will all perish!
You and your scholars did not understand the aayah properly; only the leaders (great scholars) of Islaam have understood it
properly. They say that "everything" for which Allaah (swt) has decreed destruction and oblivion "will perish" but Paradise
and Hell have been created to last forever and never pass away, as has the Throne, which forms the roof of Paradise.
"It was suggested that it meant that everything would perish except His dominion,
or whatever was done for His sake. Another suggestion was that when Allaah (swt) revealed the word: "Whatever is on it will
perish" - the angels said, "The people of earth are doomed", and hoped that they would remain. Allaah said that the people
of heaven and earth would perish and said, "And invoke not any other ilaah along with Allaah, Laa ilaaha illaa Huwaa. Everything
will perish save His Face" (28:88) because He is the Living and does not die. The angels realise that they too were destined
to die. Their words should be taken in the light of and reconciled with other clear and unambiguous reports that prove that
both Paradise and Hell are eternal".
(Sharh at-Tahaawiyyah, p.479, see also Siddeeq Hasan Khan, Yaqadhah ula al-'i'tibaar,
p. 37 and 'Aqeedah as-Safarini 2/230)
The Keepers of Hell
Standing over Hell are MIGHTY and STERN angels who never disobey Allaah subhaanahu
wa ta'ala Who has created them. They do whatever He commands them, as Allaah subhaanahu wa ta'ala says:
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel
is men and stones, over which are [appointed] angels stern [and] severe, who flinch not [from executing] the Commands they
receive from Allaah, but do [precisely what] they are commanded." (66:6)
Their number is nineteen as Allaah (swt) says:
"Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you what Hellfire
is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man! Over it are
nineteen [angels as guardians and keepers of Hell]" (74:26-30)
This number was a challenge to the kuffaar who thought that they would easily
overcome such a small number, but they did not realise that one of these angels has the strength to confront the whole of
mankind on his own. For this reason, Allaah (swt) said in the next aayah:
"And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire, and We have fixed
their numbers [19] only as a trial for the disbelievers.." (74:31)
Ibn Rajab said, "What is known and well-established among the earlier and
later generations (as-Salaf wal-Khalaf) is that the trial came about when the number of angels was mentioned and the kuffaar
thought that it was possible to kill them. They thought that they would be able to fight and resist them. They did not know
that humankind in its entireity would not be able to resist even ONE of them." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.174)
These angels are the ones whom Allaah subhaanahu wa ta'ala called the guardians
of Hell: "Those in the Fire will say to the keepers [angels] of Hell: "Call
upon your Rabb to lighten for us the torment for a day!" (40:49)
The Location of Hell
The scholars differ as to where Hell is located at present. Some say that it is
in the lower earth, other say that it is in the heavens, and yet others refrain from discussing the matter at all. This last
group is correct, because there are no sound and clear reports that define the location of Hell. One of those who prefer not
to discuss the matter at all is al-Haafidh as-Suyuti who said, "Do not discuss Hell, i.e. do not discuss where it is located,
for none knows this except Allaah (swt) and I know of no hadeeth that I could rely on with regard to this issue". (Siddiq
Hasan Khan, Yaqazah uli al-I'tibar, p.47)
Sheikh Waliullaah ad-Dahlawee says in, his 'Aqeedah, "There is no clear text which
states their location (of Paradise and Hell). They are wherever Allaah (swt) wishes them to be, and we cannot comprehend all
the universes created by Allaah (swt)" (ibid, p.47). Siddeeq Hasan Khan says, commenting on these words, "I say, that is the
best and most cautious of opinions, inshaa'Allaah" (ibid).
The Vast Extent of Hell
Hell is huge and vast and immensely deep, as is proven by several things:
(1) Those who will enter Hell are innumerable, yet one of them will be so
huge that his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud, and the distance between his shoulders will be equivalent to three days
walking. Nevertheless, Hell will accommodate the huge number of Kuffaar and evildoers who have existed throughout history,
in spite of their huge size, and there will still be room for more, as Allaah says in the Qur'aan:
"On the Day when We will say to Hell: "Are you filled?" It will say: "Are
there any more to come?" (50:30)
The Fire of Hell is like a mill to which are brought thousands upon thousands
of tons of grain, which it grinds tirelessly until it is all done, then waits for more. In the hadith that describes the debate
between Paradise and Hell, it says that Allaah (swt) said to Hell, "You are My Punishment; I will punish in you whomsoever
I will". Both Paradise and Hell will be filled, but Hell will not be filled until Allaah (swt) places His foot in it and it
will say, "Enough, enough!". Then it will be filled and its different parts will come closer to one another. Allaah (swt)
will not wrong any one of His Creation. Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) (Jaami' al-Usool, 10/544).
[See the narration from Anas in al-Bukhaari, Muslim and Mishkaat ul-Masaabeeh, 3/109 with a similar meaning].
(2) Another indication of its vast depth is the fact that a stone thrown from
the top of Hell takes a very long time to reach the bottom. Muslim reports that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:
"We were with the Messenger of Allaah (saw) and we heard the sound of something
falling. The Prophet (saw) said, "Do you know what that was?" We said, "Allaah and His Messenger know best". He said, "That
was a stone that was thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it was falling through Hell until now". (Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab fi shiddat haar an-naar, 4/2184 no. 2844)
Haakim reports from Abu Hurayrah, and Tabaraani from Mu'aadh and Abu Umamah
(ra) that the Prophet (Saw) said, "If there was a huge stone as big as seven khalifaat stones, and it was thrown from the
edge of Hell it would fly through it for seventy years before it reached the bottom". (Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 5/58,
no. 5124, Its isnaad is saheeh).
(3) The great number of angels who will bring Hell forth on the Day of Resurrection.
The Messenger (saw) described how Hell will be brought forth on the Day of
Resurrection, concerning which Allaah (swt) said,
"And Hell will be brought near that Day". (89:23)
The Prophet (saw) said,
"Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each
of which will be held by seventy thousand angels." (reported by Muslim from
'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud, 4/2184 no.2842)
We can only image the vastness of this terrifying creation that requires such
a huge number of strong and powerful angels whose strength is known only to Allaah!
(4) Another indication of the vastness of Hell is the fact that two great
creations like the sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell. at-Tahhaawee reports, in Mishkil al-Aathaar, that Salamah
ibn 'Abdur-Rahman said, "Abu Hurayrah told us that the Prophet (saw) said: "The
sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell on the Day of Resurrection"
al-Bayhaqi also reported this in "al-Ba'th wal-Nushur", as did al-Bazzaar, al-Isma'ili and al-Khattaabi, with an isnaad that
is saheeh according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari, who reported in al-Saheeh al-Mukhtasar, with the wording "The sun and
moon will be rolled up in Hell of the day of Resurrection". (Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated this hadeeth in Silsilah
al-ahadeeth as-Saheehah, 1/32, hadith no:124)
The Levels of Hell
There are variations in the degrees of heat in Hell, and in the levels of punishment
which Allaah (swt) has prepared for its inhabitants; there is not just one level.
As Allaah says:
"Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths [grade] of the Fire" (4:145)
It is said that both Paradise and Hell have different levels; the lower the
level in Hell, the greater the intensity of the heat. The hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, and so they will be
in the lowest level of Hell.
Allaah (swt) refers to the levels of Paradise and Hell in the Qur'aan:
"For all there will be degrees [or ranks] according to what they did" (6:132)
"Is then one who follows [seeks] the good pleasure of Allaah like the one
who draws on himself the Wrath of Allaah? His abode is Hell - and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying
grades with Allaah, and Allaah is All-Seer of what they do". (3:162-3)
'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Zayd ibn Aslam said, "The levels of paradise go up and
the levels of Hell go down" [Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.5]. It was reported from some of the Salaf that the sinners
amongst the monotheists who enter Hell would be in the first level, the Jews would be in the second level, the Christians
in the third level, the Sabians in the fourth level, the Magians in the fifth level, the polytheist Arabs in the sixth level
and the hypocrites in the seventh level (1) Some books give names to these levels: the first is called Jahanam, the second
Ladhaa, the third al-Hutamah, the fourth as-Sa'eer, the fifth Saqar, the sixth al-Jaheem, and the seventh al-Hawiyah.
There is no proof for this division of the inhabitants of Hell or the names
that have been attributed to the various levels. The truth is that all of these names - Jahanam, Ladhaa, al-Hutamah, etc -
are alternative names by which Hell in its entirety is known, and they are not applied to one part or another of it. It is
also known that people will be placed in different levels of Hell according to the extent of their kufr and sins.
Footnotes
(1) If this division is based on our understanding of the texts that indicate
the evil of the various groups, then it needs to be revised, for the Magians who worship fire are no less sinners than the
Arab polytheists. It is better not to engage in speculation about matters that were not discussed in the nusoos (texts).
The Gates of Hell
Allaah has told us that Hell has seven gates, as He (swt) said:
"And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It [Hell] has seven
gates, for each of these gates is a [special] class [of sinners] assigned".
(15:43-44)
Ibn Katheer commenting on this aayah, said: "This means that each
gate has been allotted its share of the followers of Iblees who will enter it, and the will not be able to avoid it. May Allaah
(swt) protect us from it. Each will enter a gate according to his deeds, and will be assigned to a level of Hell according
to his deeds."
It was reported from 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib (ra) that he said, during a khutbah
(sermon): "The gates of Hell are such and-such". Abu Harun said, "They are in layers, one above the other". It is reported
that he also said, "The gates of Hell number seven, one above the other. The first will be filled, then the second, then the
third, until all of them are filled." (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/162)
When the disbelievers come to Hell, its gates will be opened, and they will
enter it, to remain there forever:
"And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they
reach it, the gates thereof will be opened [suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners]. And its keepers will
say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves - reciting to you the Verses of your Rabb, and warning you of the
Meeting of this Day of yours". They will say, "Yes" but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers". (39:71)
After they are admitted, they will be told:
"Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And [indeed] what an evil
abode of the arrogant!" (39:72)
These gates will be shut upon the evildoers, and they will have no hope of
ever escaping from them after that, as Allaah (swt) says, "But those who reject Our Signs, they are the [unhappy] Companions
of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over [all round]." (90:19-20)
Ibn 'Abbaas said, "vaulted" (literally: "shut over them") means that the gates
will be locked". al-Mujaahid pointed out that the word used (mu'sadah) is the word used in the dialect of Quraysh to mean
"locked" or shut" (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 7/298)
In the Qur'aan Allaah (swt) says:
"Woe to every [kind of] scandalmonger and backbiter, who piles up wealth and
lays it by. Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which
Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you that which breaks to pieces? The Fire of [the wrath of] Allaah, kindled [to
a blaze], which mounts [right] to the heart. It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched." (104:1-9)
Allaah (swt) states that the gates of Hell will be locked behind them. Ibn
Abbaas said, "In columns outstretched" means that the gates will be stretched out". 'Atiyah said, "It is a pillar of iron".
Muqaatil said, "The gates will be closed firmly behind them and locked with a bolt of iron, so that the pain and heat will
be intensified. The expression "stretched forth" applies to the "pillar", meaning that the bolts with which the gates are
locked will be very long, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.61)
The gates of Hell may be opened and closed before the Day of Judgement. The
Prophet (Saw) told us that the gates of Hell are locked during the month of Ramadhan. at-Tirmidhi reported that Abu Hurayrah
said the Prophet (saw) said: "When the first night of Ramadhan comes, the Shayaateen and evil jinns are chained up. The gates
of Hell are closed and not one of them is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is closed." (Ibid,
p.66)
Fuel of Hell
Stones and the rebellious disbelievers are the fuel of Hell, as Allaah says:
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel
is men and stones!" (66:6)
"...then fear the Fire [hell] whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the
disbelievers" (2:24)
What is meant by the people who will be fuel for the Fire is the disbelievers
and polytheists. As for the type of stone that will fuel the Fire, Allaah (swt) knows best what it really is. Some of the
Salaf thought that this stone was brimstone or sulphur. 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'oud said, "It is a stone of sulphur which Allaah
(swt) created in the first heaven the day He created the heavens and earth and prepared it for the disbelievers". This was
reported by Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Haatim and Haakim in al-Mustadrak. Ibn 'Abbaas, Mujaahid and Ibn Juryayj were also of this
opinion. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/107)
If this opinion was based on something that the Prophet (saw) had said then
we could accept it without hesitation or argument. If it is the matter of ijtihaad, based on knowledge of the nature and qualities
of stones, then we cannot accept it without question. There may be other stones that are superior to sulphur in strength and
flammability. The first Muslims saw that sulphur has qualities that do not exist in other stones, so they thought that it
would be the fuel of Hell. Ibn Rajab said, "Most of the mufassireen suggest that what is meant by stones is sulphur, with
which the Fire of Hell will be fuelled. It was said that it includes five kinds of torment that are not found in other stones:
it catches fire quickly, it has an unpleasant odour, it produces a lot of smoke, it sticks to flesh, and it is very hot when
it is heated" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.107). Allaah may create other kinds of stones that are superior to sulphur,
and we can be sure that whatever exists in the Hereafter will be different from this world.
Another fuel for the Fire will be the gods, which were worshipped instead
of Allaah (swt);
"Certainly! You [disbelievers] and that which you are worshipping now besides
Allah, are [but] fuel for Hell! [Surely] you will enter it. Had these [idols etc] been aaliha [gods] they would not have entered
there [Hell] and all of them will abide therein." (21:98-99)
"al-Jawhaari said, "Everything that is used to feed the Fire or increase it
is its fuel". Abu Ubaydah said, "Everything that you throw into the Fire is fuel for it" (Yaqazah uli al-i'tibaar, p.61)
The Intensity of Its Heat and the Vastness of Its Smoke and Sparks
Allaah (swt) says:
"And those on the left hand - who will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce
hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke, [that shadow] neither cool, nor [even] good". (56:41-44)
This aayah includes all of the things that people avail themselves of in this
world when it is too hot; these three things are: water, air and shade. But the aayah states that these three things will
be of no help whatsoever to the people of Hell. The air of Hell is al-Sumoom, which is an intensely hot wind; its water is
al-Hameem, boiling water; its shade is al-Yahmoom, which is a part of the smoke of Hell. (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.85)
Just as this aayah emphasises the horrifying position of those on the Left
Hand, who are the people of Hell, another aayah emphasises the horror of Hell itself. Allaah (swt) says:
"But he whose balance [of good deeds] will be [found] light, will have his
home in a [bottomless] pit. And what will explain to you what this is? [It is] a Fire blazing fiercely!" (101:8-11)
The shade referred to in the aayah "and the shadow of black smoke" (56:43)
is the shade cast by the smoke of Hell. Shade usually makes one feel cool and comfortable, and people love to feel it, but
this shade [in Hell] will neither be cool nor pleasant; it is the shadow of black smoke.
The Qur'aan tells us that this shade is the smoke of Hell which rises above
the Fire:
""Depart you to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns, [which yields]
no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze". Indeed! It [Hell] throws about sparks [huge] as forts, as
if there were [a string of] yellow camels [marching swiftly]." (77:30-33)
This aayah states that the smoke that rises from Hell is so great that it
is divided into three columns. It gives shade, but it is not cooling and it offers no protection from the Raging Fire. The
sparks that fly from this Fire are like huge castles, and they are likened to yellow or black camels.
Allaah (swt) explained how strong this Fire is, and how it affects the tormented:
"Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly
what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man!"
(74:26-29)
The Fire consumes all, destroying everything and leaving nothing untouched.
It burns skin, reaching to the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and exposing what is innermost.
The Prophet (saw) told us: "Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the
Fire of Hell." Someone said, "O Messenger of Allaah (saw), it is enough as it is!" He said, "It [the fire of Hell] is as if
sixty nine equal portions were added to the fire as we know it." (al-Bukhaari)
This Fire never dies down, no matter how much time passes:
"So taste you [the results of your evil actions]; no increase shall We give
you, except in torment". (78:30)
"...whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire". (17:97)
The disbelievers will not taste the luxury of respite, and the torment will
not be lessened for them no matter how long it lasts:
"Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped". (2:86)
The Fire is rekindled every day as is stated in the hadith reported by Muslim
from 'Amr ibn 'Absah (ra) who said:
"The Prophet (saw) said, "Pray salaat as-subh (the early morning
prayer) then stop praying when the sun is rising until it is fully up, for it rises between the horns of Shaytaan and the
disbelievers prostrate to the sun at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed (by the angels) until the shadow becomes
the length of a lance. Then cease prayer, for at that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward, pray.."
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the
Prophet said, "When it becomes very hot, wait until it cools down to pray, because the intense heat is a breeze from Hell".
The Fire of Hell will be further refuelled on the Day of Resurrection when
it receives its inhabitants: "And when Hellfire shall be kindled to a fierce
blaze, and when Paradise shall be brought near". (81:12-13)
Hell can Speak and See
Whoever reads the descriptions of Hell in the Qur'aan and hadiths will discover
that it is a creation that can see, speak and complain. The Qur'aan tells us that Hell will be able to see its people from
afar when they are coming towards it, and it will start to utter terrifying cries that will indicate how much anger and hatred
it feels towards these evildoers:
"When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and
roaring". (25:12)
Ibn Jareer reports that Ibn 'Abbaas said:
"A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will shrink into itself. Allaah
(swt) will say: "What is the matter with you?" It will say, "He is seeking refuge with you from me". He will say, "Release
My slave". Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then
it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him". (Ibn Katheer quoted this report in an-Nihaayah, 2/21, and said that its isnaad is saheeh).
Imaam Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that
the Prophet (saw) said: "On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch
forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear, and a tongue to speak. It will say, "I have been appointed
to take care of three types of people: every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allaah (swt)
and those who made pictures" (at-Tirmidhi stated that this hadith was saheeh
- at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.179, See also Jaami' al-Usool, 10/518, the editor said its isnaad is hasan).
Ibn 'Umar's Vision of Hell
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Ibn 'Umar said, "I saw in a dream that two
angels came to me. Each of them was holding a whip of iron in his hand. Then I met (another) angel who was also holding a
whip of iron in his hand. They said, "Do not worry, you are a good man; we just wish that you prayed more at night". They
took me to the edge of Hell, which looked like a well with horns: between every two horns stood an angel holding a whip of
iron. I saw men hanging upside-down, held with chains, and I recognised some men of Quraysh. Then they led me away, towards
the right. I told Hafsah about my dream, and she told the Messenger of Allaah (saw) who said, "Abdullaah is a righteous man".
(at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.51)
Does Anybody See Hell in Reality Before the Day of Resurrection?
We know that our Prophet (saw) saw Hell, just as he saw Paradise during his lifetime.
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet (saw) said concerning Salaat al-Khusf (eclipse
prayer):
"I saw Paradise and I reached out to take a bunch of its fruits. If I had
managed to do so you would have eaten from it until the end of time. And I saw Hell, and I have never seen anything more terrifying.
I saw that most of its inhabitants are women". (Mishkaat al-Masabeeh, 1/480)
Imaam Ahmad reports from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said:
"Hell was brought so close to me that I tried to blow its heat away from my
face. I saw there the man with the stick with the crooked end, and one who had tended al-Baheerah (a she-camel let loose for
pasture for idols, upon which nothing was allowed to be carried), and the man of Humayr and the woman who had imprisoned the
cat". (Saheeh al-Jaami', 2/181 #1968)
Muslim reports from Jaabir (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said:
"Paradise and Hell were shown to me. Paradise was brought close to me, so
that I tried to take fruit from it but I could not reach it. Hell was shown to me, and was brought so close that I stepped
back for fear that it would touch me. I saw a Humayr woman who was tall and black, being punished on account of a cat that
she owned: she had tied it up, not giving it anything to eat or drink, or allowing it to eat of the vermin of the earth. I
also saw Abu Thumaamah 'Umar ibn Maalik being dragged by his trachea through Hell". (Saheeh al-Jaami', 2/298, #2394)
After people die they are shown, in al-Barzakh (the period between
death and Judgement) their position in Paradise (if they are believers) or Hell (If they are disbelievers).
How Hell Affects this Earth and its Inhabitants
al-Bukhaari reports in his saheeh that Abu Hurayrah said:
"Hell complained to its Rabb, saying "O my Rabb, some parts of me have consumed
others." So He allowed it to exhale twice, once in the winter and once in the summer. That is why you find extreme heat (in
the summer) and extreme cold (in the winter)".
al-Bukhaari also narrated from Abu Sa'eed (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: "Delay your prayers until it cools down, for the intensity of heat is from the exhaled
air of Hell". (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad' al-Khalq, Baab Siffaat an-naar
wa annaha makhluqah and Fath al-Baari 6/330. The author of Jaami' al-Usool 10/517 attributed these two reports to al-Bukhaari,
Muslim and at-Tirmidhi).
The People of Hell and Their Evil Deeds
1. The People Who Will Abide Therein Forever
The people of Hell who will abide therein forever, never leaving it and never
dying, are the disbelievers and polytheists. Allaah (swt) says:
"But those who reject Allaah, for them will be the Fire of Hell. No term shall
be determined for them, so they should die, nor shall its penalty be lightened for them". (35:36)
"But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be companions
[or dwellers] of the Fire; they shall abide therein". (2:39)
"Verily those who reject faith and die rejecting - on them is Allaah's Curse
and the Curse of the Angels and of all mankind. They will abide
therein: their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their lot." (2:161-162)
"Know they not that for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger is the Fire
of Hell - wherein they shall dwell? That is the supreme disgrace". (9:63)
"It is not for such as join gods with Allaah to visit or maintain the Mosques
of Allaah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity [or disbelief]. The works of such bear no fruit: In Fire
shall they dwell." (9:17)
Because they will abide therein forever, Allaah (swt) described the torment
of Hell as a lasting torment, one that will never end, one that is eternal:
"Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom:
their Penalty will be one that endures". (5:37)
"At length it will be said to the wrongdoers: "Taste you the enduring punishment!
You get but the recompense of what you earned!" (10:52)
Death will be slaughtered, as is stated in the hadith narration from Ibn 'Umar
by al-Bukhaari and in Muslim from Abu Sa'eed who said:
"The Messenger of Allaah of Allaah (saw) said: "Death will be brought like
a horned ram, and will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell". It will be said, "O people of Paradise, do you know what
this is?" They will raise their heads and look, and will say, "Yes, this is death". It will be said, "O people of Hell, do
you know what this is?" They will raise their heads and look, and will say, "Yes, this is death". Then the command will be
given for death to be slaughtered. Then it will be said, "O people of Paradise, it is eternal, there is no death. O people
of Hell, it is eternal, there is no death". Then the Messenger of Allaah (saw) recited:
"And warn them 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". (19:39)
and in the narration of at-Tirmidhi, Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree added: "If any
were to die of joy it would be the people of Paradise and if any were to die of despair, it would be the people of Hell".
(at-Tirmidhi, said "This is a sahih hasan hadith").
2. Hell will be the Dwelling Place of the Kuffar and Mushrikeen
Because the disbelievers and polytheists will remain in Hell forever, it is
considered to be their abode or dwelling place, just as Paradise is the abode of the believers:
"Their abode will be the Fire; and evil is the home of the wrongdoers" (3:151)
"Their abode is the Fire, because of the [evil] they earned". (10:8)
"Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject Faith?" (29:68)
Hell is abode that they deserve:
"Your abode is the Fire: that is the proper place to claim you..." (57:15)
Hell is the worst abode and destination:
"But for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of [final] Return! - they will
burn therein - an evil bed [indeed to lie on]!" (38:55-56)
3. Those Who Call Others to Hell
Those who follow misguided beliefs and ideologies that contradict the laws
of Allaah (Swt) and those who believe in their false causes, these are the ones who call others to Hell:
"Those [unbelievers] do [but] beckon you to the Fire.." (2:221)
"And We made them [but] leaders inviting to the Fire; and on the Day of Judgement
no help shall they find". (28:41)
One of them is Shaytaan:
"..[would they do so] even if it is Shaytaan beckoning them to the Penalty
of the [Blazing] Fire?" (31:21)
"He [Shaytaan} only invites his adherents that they may become Companions
of the blazing Fire" (35:6)
Those who call others to the Fire in this world will lead their people and
their followers to the Fire in the Hereafter. An example is Pharaoh:
"He will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and lead them into
the Fire." (11:98)
All evil leaders who call people to their belief systems that go against Islaam
are in fact calling people to the Fire of Hell, because the only way to escape the Fire of Hell and enter Paradise is to follow
the path of Faith:
"And O my people! [strange] it is for me to call you to salvation while you
call me to the Fire!" (40:41)
This man's people were calling him to the kufr and shirk of Pharaoh while
he was calling them to Tawheed and faith in Allaah (swt). Because the kuffaar invite people to the Fire, Allaah (swt) forbade
believing men to marry mushrik women, just as He forbade believing women to marry mushrik men: "And do not marry unbelieving (literally, polytheist) women until they believe. A slave woman who believes
is better than a [free] unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry [your girls] to unbelievers until they believer;
a male slave who believes is better than a [free] unbeliever, even though he allures you. Those [unbelievers] do [but] beckon
you to the Fire, but Allaah invites by His Grace to the Garden [of Bliss] and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind
that they may receive admonition" (2:221)
The Worst Evil Deeds of Those Who Will Remain Forever in Hell
The Qur'aan speaks at length of the evil deeds for which those who will abide
in the Hell forever deserve their never-ending fate. Here we will mention the most serious of them.
(1) Kufr and Shirk: Allaah
(swt) tells us that it will be said to those who disbelieved, when they are in the Fire, that Allaah's hatred of them will
be greater than their own hatred towards themselves because of their disbelief. Then He explains that their eternal fate in
Hell is because of their kufr and shirk:
"The unbelievers will be addressed: "Greater was the aversion of Allaah to
you than [is] your aversion to yourselves, seeing that you were called to the Faith but you used to refuse. They will say,
"Our Rabb! Twice have You made us without life, and twice have You given us life! Now have we recognised our sins: is there
any way out [of this]?" [The answer will be]: "This is because, when Allaah was invoked as the Only [object of worship] you
did reject Faith, but when partners were joined to Him, you believed! The Command is only with Allaah, All-High, All-Great!"
(40:10-12)
Allaah (swt) tells us that the keeper of Hell will ask the kuffaar as they
are approaching Hell:
"Did there not come to you your messengers with clear signs?" (40:50)
The response will be that they deserved Hell because they disbelieved in the
Messengers and their Message:
"They will say, "Yes indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we rejected him"
and said: "Allaah never sent down any [Message] you are in nothing but a great error!" (67:9)
Concerning those who disbelieved in the Qur'aan, Allaah (swt) says:
"for We have sent you a Message from Our own presence. If any do turn away
therefrom, verily they will bear a burden on the Day of Judgement. They will abide in this [state] and grievous will that
burden be to them on that Day". (20:99-101)
Concerning those who disbelieve the Qur'aan and associate partners with Allaah
(swt), Allaah (swt) says:
"Those who reject the Book and the [Revelations] with which We sent Our Messengers:
but soon shall they know, when the yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along. In the
boiling fetid fluid, then in the Fire shall they be burned. Then shall it be said to them, "Where are the deities to which
you gave part-worship in derogation to Allaah? They will reply: "They have left us in the lurch. Nay, we invoked not, of old,
anything [that had real existence]." Thus does Allaah leave the unbelievers to stray. That was because you were want to rejoice
on the earth in things other than the Truth, and that you were want to be ignorant. Enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein
and evil is [this] abode of the arrogant". (40:70-76)
Concerning those kuffaar and mushrikeen who regarded their gods as equal to
the Rabb of the Worlds, Allaah (swt) says:
"Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire] - they and those straying
in Evil and the whole hosts of Iblees together. They will say there in their mutual bickerings: "By Allaah, we were truly
in an error manifest, when we held you [false gods] as equals with the Rabb of the Worlds" (26:94-98)
Concerning the fate on the Day of Judgement of those who disbelieved, Allaah
said:
"If you do marvel [at their want of faith] strange is their saying: "When
we are [actually] dust, shall we indeed then be a creation renewed?" They are those who disbelieve in their Rabb! They are
those around whose necks will be yokes [of servitude]. They will be Companions of the Fire to dwell therein [for aye]!" (13:5)
"..their abode will be Hell; every time it shows abatement, We shall increase
for them the fierceness of the Fire. That is their recompense, because they rejected Our Signs and said, "When we are reduced
to bones and broken fragments, should we really be raised up [to be] a new creation?" (17:97-98)
(2) Failing to fulfill the legislated duties, as well as denying the Day of Judgement. Allaah (swt) tells us that the people of Paradise will ask
the people of Hell:
"What led you into Hellfire?"
(74:42)
They will reply: "..We were not of those who prayed, Nor were we of those
who fed the indigent, But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers, And we used to deny the Day of Judgement, Until there
came to us [the Hour] that is certain." (74:43-47)
(3) Obeying the misguided leaders of kufr and accepting the principles
by means of which they mislead people and turn them away from the religion of Allaah (swt) as taught by the Prophets:
"And We have destined for them intimate companions [of like nature] who made
alluring to them what was before them and what was behind them. And the Sentence among the previous generations of jinns and
men who have passed away, is proved against them; for they are utterly lost. The unbelievers say: "Listen not to this Qur'aan
but talk at random in the midst of its [reading] that you may gain the upper hand!" But We shall certainly give the unbelievers
a taste of a severe penalty, and We shall requite them the worst of their deeds. Such is the requital of the enemies of Allaah
- the Fire, therein will be for them the eternal home, a [fit] requital for that they used to reject Our Signs" (41:25-28)
When the kuffaar are thrown into Hell they will be filled with regret for
having disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger and having followed their masters and leaders:
"Verily Allaah has cursed the unbelievers and has prepared for them a blazing
Fire, to dwell therein; no protector will they find, nor helper. The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the
Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger". And they would say, "Our Rabb!
We obeyed our chiefs and our great ones and they misled us as from the [Right] Path". (33:64-67)
(4) Hypocrisy
Allaah promised Hell to the hypocrites, a promise that He has taken upon Himself
to never break:
"Allaah has promised the hypocrites, men and women, and the rejecters of Faith,
the fire of Hell, therein shall they dwell. Sufficient is it for them. For them is the curse of Allaah and an enduring punishment." (9:68)
He has told us that the position of the hypocrites is the lowest level of
Hell, which si where the heat and agony are most intense:
"The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire; no helper will you
find for them". (4:145)
(5) Arrogance:
This is a quality shared by most of the people of Hell. Allaah (swt) says:
"But those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance - they are the
Companions (dwellers) of the Fire, to dwell therein [forever]" (7:36)
Muslim devoted a chapter of his Saheeh to this issue, entitled Baab an-Naar
Yadhkhulha al-Jabbaaroon wal-Jannah yadkhuluha ad-du'afaa (Hell will be entered by the arrogant and Paradise will be entered
by the weak). In this chapter he refers to the debate between Paradise and Hell, what they said and what Allaah (swt) sad
to them. Muslim quotes the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (ra) which goes back to the Prophet (saw), in which it is stated that Hell
said, "The arrogant and proud will enter me." According to another report, Hell said, "I will become rich (have too many)
from the proud and arrogant". Allaah (swt) said, "You are My Punishment with which I will punish whomsoever I will". (Sahih
Muslim, 4/2186, no. 2846)
al-Bukhaari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi report from Harithah ibn Wahb that the
Messenger of Allaah (swt) said: "Shall I not tell you about the people of Paradise? Every meek person who is considered to
be so humble that if he were to adjure something by Allaah (swt), He would fulfil it for him. Shall I not tell you about the
people of Hell? Every haughty, greedy and proud person." (Jaami' al-Usool, 10/547, no. 8111)
According to a report given by Muslim, he (saw) said, "Every proud mean and
arrogant person". This is confirmed by the Qur'aan
"Is there not in Hell an abode for the Haughty [i.e. arrogant]?" (39:60)
"But today shall you be recompensed with a penalty of humiliation for that
you were arrogant on earth without just cause, and that you [ever]
transgressed" (48:20) "Then, for such as had transgressed
all bounds, and had preferred the life of this world, the Abode will be Hellfire" (79:37-39)
Evil Deeds that Lead One to Hell
Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah (swt) have mercy on him,
was asked: "What are the deeds of the people of Hell and what are the deeds of the people of Paradise?" He replied, "The deeds
of the people of Hell are:
* associating partners in worship with Allaah (swt) * disbelieving in His Messenger *
kufr (ingratitude, disbelief) * hasad (malicious envy) * lying * treachery * oppression and wrongdoing (dhulm) *
promiscuity * backstabbing * cutting off the ties of kinship * cowardice at the time of jihaad * miserliness *
inconsistency between what is in one's heart and the face one shows to people * despairing of the mercy of Allaah (swt) *
feeling secure from the plan of Allaah (swt) * panicking blindly at the time of crisis * pride and extravagance at
the time of plenty * abandoning one's duties towards Allaah (swt) * transgressing His limits * violating His sanctity *
fearing a created being instead of the Creator * showing off * going against the Qur'aan and Sunnah in word or deed *
obeying a created being in some act of disobedience to the Creator * blindly supporting falsehood * mocking the signs
of Allaah (swt) * rejecting the truth * withholding knowledge and testimony that should be revealed * witchcraft
and magic * disobeying one's parents * killing any soul forbidden by Allaah (swt) except for reasons of justice *
consuming the wealth of the orphan * riba (usury) * desertion from the battlefield * slandering the reputation of
innocent, chaste, believing women" (Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibar, p.222)
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) mentioned all the sins that will lead one to
Hell. Muslim reports from 'Iyadh bin Himaar that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, during a lengthy khutbah: "..the people of Hell are five: the weak who lack the power to (avoid evil); the (carefree)
who pursue (everything irrespective of whether it is good or evil) and who have no concern for their families or their wealth;
the dishonest people whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things; and those who betray you, morning and
evening, with regard to your family and your property. He also mentioned misers, liars and those who are in the habit of abusing
people and using obscene, foul language". (Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat
Na'imihaa Baab as-Sifaat allaatee yu'raf bihaa fid-dunyaa ahl al-Jannah wa ahl an-Naar, 4/2197 no. 2865)
Specific People Who Will Be In Hell
The kuffaar and mushikreen will be in Hell, no doubt about it, but the Qur'aan
and hadith also mention specific people who will be in the Fire. One of them is the Pharaoh who ruled at the time of Musa
(as):
"He [Pharaoh] will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and will
lead them into the Fire.." (11:98)
Also included are the wives of Nuh (as) and Lut (as):
"Allaah sets forth for an example to the unbelievers, the wife of Nuh and
the wife of Lut. They were [respectively] under two of Our righteous
slaves, but they were false to their [husbands] and they profited nothing before Allaah on their account, but were told: "Enter
the Fire, along with those who enter!" (66:10)
Abu Lahab and his wife are also among those mentioned specifically:
"Perish the hands of the Father of Flame [Abu Lahab]! Perish he! No profit
to him from all his wealth and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of blazing flames! His wife shall carry the
[crackling] wood, as fuel! A twisted rope of palm fibre round her [own] neck!"
(111:1-5)
Another of them is 'Amr ibn 'Aamir al-Khuzaa'i, whom the Prophet (saw) being
disembowelled in Hell (sahih hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Ahmad); and the one who killed 'Ammar and plundered his
possessions. A report with a Saheeh isnaad quoted in Mu'jam at-Tabaraani from 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, and his son states that the
Prophet (saw) said, "The one who killed 'Ammaar and plundered his possessions will be in Hell". (Saheeh al-Jaami', 4/110,
#4170)
The Disbelievers Among the Jinn Will Be In Hell
The disbelievers among the jinn will enter Hell just like the disbelievers among
mankind, for the jinn are held responsible for their actions just as human beings are:
"And I have only created jinns and men that they may worship Me [alone]" (51:56)
On the Day of Resurrection, the jinn and mankind will be gathered alike:
"And on the Day when He will gather them [all] together, [and say]: "O assembly
of jinns! Many did you mislead of men" (6:128)
"So by your Rabb, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and [also]
the Evil Ones [with them], then We shall bring them forth on their
knees round about Hell. Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against
Allaah the All-Gracious. And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein". (19:68-70)
Then Allaah (swt) will tell the disbelieving jinn:
"Enter in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and jinns
into the Fire". (7:38)
Then they will be thrown on their faces in Hell:
"Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire], they and those straying
in evil. And the whole hosts of Iblis together". (26:94-95)
Thus Allaah's promise that Hell will be filled with the disbelievers among
the jinn and mankind will be fulfilled:
"..And the word of your Rabb shall be fulfilled: "Surely I will fill Hell
with jinns and men all together" (11:119) "And the Sentence among the previous generations of jinns and men that had passed away is proved against then.." (41:25)
Those Who Will Not Remain in Hell Forever
(1) Definition: Those who will enter Hell and be brought forth at
a later time are the monotheists who did not associate anything with Allaah (swt) but they committed many sins that far outweigh
their good deeds. They will enter Hell for a period known only to Allaah (swt), then they will be brought forth through the
intercession of those who intercede, and Allaah (swt) will bring forth, through His Mercy, people who never did any good at
all.
(2) The Sins for which Allaah (swt) has promised Hell -
Here we will mention some of the sins which the Qur'aan and Hadeeth state
will earn the punishment of Hell:
(i) Following groups and sects that go against the Sunnah
Abu Dawood, ad-Daarami, Ahmad, al-Haakim and others narrate that Mu'awiyah
ibn Abi Sufyan said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (swt) stood up among us and said: "There
were some among the People of the Book before you who divided into seventy-two sects. This nation
will divide into seventy-three sects, seventy-two of whom will be in Hellfire, and only one in Paradise. (This group) is al-Jamaa'ah"
This is a sahih hadith. After mentioning its various asaanid (chain of narrator),
al-Haakim remarked, "These asaanid prove that this hadith is sahih". Adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
said, "It is a mashhoor sahih hadith al-Shatibee said in al-I'tisaam that it is sahih. Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani listed
its asaanid and stated that it is without a doubt sahih. (See Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Saheehah, hadith no. 204)
Siddeeq Hasan Khan suggested that the extra wording in the hadith, "all of
them are doomed except one" or "seventy two are in the Fire", was a da'eef addition. He transmitted this opinion from his
Shaykh, ash-Shawkaani, who narrated it from Ibn al-Wazeer and Ibn Hazm before him. He approved the opinion of one who said,
"This addition is one of the fabrications of the atheists because it puts people off Islaam and scares them away from embracing
it." (Yaqadhaat ul al-I'tibaar, p.206)
Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani refuted the opinion that this addition is
da'eef on two counts:
(a) Scholarly critical examination of the hadith indicates that this addition
is Sahih so the opinion that it is da'eef carries no weight.
(b) Those who say that it is sahih are greater in number and more knowledgeable
than Ibn Hazm, who is well-known among the scholars for being extremely strict in his criticism. His opinion should not be
taken as evidence if he is the only one who says so, even if there is no conflict, so how can it be taken as evidence when
it differs from everyone else's view?
Ibn al-Wazeer rejects the hadith on the grounds of its meaning rather than
its isnaad. Siddeeq Hasan Khan spoke on this in Yaqadhaat uli al-I'tibaar explaining that the indication of this addition
is that those of this ummah who will enter Paradise are few in number, whereas well-proven Sahih texts indicate that those
of this ummah who will enter Paradise are very many, so many that they will be half the population of Paradise:
This may be reconciled in the following ways:
a) Dividing the ummah into seventy-three sects does not mean that most of
this ummah will be in Hell, because most of its ummah are `awaam ("rank and file") who are not counted among those sects.
Those who deviated and established rules that contradict the Sunnah are few in number when compared to those who avoided falling
into that trap.
(b) Not everyone who differs from Ahl as-Sunnah is SOME issue is counted as
contradicting the Sunnah. What is meant is those people who adopted rules that made them a separate, independent group and
caused them to abandon many texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, like the Khawaarij, the Mu'tazilah and Rawaafidh.
As for those who adopt the Qur'aan and Sunnah and do not deviate from them,
if they differ in some matter it does not mean that they are counted as one of the (doomed) sects.
(c) This addition indicates that all other sects will enter Hell, but that
does not necessarily mean that they will abide therein forever.
It is well known that some of these sects are kuffar and will abide eternally
in Hell, like the extreme Baatinis who make a show of faith whilst concealing kufr in their hearts, and the Ismaa'ilis, Druze,
Nusayris and so on.
There are others who differ from Ahl as-Sunnah in some serious issues, but
that does not mean they are kuffaar. They have no definite guarantee of entering Paradise. Allaah (swt) may forgive them or
punish them as He wills. They made do some righteous deeds that will save them from Hell, or they may be saved by the intercession
of those who intercede, or they may enter Hell and remain there for as long as Allaah (swt) wills, then be brought forth through
the intercession of those who intercede and the Mercy of the Most Merciful.
(ii) Refusing to Migrate for the Sake of Allaah
Muslims are not permitted to remain in Daar al-Kufr if there are Muslim countries
to which they could migrate (NB: or if it becomes waajib on them to make hijrah) especially when staying in Daar al-Kufr exposes
them to trials and temptations. Allaah (swt) will not accept any excuse from those who refused to migrate:
"When the angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls,
they say: "In what [plight] were you?" They reply, "Weak and oppressed were we in the earth". They [the angels] say: "Was
not the earth of Allaah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away from evil?" Such men will find their abode in Hell
- what an evil refuge [or destination]! Except those who are really weak and oppressed - men, women and children, who have
no means in their power, nor [a guide post] to direct their way". (4:97-98)
Allaah (swt) will not excuse any of them (NB: upon whom hijrah was OBLIGATORY)
except those weak and oppressed person who had no means of migrating and could find no way of moving to Islaamic lands.
(iii) Judging Unjustly
Allaah (swt) revealed the Shari'ah to establish justice among mankind, and
He commanded His slaves to be Just:
"Verily Allaah commands the justice [and] the doing of good.." (16:90)
He has made it obligatory for rulers and judges to be just and never to be
unfair:
"Allaah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are
due; and when you judge between man and man, that you judge with justice".
(4:58)
Allaah (swt) threatens Hell to those who do not judge with justice. Buraydah
ibn al-Husayb narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
"There are three types of judges: one will be in Paradise and the other two
in Hell. The one who will be in Paradise is the one who knows the truth and judges according to it. As for the one who knows
the truth but is unjust in his judgement, he will be in Hell, as will the one who judges between people without understanding
or knowledge". (Abu Dawood - Jaami' al-Usool, 10/168)
(iv) Lying about [falsely attributing words to] the Messenger of Allaah
(saw)
Ibn al-Ithir included in his famous book, Jaami' al-Usool a chapter
in which he quoted many hadith that warn against lying about the Prophet (saw). These include the report by al-Bukhaari, Muslim
and at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib who said: "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said to me: "Do not lie about me (or falsely
attribute anything to me) for whoever lies about me will enter Hell".
al-Bukhaari reported that Salaman ibn al-Akwa' said: "I heard
the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say: "Whoever attributes to me words that I did not say, let him take his place in Hell".
al-Bukhaari and Abu Dawood reported that 'Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr
narrated from his father, az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwaam: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say: "Whoever lies about me deliberately,
let him take his place in Hell".
al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from al-Mughirah ibn
Shu'bah, "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said "Lying about me is not like lying about anybody else. Whoever lies about me,
let him take his place in Hell". (Jaami al-Usool, 10/211)
(v) Pride
One of the major sins, al-Kabaa'ir, is pride. Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated:
"The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said that Allaah (swt) said, "Pride is My cloak and greatness is My robe. Whoever competes
with Me in respect of either of them, I shall admit him to Hellfire". (according to another report, "I will make him taste
Hellfire") - Muslim.
Ibn Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "No one
who has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will enter Paradise". A man said, "But what if a man likes his clothes and
shoes to look good?" He said, "Allaah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride is rejecting the truth
and looking down on people". (Muslim).
(vi) Killing a person for no legitimate reason
Allaah says: "If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense
is Hell to abide therein [forever] and the Wrath and the Curse of Allaah are upon him, and a dreadful Penalty is prepared
for him". (4:93)
It is not permitted for a Muslim to kill another except in three cases, as explained in the hadith
narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud (ra) who said that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "It is not permitted
to shed the blood of any Muslim person who testifies that there is no god but Allaah (swt) and that I am His Prophet, except
in three cases: a soul for a soul (i.e in the case of murder), the married man who commits adultery, and the one who forsakes
his religion and abandons the jamaa'ah". (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 2/355)
al-Bukhaari narrates
from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "The believer has a chance so long as he does not spill blood that
it is forbidden to spill". Ibn Umar (ra) said, "One of the situations from which there is no escape for the one who falls
into it is the shedding of blood for no legitimate reason". (Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ad-Daayaat, Baab Qawl Allaah ta'ala
wa man yaqtul mu'minan muta'ammidan, Fath ul-Baari, 12/187)
The Prophet (saw) warned the Muslims against fighting one another and stated
that the killer and his victim will both be in Hell. Abu Bakrah said: "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "If two Muslims
face one another with swords, both the slayer and the slain will be in Hell". I asked, or it was asked, "O Messenger of Allaah
(it is clear about) the slayer, but what about the slain?" He said, "He was trying hard to kill his counterpart". (Muslim,
Kitaab al-Fitan, Baab idhaa tuwajaha al-Musliman bi sayfayhimaa 4/2213)
Hence the righteous slave of Allaah (swt) refuses to fight his brother, for
fear that he may be among the people of Hell, for the slayer will carry his own sins and those of his slain brother:
"Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Aadam. behold, they
each presented a sacrifice [to Allaah]: it was accepted from one but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will
slay you". Said the former: "Allaah does not accept the sacrifice of those who are righteous. If you do stretch your hand
against me to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against you to slay you, for I fear Allaah, the Cherisher of the
Worlds. For me, I intend to let you draw on yourself my sin as well as yours, for you will be among the Companions [or dwellers]
of the Fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong". (5:27-29)
(vii) Consuming Ribaa
One of the sins that will condemn a person to Hell is consuming ribaa. Allaah
(swt) says of those who indulge in this sin after they have come to know that He has forbidden it:
"..but those who repeat the offence (ribaa) are Companions (dwellers) of the
Fire - they will abide therein [forever]" (2:275)
"O you who believe! Devour not [interest, ribaa] doubled and multiplied, but
fear Allaah that you may [really] prosper. Fear the Fire, which is prepared for those who reject Faith". (3:130-131)
According to a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon, the Prophet (saw)
counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that would doom the one who committed them to Hell. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that
Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Avoid the seven sins that
will condemn the one who commits them to Hell". They asked, "What are they, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?" He said, "Associating
anything in worship with Allaah (swt); magic and witchcraft; killing anyone whose killing Allaah (swt) has forbidden, except
in the course of justice; consuming ribaa; consuming the wealth of the orphan; running away from the battlefield; and slandering
the reputation of innocent, chaste believing women".
(viii) Consuming people's wealth or property unjustly
As Allaah says: "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among
yourselves in vanities; but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good will. Nor kill [or destroy] yourselves,
for verily Allaah has been to you All-Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire,
and easy is it for Allaah" (4:29-30)
The one who consumes the wealth of people unjustly also consumes the property
of orphans unjustly. Allaah (swt) made specific mention of the property of orphans because of their weak position and the
ease which their property may be consumed, and the particular ugliness of this sin:
"Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their
own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire! (4:10)
(ix) Those Who Make Images of Animate Beings
The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are
those who make images and seek to imitate the creation of Allaah (swt). al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrate that 'Abdullaah ibn
Mas'ud said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection
are those who make images". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/505)
Ibn 'Abbaas said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, "Every maker
of images will be in the Fire, and for every image he made Allaah (swt) will create for him a soul [i.e. so that the punishment
will be multiplied accordingly] and Allaah (swt) will punish him in Hell." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
'Aaishah reported that the Prophet (saw) said, concerning a pillow that had
pictures on it, "The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: "Give life
to that which you have created". (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
'Aaishah also reported that the Prophet (saw) said "Those who will be most
severely punished are those who imitate the creation of Allaah (swt)" (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh)
Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah says, "Allaah (swt)
said, "Who is a greater wrongdoer than the one who tries to create something like My creation? Let them create a grain or
let them create a seed or a grain of barely" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
(x) Inclining to Those Who Do Wrong
One of the reasons why people will enter Hell is inclining towards and supporting
those who do wrong, the enemies of Allaah (swt);
"And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you, and you
have no protectors other than Allaah, nor shall you be helped". (11:113)
(xi) Women Who Are Dressed But Appear Naked, and Those Who Whip the
Backs of People
Another type of person who will enter Hell is the corrupt woman who makes
a display of herself and tempts men - perhaps this phenomenon has never been quite so widespread as it is now - and never
obeys Allaah (swt). Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "There are two types of people of Hell that
I have never seen; people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people, and women who are dressed
but appear naked, walking with an enticing gait, with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They
will never enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be discerned from such and such a distance".
(Muslim, al-Bayhaqi, and Ahmad - Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Saheehah, 3/316, no. 1326)
Concerning those who have whips like the tails of cattle, al-Qurtubee
said, "This type of whip can be seen among us in Morocco until now." Commenting on al-Qurtubee's remark, Siddeeq Hasan Khan
said, "Indeed it can be seen in every time and place, and it is increasing day by day among the leaders. We seek
refuge in Allaah (swt) from all that Allaah (swt) despises". (Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibaar p.113)
And I say: we still see such people in many places, striking the people. May
they and their like perish.
(xii) Those Who Torture Living Beings
Muslim reports in his Saheeh from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said,
"I was shown Hell and I saw a woman of Banu Israa'eel who was being punished
because of a cat that she had owned. She tied it up and did not feed it, or let it eat of the vermin of the earth, until it
died of hunger." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/688)
If this is the case for one who tormented a cat, then how will it be for those
who use all kinds of methods to torture human beings, especially when it is the righteous who are being tortured for their
faith and their Islaam? May Allaah curse those who torture the believers - be it in the lands of Chechnya, Kashmir, Maluku,
Philippines, Palestine, or in the jails of the Muslim lands.
(xiii) Insincerity in Seeking Knowledge
al-Haafidh al-Mundhiri mentions many hadiths that warn the person who seeks
knowledge for a cause other than the sake of Allaah (swt). We will quote a few of them here. Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought only for the sake of Allaah (swt) but seeks it purely
for some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection". It was reported by Abu Dawud
and Ibn Maajah, by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and by al-Haakim who said, "It is saheeh according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari
and Muslim".
Jaabir said, The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Do not seek knowledge in
order to compete with the knowledgeable, or to win arguments with the ignorant, or to show off in gatherings. Whoever does
any of that will be in Hell." It was reported by Ibn Maajah (ra), by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh and al-Bayhaqi.
Ibn 'Umar (ra) said that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks
knowledge for a reason other than for the sake of Allaah (swt), then let him take his place in Hell." It was reported by at-Tirmidhi
and Ibn Maajah from Ibn 'Umar via Khaalid ibn Durayk who did not hear it directly from him; the men in their isnaads are thiqaah."
(at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb by al-Mundhiri 1/91)
(xiv) Those Who Drink From Vessels of Gold and Silver
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allaah
(saw) said "The one who drinks from a vessel/utensil of god and silver is pouring the fire of Hell into his stomach". According
to a report narrated by Muslim, the wording is "The one who eats and drinks from vessels of gold and silver.." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh,
2/462)
Hudhayfah (ra) said, I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, "Do not wear
silk or brocade, do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from such platters, for these belong to them
[the kuffaar] in this world, and to you in the Hereafter" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
(xv) The One Who Cuts Down Trees that Offer Shade To People
'Abdullaah ibn Hubaysh (ra) said, The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever
cuts down shade trees, Allaah (swt) will cast him head first into Hell". (Abu Dawud, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/125. Sheikh
Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani mentioned it in Saheeh al-Jaami' 5/431, hadith no. 6352 and ascribed it to Abu Dawud an ad-Diyaa,
al-Mukhtarah.)
al-Bayhaqi reported, with a saheeh isnad from 'Aaishah that the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, "Those who cut down shade trees will be thrown on their heads in Hell." (al-Bayhaqi in Saheeh al-Jaami'
2/88, al-Albaani said it is saheeh)
(xvi) Those Who Commit Suicide
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said,
"Whoever kills himself with iron (a sharp instrument) then his iron will be in his hand, and he will be stabbing himself in
the stomach with it forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever kills himself with poison, then he will be drinking that poison forever
in the Fire of Hell. Whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will be throwing himself down forever in
the Fire of Hell". (at-Tawkheef min an-Naar, p. 148)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "The one
who strangles himself will be strangling himself in Hell, and the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in Hell".
(Saheeh al-Jaami' 5/114)
The Vast Number of People in Hell
Many texts indicate the large numbers of the children of Aadam will enter Hell,
and the few who will enter Paradise. Allaah (swt) says:
"Yet no faith will the greater part of mankind have, however ardently you
desire it." (12:103)
An indication of the large numbers of kuffaar and mushrikeen who rejected
the call of the Messengers is the fact that the Prophets will come on the Day of Resurrection some with a small group (of
less than ten), others with one or two and some with no followers at all. Muslim reports from Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet
(saw) aid:
"I was shown the nations and I saw a Prophet accompanied by a small group,
another accompanied by one or tow men, and another with no companions at all.."
(Saheeh Muslim, 1/198, no.220)
Many texts indicate that nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand
of the children of Aadam will enter Hell, and only one (in a thousand) will enter Paradise.
al-Bukhaari narrates from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (saw) said: Allaah will
say, "O Aadam!" Aadam will reply, "I respond to Your call, I am obedient to Your commands, and all good is in Your hands."
Then Allaah (swt) will say to Aadam, "Send forth the people of the Fire". Aadam will say, "How many are the people of the
Fire?!" Allaah (swt) will say, "Out of every thousand, take nine hundred and ninety-nine". At that time, children's hair will
turn grey and every pregnant female will spontaneously abort and you will see the people looking as if they are drunk, although
they are not, but Allaah's punishment will be most severe". This speech distressed his Companions and the said, "O Messenger
of Allaah (saw), who amongst us will be that man (one in a thousand)?" He said, "Be of good cheer: the thousand will be from
Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) and the one will be from among you". Then he said, "By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I hope
that you will be one third of the people of Paradise." We praised and glorified Allaah (swt) and then he said, "By Him in
Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of paradise, as you are among the nations like a white hair
on the hide of a black bull or a round hairless spot on the foreleg of a donkey". (al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Qawl
Allaah Azza wa jalla, innaa zalzalat al-Saa'ah, Shay'un 'Adheem, Fath al-Baari, 11/388; see also Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/610,
Musnad Ahmad 4/435).
It might be asked: how can we reconcile between these hadith and the report
from Abu Hurayrah in Saheeh al-Bukhaari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that Allaah (swt) said to Aadam ('alayhis-salaam)
- "Send forth [into Hell] ninety-nine out of every hundred [of your descendants]". It is obvious that these reports do not
contradict the other Saheeh reports that we have quoted above, because these figures are referring to different groups. The
hadith that mention a ratio of nine hundred and ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to all the progeny of Aadam, whilst
the hadith of al-Bukhaari that mentions a ratio of ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to the progeny of Aadam excluding
Ya'juj and Ma'juj. This reconciliation is more likely to be correct - as Ibn Hajar suggests - because Ya'juj and Ma'juj are
mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa'eed whereas they are not mentioned in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah. It may be said that the
first hadith refers to all of creation, so the ratio of people admitted to Hell when all nations are taken into account is
999 in every thousand. The latter hadith of al-Bukhaari explains the ratio of people who will enter Hell from this ummah alone.
Ibn Hajar (said) "This interpretation is supported by the words of the Sahabah in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (ra): "If ninety-nine
out of every hundred are taken from us, what will be left of us?" This division of people could happen twice: once involving
all the nations, when one in a thousand will enter Paradise, and a second time involving this ummah alone, when ten out of
every thousand will enter Paradise". (Fath al-Baari, 11/390).
The Wisdom Behind There Being So Many People In Hell
The reason why there will be so many people in Hell is not that the truth failed
to reach them all, wherever or whenever they lived. Allaah does not blame anyone whom His call did not reach:
"..Nor would We punish with Our Wrath until We had sent a Messenger [to give
warning]." (17:15)
"..And there never was a people, without a Warner having lived among them
[in the past]". (35:24)
The reason behind it is the fact that those who responded to the Messengers
were few in number, while those who disbelieved were great. Furthermore, many of those who responded were not pure and sincere
in faith.
In his book, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, Ibn Rajab discussed the reason why so
few people will enter Paradise and so many will enter Hell: "These hadith and other similar reports prove that most of the
children of Aadam will enter Hell, and that the followers of the Messengers are few in number when compared to the rest of
mankind. Those who did not follow the Messengers will enter Hell, except for those whom the Message did not reach, or who
could not understand it because of the garbled form in which they heard it. Many of those who claim to be followers of
the Messengers are in fact adhering to a distorted religion and an altered book, and they too will be among the people of
Hell, " as Allaah (swt) says:
"...But those of the sects that reject it [the Qur'aan] the Fire will be their
promised meeting-place" (11:17)
As for those who claim to follow the Book and Law of Allaah (swt) the true
religion, many of them will also enter Hell. These are the Munaafiqoon (the
hypocrites) who will be in the lowest level of the Fire. Many of those who claim to follow it openly and in secret will
be tested by ambiguities and doubts - these are the misguided inventors and followers of bid'ah (reprehensible innovations,
heresies). Several hadith have been narrated which state that the ummah will split into seventy-odd sects, all of which will
be in the Hell except for one. Many people will also be tested with forbidden desires for which the promised punishment is
Hellfire, although in this case it is not necessarily an eternal punishment. No one from this ummah will be saved from the
Fire, or deserve the absolute promise of Paradise, apart from the one sect or group, who follow the example and practice of
the Prophet (saw) and his Companions openly and in secret, and are saved from the temptation and trials of desires and doubts.
Such are very few indeed, especially in latter times". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, Ibn Rajab, p.214)
The main reason why so many follow their desires is that the love of such
things is deeply rooted in the human psyche:
"Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and children;
heaved-up hoards of gold and silver [wealth]; horses branded [for blood and excellence]; and [wealth of] cattle and well-tilled
land. Such are the possessions of this world's life.." (3:14)
Many people want to fulfill these desires in whatever way they wish, without
paying attention to the revealed laws of Allaah (swt), and by adhering to the customs of their forefathers in ways that contradict
these laws:
"Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before you [Muhammad] to
any people, the wealthy ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow
in their footsteps". [The Warner] said: "What! Even if I brought you better guidance than that which you found your fathers
following?" They said, "For us, we deny that you [Prophets] are sent [on a mission at all]". (43:23-24)
Loving the ways of one's forefathers to the point of sanctifying them is a
disease which many nations are suffering from, and its effects on the deeply-rooted desires of men are no less, if it is not
counted as a desire in itself.
at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and an-Nasaa'ee report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that
the messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "When Allaah (swt) created Hell, He told Jibreel, "Go and look at it." Jibreel went and
looked at it, and when he came back he said, "By Your Glory, I fear that no-one who hears of it will enter it". So He surrounded
it with desires, and said, "Go and look at it." Jibreel went and looked at it, and when he came back, he said, "By Your Glory,
I fear that there will be no-one left who does not enter it". (the version narrated by an-Nasaa'ee adds the words, "and at
what I have prepared for its inhabitants in it".) [Jaami al-Usool, 10/250, # 8068. at-Tirmidhi described it as sahih hasan].
al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet
(saw) said, "Hell is veiled in desires and Paradise is veiled in hardships".
Siddeeq Hasan Khan said, "What is meant by desires is the things
that people want and enjoy". al-Qurtubee said, "Desires are all those things that people like and towards which they are inclined,
and surrounding a thing means placing something all around it, so that it cannot be reached without going through it". (Yaqadhat
uli al-I'tibar, p.220)
Most of Those Who Enter Hell Will be Women
Most of the sinners amongst the monotheists who enter Hell will
be women, as is reported in as-Saheehayn, via Ibn 'Abbaas: in the khutbah given during a solar eclipse, the Prophet (saw)
said, "I saw Hell and I saw that most of its inhabitants were women".
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that the
Prophet (saw) said, "O women give in charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell." They asked,
"Why is that so, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?" He said, "Because you curse too much and are ungrateful for good treatment".
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet
(saw) said "I stood at the gate of Hell, and saw that most of those who entered were women".
Muslim reports from 'Imraan ibn Husayn (ra) that the Prophet (saw)
said, "Few of the inhabitants of paradise are women".
This does not contradict the fact that every man in Paradise will have more
than one wife. What is referred to by the women who will be the majority of the inhabitants of Hell is women who are descendants
of Aadam: the inhabitants of Paradise will have many wives from among al-Hoor al-'Iyn.
"Women will be few among the inhabitants of Paradise because in most cases
they prefer the immediate pleasures of this life, as they are less wise and unable to keep the Hereafter in mind. They are
too weak to strive and prepare themselves for it, and are more inclined towards this world. In spite of all this, they are
the strongest factor in this world that distracts men from the Hereafter, because men are inclined to desire them and they
are not concerned with the Hereafter. They are quick to follow those who call them to deviate from Islaam, and reluctant to
follow those pious people who call them to the Hereafter, and righteous deeds".
(al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, 1/369)
In spite of all this, there are many righteous women among them, who stay
within the limits set by Allaah (swt), adhere to His laws, and obey Allaah (swt) and His Messenger. Many of these women will
enter Paradise, and many of them excel over men in their faith and righteous deeds.
The Huge Size of the People of Hell
When the People of Hell enter the Fire they will be huge in size, in a form that
none can comprehend, except the One Who Created them.
According to a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said: "The distance between the shoulders of the Kaafir in Hell will be like three
day's travelling for a fast rider" (Muslim, 4/290)
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
"The molar of the kaafir or the eye-tooth of the kaafir, will be like Uhud, and the thickness of
his skin will be like a journey of three (days)". (Muslim, 4/2189, at-Tirmidhi, al-Haakim, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad)
Zayd ibn Arqam said, "The
man who is destined for Hell will become huge in preparation for it, so that one of his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud".
This is narrated by Ahmad, who attributes it to the Prophet (saw) but Zayd
did not state that he heard it from the Prophet (saw). (Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, 4/131, al-Albaani said its isnaad
is saheeh according to Ibn Maajah and Ahmad)
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "The kaafir's skin will be forty-two cubits thick and his molar will be like Uhud and the space he occupies
will be as wide as the distance between Makkah and Madinah." (at-Tirmidhi) (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/103, sahih hasan)
Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "The molar of the kaafir on the Day of Resurrection will be like Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will be
seventy cubits. His upper arm will be like al-Bayda', his thigh will be like Warqaan and the space he occupies will be like
the distance between me and ar-Rabdhah" (al-Haakim and Ahmad - Silsilah al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, 4/94. al-Baydaa` could be the
name of a mountain or it may refer to the well-known city in Morocco)
This increasing of the kaafir's body size will increase his suffering and
torment. Commenting on the hadith narrated by Muslim on this subject, an-Nawawi said, "All of this is in order to intensify
the suffering, and all of this is possible for Allaah (swt). We must believe in it, because the truthful (Prophet) has told
us about it" [Sharh an-Nawawi 'alaa Muslim, 17/186]. Ibn Katheer in a comment on these hadith said, "So that their punishment
and suffering may be more severe, as Allaah (swt) the Severe in punishment says:
"...that they may taste the Penalty". (4:46)
[Ibn Katheer, an-Nihayah, 2/139]
The Food, Drink and Clothing of the People of Hell
The food of the people of Hell is ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, and their drink is al-Hameem,
al-Ghasleen and al-Ghassaaq.
Allaah (swt) says:
"No food will there be for them but a bitter Daree obnoxious thorny plant,
which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger". (88:6-7)
ad-Daree is a thorny plant know as ash-Shubruq that grows in the Hijaaz. Ibn
'Abbaas said, "It is a low-growing thorny plant; when it grows tall it is called daree". Qataadah said, "It is one of the
very worst types of food" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.115). This food of the people of Hell will be of no benefit
whatsoever to them, and they will not enjoy it in the least; this is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer.
Allaah (swt) says:
"Verily the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful, like molten brass,
it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water." (44:43-46).
The Tree of Zaqqum is described in another aayah:
"Is that [Paradise] the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum [a horrible
tree in Hell]? For We have truly made it [as] a trial for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom
of Hellfire, The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils; Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies
therewith. Then on top of that they will be given to drink a mixture made of boiling water. Then, shall their return by to
the blazing Fire of Hell". (37:62-68)
Elsewhere in the Qur'aan, Allaah (swt) says:
"Then, will you truly - O you that go wrong, and treat [Truth] as Falsehood]!
You will surely taste of the tree of Zaqqum. Then you will fill your insides therewith, and drinkboiling water on top of it.
Indeed you will drink like diseased camels raging with thirst! Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital!" (56:51-66)
What we may understand from these aayaat is that this tree is a repulsive
tree, whose roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, and whose branches stretch forth all over. Its fruits are so ugly that
they are likened to the heads of devils, so that everyone may easily understand just how ugly they are, even though they have
never seen them. Although this tree is so vile and obnoxious, the people of Hell will become so hungry that they will have
no choice but to eat from it until they are full. When they have filled their bellies, this food will start to churn like
boiling oil, which will cause a great deal of suffering to them. At that point they will rush to drink al-Hameem, which is
an extremely hot water, and they will drink it like camels that drink and drink but their thirst is never quenched because
of some disease. Then it will tear their innards:
"..[they] will be given to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their
bowels [to pieces]" (47:15)
This is the hospitality that will be offered to them on that awesome Day.
May Allaah (swt) protect us from this by His Grace and Mercy.
When the people of Hell eat this vile food of ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, they
will choke because of its foulness:
"Verily with Us are fetters [to bind them] and a raging Fire [to burn them],
And a food that chokes and a Penalty grievous". (73:12-13)
The food that makes people choke is the food that sticks in the throat.
The Prophet (saw) portrayed for us the ugly and terrifying nature of az-Zaqqum:
"If one drop from az-Zaqqum were to land on this world, the people of earth
and all their means of sustenance would be destroyed. So how must it be for the one who must eat it?" It was reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, it is a sahih hasan hadith. [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/105,
narrated by Ibn 'Abbaas]
Another kind of food that will be eaten by the people of Hell is al-Ghasleen.
Allaah (swt) says:
"So no friend has he here this Day, Nor has he any food except corruption
[or filth] from the washing of wounds [al-Ghasleen], which none do eat but those in sin". (69:35-37)
"Yea, such! - Then shall they taste it - a boiling fluid and a fluid dark,
murky, intensely cold [ghassaaq]! And other penalties of a similar kind - to match them!" (38:57-58)
al-Ghasleen and al-Ghassaaq mean the same thing, which is the festering pus
that oozes out of the skin of the people of Hell. It was suggested that it refers to the offensive discharge that flows from
the private parts of adulterous women, and the decaying skin and flesh of the kuffaar. al-Qurtubee said, "It is the juice
of the people of Hell" [Yaqhadhat uli al-I'tibaar, p. 86]
Allaah tells us that al-Ghasleen is just one of many similarly obnoxious punishments.
The drink of the people of Hell will be al-Hameem. Allaah (swt) says:
"...and if they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass
that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (18:29)
"...and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it
unwillingly, and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it.." (14:16-17)
These aayaat mention four kinds of drink that the people of Hell have to endure:
(1) al-Hameem: an extremely hot water.
As Allaah says: "In its midst and in the midst of the boiling hot water will
they wander round!" (55:44)
This was explained as being ultra-hot water. And Allaah (swt) says: "They
will be given to drink from a boiling hot spring." (88:5)
(2) al-Ghassaaq: as discussed
above.
(3) al-Sadeed
(pus): what flows from the flesh and skin of the Kaafir. Muslim reports from Jaabir that the Prophet (saw) said, "Anyone who
drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabaal". They asked, "O Messenger of Allaah,
what is the mud of khabaal?" He said, "The sweat of the people of Hell", or "the juice of the people of Hell".
(4) al-Muhl: according to
the hadith of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri narrated by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi the Prophet (saw) said:
"It is like boiling oil, and when it is brought near a person's face, the
skin of the face falls off into it". Ibn 'Abbaas said, "It is
like very thick oil".
Some of the sinners will be fed the burning coals of Hell as an appropriate
punishment:
"Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat us a Fire into their
own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire!" (4:10)
"Those who conceal Allaah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them
a miserable profit - swallow into themselves naught but Fire.." (2:174)
As for the dress of the people of Hell, Allaah (swt) has told us that garments
of fire will be tailor-made for them, as it says in the Qur'aan:
"..But for those who deny [their Rabb] for them will be cut out a garment
of Fire; over their heads will be poured out boiling water" (22:19)
When Ibraaheem at-Taymi recited this Aayah he used to say, "Glory be to Allaah,
Who has created garments out of fire" (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.126)
Allaah (swt) says, "And you will see the sinners that Day bound together in
fetters. Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with Fire". (14:49-50)
This pitch or tar is melted copper. According to a hadith narrated
by Muslim from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari, the Prophet (saw) said, "The woman who wails for the dead, if she does not repent before
she dies, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection, wearing a shirt of tar and a shield of scabs." Ibn Maajah reported
this with the wording, "The woman who wails over the dead, who does not repent before she dies, Allaah (swt) will cut out
for her a garment of tar and a shield of scabs".
The Punishment of the People of Hell: The Intensity of the Suffering
of the People of Hell
The Fire is an intense punishment, in which there are different types of torment,
to escape which people would give the dearest possessions that they own:
"As for those who reject Faith, and die rejecting - never would be accepted
from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is [in store] a penalty
grievous and they will find no helpers". (3:91)
"As to those who reject faith - if they had everything on earth and
twice repeated, to give as ransom for the Penalty of the Day of Judgement, it would never be accepted of them. Theirs would
be a grievous Penalty." (5:36)
Muslim reports from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
"One of the people of Hell who found the most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection,
and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked: O son of Aadam, have you ever seen anything good? Have you
ever enjoyed any pleasure?" He will say, "No, by Allaah (swt), O Rabb"" (Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102).
Just a few short moments will make the kuffaar forget all the good times and
pleasure that they had enjoyed. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
"On the Day of Resurrection, Allaah will say to one whose punishment in the Fire is the lightest, "If you had whatever you
wanted on earth, would you give it up to save yourself?" He will say, "Yes". Allaah (swt) will say, "I wanted less than that
from you: when you were still in the loins of Aadam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted
on associating others in worship with Me"". (al-Bukhaari, in Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari,
11/416, See also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102)
The horror and intensity of the Fire will make a man lose his mind, and he
would give up everything he holds dear to escape it, but he will never be able to:
"..the sinner's desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from
the Penalty of that Day by [sacrificing] his children, his wife and his brother, his kindred who sheltered him, and all, all
that is on earth, so that it could deliver him. By no means! For it would be the Fire of Hell! Plucking out [his being] right
to the skull". (70:11-16)
This horrendous ongoing punishment will make the life of these evildoers one
of continual sorrow and pain.
Pictures of Their Punishments
(1) The Punishment of the People of Hell Will Vary in Degree
As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror
is greater than in others, so the people of Hell will be given different levels of punishment. According to a hadith narrated
by Muslim and Ahmad from Samurah, the Prophet (saw) said, concerning the people of Hell:"There
are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to
their collarbones". According to another report, "up to their necks" (Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat Na'imihaa, Baab
Shiddat Harr an-Naar, 4/2185)
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) has told us about those who will receive the
lightest punishment in Hell. al-Bukhaari reports from al-Nu'maan ibn Basheer who said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, "The person who will have
the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be
placed a smouldering ember, and his brains will boil because of it."
In another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari from an-Nu'maan ibn Basheer,
the Prophet (saw) said, "The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection
will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed two smouldering embers, because of which his brains will boil like
water boils in a mirjal [copper vessel] or qumqum [narrow-necked vessel]." (al-Bukhaari in Sahih, Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat
al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417, and Muslim in his Sahih, Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 363)
According to a report narrated from an-Nu'man ibn Basheer by Muslim, the Prophet
(Saw) said: The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection is a man who
will be given shoes and laces of fire, because of which his brains will boil like water in a mirjal (copper vessel). He will
not think that anyone could be more severely punished than himself, yet he will be the one with the lightest punishment".
(Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 364; Muslim also reports from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri in the same chapter, no. 361)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim both narrate from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that he heard
the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, when his uncle Abu Taalib was mentioned: "Maybe my intercession will help him on the Day
of Resurrection, so that he may be put in a shallow part of Hell, with fire reaching to his ankles and causing his brain to
boil". (al-Bukhaari in Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417 and Muslim in Kitaab al-Imaam,
Baab Shifa'at an-Nabi (saw), 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib, 1/195, hadith no. 360)
Many aayaat confirm the different levels of punishment that will be given
to the people of Hell:
"The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.." (4:145)
"..and [the Sentence will be] on the Day that
Judgement will be established [it will be said to the angels]: "Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest Penalty!" (40:46)
"Those who reject Allaah and hinder [men] from the Path of Allaah, for
them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief [or corruption]".
(16:88)
al-Qurtubi said, "This topic indicates that the kufr of the person who simply
disbelieves is not like the kufr of a person who oppresses, disbelieves, rebels and disobeys. There is no doubt that the kuffaar
will suffer different levels of punishment in hell, as is known from Qur'aan and Sunnah. We know for certain that the punishment
of those who oppressed and killed the Prophets and Muslims, and spread corruption and disbelief on earth, will not be the
same as the punishment of those who simply disbelieved, but treated the Prophets and Muslims well. Do you not see Abu Taalib,
how the Prophet (Saw) will bring him up to a shallow level of Hell, because he helped him, protected him and treated him well?
The hadith narrated by Muslim from Samurah may be interpreted as referring to the kuffaar, as there is a hadith about Abu
Taalib, or it may be interpreted as referring to those monotheists who will be punished". (at-Tadhkirah, p. 409)
Ibn Rajab said, "Know that the different levels of punishment suffered by
the people of Hell will be according to the levels of their deeds for which they entered Hell". Then he quotes the evidence
for that, such as the words of Ibn 'Abbaas, "The punishment of those who were extreme in their disbelief and spread corruption
on earth, calling others to kufr, will not be like the punishment of those who did not do such things". Then Ibn Rajab says,
"Similarly, the punishments of the monotheists in Hell will be at different levels, according to their deeds. The punishment
of those who were guilty of major sins (kabaa'ir) will not be like that of those who were guilty of minor sins (saghaa'ir).
The punishment may be reduced for some of them because of other good deeds, or for whatever reason Allaah (swt) wills. Hence
some of them may die in the Fire". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p. 142-143)
(2) Roasting of the Skin
The Fire of the Almighty will burn the skin of the kuffaar. The skin is the
site of sensation, where the pain of burning is felt, and for this reason, Allaah (swt) will replace the burnt skin with a
new one, to be burnt anew, and this will be repeated endlessly:
"Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the Fire.
As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty. For Allaah
is Exalted in Power, All-Wise" (4:56)
(3) Melting
One of the kinds of torment will be the pouring of al-Hameem over
their heads. al-Hameem is ultra-heated water; because of its extreme heat, it will melt their innards and everything inside:
"... then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will
be poured down over their heads. With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as [their] skins". (22:19-20)
at-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said:
"al-Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until
it reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out of his feet, and everything is melted, then
he will be restored as he was." He (at-Tirmidhi) said, "It is a sahih ghareeb hasan hadith".
(at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.145, Jaami' al-Usool, 10/540)
(4) Scorching (the face).
The noblest and most dignified part of a person is the face, hence the Prophet
(saw) forbade us to strike the face. One of the ways in which Allaah (swt) will humiliate the people of Hell is by gathering
them on their faces, blind, deaf and dumb, on the Day of Resurrection:
"..We shall gather them together prone on their faces, blind, dumb,
and deaf; their abode will be Hell; everytime it shows abatement, We shall increase for them the Fierceness of the Fire". (17:97)
Then they will be thrown on their faces in the Fire:
"And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire;
"Do you receive a reward other than that which you have earned by your deeds?" (27:90)
The Fire will burn and cover their faces forever, with no barrier between
them and it:
"If only the unbelievers knew [the time] when they will not be able
to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and [when] no help can reach them!" (21:39)
"The Fire will burn their faces and they will therein grin, with their
lips displaced" (23:104)
"Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire".
(14:50)
"Is then one who has to fear the brunt of the penalty on the Day of
Judgement [and receive it on] his face, [like one guarded therefrom]?" (39:24)
Look at this horrific scene that makes one shudder!
"The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will
say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger."
(33:66)
Do you not see that just as meat and fish
are turned over when they are cooked, so their faces will be turned over in the Fire of Hell. We seek refuge with Allaah (swt)
from the punishment of the people of Hell.
(5) Dragging
Another of the painful torments that the Kuffaar will suffer is being dragged
on their faces into Hell:
"Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad. The Day they will
be dragged through the Fire on their faces [they will hear]: "Taste the touch of Hell." (54:47-48)
Their pain at being dragged will be increased by the fact that they will be
tied up in chains and fetters:
"...But soon shall they know - when the yokes [shall be] round their necks,
and the chains, they shall be dragged along, in the boiling fetid fluid, then shall they be burned". (40:70-72)
Qataadah said, "They will be dragged once in the Fire, and once in al-Hameem."
(Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.147)
(6) Blackening of the faces.
Allaah (swt) will blacken the faces of the people of Hell in the Hereafter:
"On the Day when some faces will be [lit up with] white and some faces will
be [in the gloom of] black; to those who faces will be black [it will be said]: "Did you reject Faith after accepting it?
Taste then the Penalty for rejecting Faith". (3:106)
This is intense blackness, as if the darkness of night had covered their faces
"But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil, and ignominy
will cover their faces. No defender will they have from [the wrath of] Allaah. Their faces will be covered, as it were, with
pieces from the darkness of night. They are Companions [or dwellers] of the Fire, they will abide therein [for aye!] (10:27)
(7) The Fire Will Surround the Kuffaar
The people of Hell are the Kuffaar whose sins and disobedience surround them,
leaving no hasanah for them. Allaah (swt) said, in response to the Jews who claimed that the Fire would only touch them for
a certain length of time:
"Nay, those who seek gain in evil and are girt round by their sins - they
are companions [or dwellers] of the Fire; therein shall they abide [forever]"
(2:81)
No one will be in such a state unless he is a kaafir and a mushrik. Siddeeq
Hasan Khan says, "What is referred to here by evil deeds is a certain type of deed, the reasons for which should be overwhelming,
with no way out or means of achieving hasanah. Eternity in Hell is for the kuffaar and mushrikeen, so evil and sin in this
aayah has to be interpreted as meaning kufr and shirk. Thus the arguments of the Mu'tazilah and Khawaarij are shown to be
false by the proven mutawaatir reports that state that the sinners among the monotheists will eventually be brought forth
from Hell."
Sins and evil deeds surround the Kuffaar like a bracelet around the wrist,
so their punishment should fit their crimes. Hence the Fire will surround the Kuffaar on all sides, as Allaah (swt) says:
"There will be a bed of Hell [Fire] and over them coverings [of Hellfire]"
(7:41)
The "bed" is what comes under them, and the "coverings" are what come over
them. What is meant is that fires will surround them from above and below, as Allaah (swt) says:
"On the Day when the torment [Hellfire] shall cover them from above them and
from underneath their feet" (29:55)
"They shall have coverings of Fire above them, and coverings of Fire beneath
them". (39:16)
Some of the Salaf interpreted the "Bed" (al-Mihaad) as meaning a mattress
and the "cover" (al-Ghawaash) as being a blanket (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/168)
The "surrounding" may be interpreted in another way, which is that Hell will
have a wall to surround the kuffaar so that they will never be able to get out or escape form it, as Allaah (swt) says:
"..Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose [smoke and flames] like the
walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in; If they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass, that will
scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (18:29)
(8) The Fire Will Leap Up Over Their Hearts
We have already explained that the physical bodies of the people of Hell will
be made huge in size. In spite of that, the Fire will penetrate their bodies until it reaches their innermost depths:
"Soon will I cast him into Hellfire! And what will explain to you what Hellfire
is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone, Darkening and changing the colour of man!" (74:26-29)
Some of the Salaf said concerning the phrase, "naught does it leave alone"
that it meant, "it eats bones and flesh and brains and does not leave anything untouched" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar,
p.146)
Allaah (swt) says: "By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which
Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you what that which Breaks to Pieces is? [It is] the Fire of the [wrath of] Allaah,
kindled [to a blaze], that which mourns [right] to the hearts". (104:4-6)
Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurtubee said, "The Fire eats into him until it reaches
his heart, then his body will be created anew. It was reported that when Thaabit al-Bananee read this aayah, he said, "The
Fire will burn them until it reaches their hearts, while they are still alive; this is how great their suffering is!" Then
he wept." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)
(9) Their entrails will be spilled out in the Fire
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (saw)
said: "A man will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled
out into the Fire, and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather
around him and say, "O So-and-so, what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do evil?" He will
say, "I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it, and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it." Then
he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642, hadith
no. 5139)
One of the people whose entrails will be spilled out in Hell is 'Amr ibn Lahay
who was the first to change the religion of the Arabs. The Prophet (saw) saw him dragging his own entrails in Hell. Muslim
reports from Jaabir ibn Abdullaah that the Prophet (saw) said, "I saw 'Amr ibn 'Aamir al-Khuza'ee dragging his own entrails
in Hell, and he was the first one to introduce as-Saa'ibah (a she-camel turned loose for free pasture for the sake of idols,
upon which nothing was allowed to be carried". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642)
(10) The Chains, Fetters and Hammers of the People of Hell
Allaah (swt) has promised that the people of Hell will have chains fetters
and hammers in the Fire:
"For the Rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes and a blazing
Fire". (76:4)
"With Us are fetters [to bind them] and a Fire [to burn them]
and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous". (73:12-13)
The yokes will be placed around their necks:
"...We shall put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would
only be a requital for their ill [or evil] deeds". (34:33)
"When yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged
along." (40:71)
The chains or fetters are something with which Allah (swt) will punish them:
"With Us are fetters..." (73:12)
The chains are another kind of punishment, with which the wrongdoers will
be tied up, just as criminals are chained up in this world. See how the Qur'aan describes them:
"The stern command will say, "Seize him and bind him, and burn him in the
blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits". (69:30-32)
Allaah (swt) has promised the people of Hell hooked rods of iron which are like hammers with
which the evildoers will be beaten when they try to escape from the Fire, and they will be thrown ever deeper into Hell:
"And for them are hooked rods of iron [to punish them]. Every
time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and [it will be] said to them: "taste
the torment of burning!" (22:21-22)
(11) They will be accompanied by their objects of worship and their devils
in Hell
The Kuffaar and Mushrikeen used to glorify the false deities that they worshipped
instead of Allaah (swt); they would defend them and give of themselves and their wealth in their worshipping. On the Day of
Resurrection, Allaah (swt) will cause those deities that they used to worship instead of Him to enter the Fire, as a source
of humiliation and shame for them, so that they will know that they were misled and that they worshipped something that has
no power either to benefit them or to harm them:
"Verily, you [disbelievers] and the [false] gods that you worship
besides Allaah are [but] fuel for Hell! To it will you [surely] come! If these had been gods, they would not have got there!
But each one will abide therein." (21:98-99)
Ibn Rajab says, "Because the Kuffaar worship their gods instead of Allaah
(swt) and believe that they will intercede for them with Allaah (swt) and will bring them closer to Him, they will be punished
by having these gods in Hell with them as a source of humiliation and shame, and to make them feel deep sorrow and regret.
Because when a punishment is accompanied by the thing that was the reason for the punishment, the pain and sorrow becomes
more intense." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.105)
For this reason the sun and moon will be thrown into Hell, and will be fuel
for it, to punish those wrongdoers who used to worship them instead of Allaah. As the hadith says, "The sun and moon will
be rolled up in Hell". (al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, and al-Bazzar, al-Isma'eelee and al-Khattabee, see Silsilat al-Hadith
as-Saheehah, 1/32)
al-Qurtubee says, "They will be placed in Hell, because they were worshipped
instead of Allaah (swt). It is not a punishment for them, because they are inanimate, but that will be done in order to increase
the sorrow and shame of the Kaafireen. This is what was said by some of the scholars." (al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p.392)
For the same reason, the Kuffaar and their devils will be gathered together,
so as to make the punishment more intense:
"And if anyone withdraws himself from the remembrance of [Allaah]
All-Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one to be an intimate companion to him. Such evil ones really hinder them from the
Path, but they think that they are being guided aright! At length, when [such a one] comes to Us, he says, [to his evil companion],
"Would that between me and you were the distance of east and west". Ah, evil is the companion indeed! When you have done wrong,
it will avail you nothing, that Day that you shall be partners in punishment". (43:36-39)
(12) Their sorrow, regret and supplications
When the Kuffaar see Hell, they will be filled with intense regret, at a time
when regret will be of no avail:
"...they would declare [their] repentance when they see the penalty
but the judgement between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done unto them." (10:54)
When the Kuffaar looks at the record of his deeds, and sees his kufr and shirk,
for which he deserves eternal Hell, he will pray for oblivion and death:
"But he who is given his Record behind his back, soon will he
cry for perdition, and he will enter a blazing Fire". (84:10-12)
They will repeat their prayer for oblivion when they are thrown into the Fire
and its heat touches them:
"And when they are cast, bound together, into a constricted place therein,
they will plead for destruction there and then! This Day plead not for a single destruction: plead for destruction oft-repeated".
(25:13-14)
Their screams will grow louder and more desperate and they will call on their
Rabb, hoping that He (swt) will take them out of the Fire:
"Therein will they cry aloud [for assistance]: "Our Rabb! Bring
us out, we shall work righteousness, not the [deeds] we used to do." (35:37)
At that time, they will come to realise the error and foolishness of their
kufr:
"They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence
we would not [now] be among the companions of the blazing Fire". (67:10)
"They will say, "Our Rabb! Twice have You made us without life and twice have
you given us life! Now we have recognised our sins: Is there any way out [of this]?" (40:11)
But their prayer will be harshly refused, and they will be answered as animals
deserve to be answered:
"They will say, "Our Rabb! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, and
we became a people astray. Our Rabb! Bring us out of this; if ever we return [to evil] then shall we be wrongdoers indeed!"
He [Allaah] will say, "Be driven into it with ignominy! And speak not to Me!" (23:106-108)
The promise will come true, and they will reach a destination where no prayer
will benefit them and there will be no hope:
"If only you could see when the guilty ones will bend low their
heads before their Rabb [saying], "Our Rabb! We have seen and we have heard; now then send us back [to the world], we will
work righteousness for we do indeed [now] believe". If We had so willed, surely We could certainly have brought every soul
its true guidance, but the Word from Me will come true: I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together. Taste you then -
for you forgot the Meeting of this Day of yours, and We too will forget you - taste the penalty of eternity for your [evil]
deeds!" (32:12-14)
After that the people of Hell will call upon the keepers of Hell: "Pray to
your Rabb to lighten 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 nothing
but [futile wandering] in [mazes of] error". (40:49-50)
Then they will ask for intercession so that their Rabb might annihilate them:
"And they will cry, "O Malik [Guard of Hell]! Would that your
Rabb put an end to us". He will say, "Nay, but you shall abide"" (43:77)
Everything they ask for will be refused. There will be no coming out of the
Fire, no reduction in the torment, and no oblivion. Rather it is ongoing, eternal punishment, and at that time they will be
told:
"...and whether you are patient of it, or impatient of it, it is all the same.
You are only being requited for what you used to do." (52:16)
Then their wailing will increase, and they will weep for a long time:
"Let them laugh a little: much will they weep: a recompense for the [evil]
that they do". (9:82)
They will weep until no tears are left, then they will weep blood,
and their tears will leave traces on their faces like the channels cut into rock by water. In al-Mustadrak by al-Haakim there
is a report from 'Abdullaah ibn Qays that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "The people of Hell will weep so much that if
ships were placed in their tears, they would float, and they will weep blood - meaning, instead of tears"
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "The people of Hell
will be made to weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left. Then they will weep blood until they have as it were
channels in their faces, if ships were put in them, they would float". (1)
Those evildoers lost their own souls and their families when they preferred
kufr to eemaan. Listen to the wailing and cries when they are punished:
"The Day when their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will
say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger!" And they would say, "Our Rabb, verily we obeyed
our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) Path. Our Rabb, give them double penalty and curse them
with a very great curse!" (33:66-68)
Listen to how Allaah (swt) described their condition [we seek refuge with
Allaah (swt) from that]:
"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 earth endure, except as your Rabb wills.." (11:106-107)
az-Zajjaj said, "The high tone (az-Zafeer) is because of the intensity of
their groaning and it is very high. It was suggested that az-Zafeer means the panting of the breath in the chest due to extreme
fear, so that the ribs become swollen. The "low tone" (ash-Shaheeq) is a long drawn-out breath, or an intake of breath; in
either case it is an indication of the great extent of their grief and anguish. Their situation is likened to that of the
one whose heart was overwhelmed by heat and whose soul was surrounded by it. al-Layth said, "az-Zafeer means that a man will
take deep breaths because of his intense grief, and ash-Shaheeq refers to his exhaling" (Siddeeq Hasan Khan, Yaqadhat uli
al-I'tibaar p.72)
(1) Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated these two hadiths in Silsilat
al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 4/245, no. 1679 and attributed the first hadith to al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak. al-Haakim said "It is
a hadith whose isnaad is saheeh". adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Sheikh Naasir said, "He should have added: according to the
conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim. All the men of its isnaad are men who narrated the hadith they (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
recorded. He mentioned that one of them, Abul-Nu'man, whose nickname was 'Aarim had become confused. Sheikh Naasir quoted
the second hadith in support of the first, and attributed it to Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Abi-Dunyaa; Yazeed al-Raqqas one of the
narrators, is da'eef, but the rest of the narrators are those from whom al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated.
How to Save Oneself From the Fire
As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved
from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:
"Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us
then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire". (3:16)
"...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give
us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never
will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: "Believe in your Rabb," and
we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the
company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us
from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise". (3:191-194)
Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that
will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allaah (swt). In al-Haakim's al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad's al-Musnad, a report
from Anas ibn Maalik (ra) states, "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "By Allaah (swt), Allaah will never thrown one whom
He loves into the Fire" (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami' 6/104)
Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in
al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah: "The Prophet (saw) said, "Allaah
(swt) says, "Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from the Fire". (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)
In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the
Prophet (saw) said, "Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allaah (swt)" It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah
and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264).
If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then that
is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "Whoever fasts
for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance
from the Fire". (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee - Sahih al-Jaami' 5/310)
Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allaah and jihaad for His
sake:
"But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will
be two gardens [ie in Paradise]" (55:46)
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger
of Allaah(saw) said: "No one who weeps out of fear of Allaah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast [i.e.
never] and a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allaah (swt) and the smoke of Hell". (Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
"No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allaah (swt) will never meet in the Fire of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349,
no. 3794)
Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
"A Kaafir and the one who kills him will never meet in the Fire of Hell." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3795)
We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allaah from
it:
"Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath
is indeed an affliction grievous." Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in". (25:64-65)
Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from
Anas, that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "No one asks Allaah (swt)) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say,
"O Allaah (swt) admit him to Paradise". And no Muslim asks Allaah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say,
"O Allaah save him from me"" (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that when the Prophet
(saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, "Allaah (swt) asks them and He knows best, "What
are they seeking protection from?" They tell Him, "From the Fire". He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by Allaah,
O Rabb, They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if they had seen it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid
and anxious to escape it". He (swt) says, "Bear witness that I have forgiven them"". (Sahih al-Jaami', 2/233, no. 2169)
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