the hell

The Hell

The Hell

All praises be to Allah, peace and prayer of Allah be upon His messenger, his family, his companions, and all people who follow him until the Last Day.

The following article is a brief picture of the terrible torment of the Hell, [1] based on what revealed in the Qur’an and valid or good hadith of the Prophet -with Allah’s permission. Hopefully, it will motivate us to avoid every wickedness that can lead us to the Hell.

The Width and Depth of the Hell

Allah the Exalted decreed, which can be translated as,

“And when Hell is brought near that Day. On that Day will man understand, but of what avail will that understanding be?” (QS. Al Fajr: 23)

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said:

يُؤْتَى بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَهَا سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ زِمَامٍ مَعَ كُلِّ زِمَامٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَجُرُّونَهَا

“Hell will be brought on that Day (the Day of Resurrection) with seventy thousand reins, each rein being held by seventy thousand angels pulling it.” (Narrated by Muslim).

If a stone is dropped from the top of Hell, it will get to the bottom after a period of 70 years. [2]

Terrors of The Hell

The Hell has 7 distinct doors (layers), each door is prepared for certain group of people [3] and the doors are tightly closed for the infidels [4]. It’s fire has 69 times the heat of worldly fire [5]. It is fueled with men and stones [6]. It’s dwellers will never feel coolness in and outside their bodies [7]; they will be surrounded by fire [8] and will be given boiled water to drink [9].

The food of it’s dwellers is the tree of Zaqqum, which flower resembles the head of Satan [10], if only a drop of it fell onto the earth, it’ll surely destroy the life on earth, then what about those consume it? [11]. Beside the tree of Zaqqum, they also consume the tree of Dhari’ (thorn tree) [12].

As for their drinks are ghisliin (pus mixed with blood oozed from the body of Hell dwellers) [13], hamim (boiled water), ghassaq (ar Rabi’ Ibn Anas said, “It is a pool of pus, sweats, tears, and blood of the Hell dwellers, very cold and foul smelled”) and shadid (pus mixed with blood) [14].

The infidels can hear the terrible sound of the Hell, When they will be cast into it, they will hear it roar as it boils, as though it will burst with rage. Every time a multitude is cast into it, its keepers will ask them: “Did no warner come to you?” [15]

The Hell Keepers are Fierce and Stern Angels [16].

Their clothes will be from qathiran (coal tar) [17], and they will be given rugs and blankets of fire[18]. There they shall groan with anguish and the din and noise in Hell will not let them hear anything. [19] They beg to be saved from it, and they promise to do righteous deeds if they are back to the world, but their hopes are of vain wishes. They shall call out: “O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us.” He will reply: “You must stay on in it. [20] Those suffering in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell: “Call upon your Lord to lighten the chastisement for us just for a day.” The keepers of Hell will ask: “Did your Messengers not come to you with Clear Signs?” They will say: “Yes (they did).” The keepers of Hell will say: “Then you yourselves should call (upon the Lord). And the call of the unbelievers will end in vain.” Surely We shall help Our Messengers and the believers in the life of this world and on the Day when witnesses will rise to testify, [21] – We seek safety and health from Allah -, and other kinds of terrible torments. As often as their skins are burnt out, We shall give them other skins in exchange that they may fully taste the chastisement [22]. Then they will neither die in it, nor live [23].

A disbeliever’s skin will be forty-two forearm lengths thick, his molar teeth will be like Uhud (mountain), and his sitting place in Hell will be like what is between Makkah and Medina [24].

Some of the Fire (in the shape of a long neck) will come out of the Fire on the Day of Judgement. It will have two eyes which can see, two ears which can hear, and a tongue which can speak. It will say: “I have been left in charge of three: Every obstinate oppressor, everyone who called upon a deity besides Allah, and the image makers.” [25]

people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture-makers, whom will be told to enliven it [26].

When the Day of Resurrection comes, every Muslim will be given a Jew or a Christian, to be their ransom from the Fire [27].

The First Ones to be Put Into Trial

The first ones to be put into trial on the Resurrection Day are, (first) one who was thought to die as a martyr. Then Allah brought to him His graces, and he recognized it. Allah declared to him, “What did you with it?” He replied, “I fought in Your Cause until I died as a martyr.” Allah decreed, “You’re lying. Indeed, you fought so that people would title you as a brave man, and so they did.” And then Allah commanded to drag him with face downward until he was casted to the Hell. (the second) one who learned religious knowledges, taught people of it, and recited the Qur’an, then he was brought to be put i to trial. Allah brought him His graces, and he recognized it. Allah decreed, “What did you do with it?” He replied, “I learned religious knowledges, taught people of it, and recited the Qur’an in Your Cause.” Allah decreed, “You’re lying. Indeed you did those to be said as a scholar, and you recited the Qur’an to be said as a reciter, and those were said.” And then Allah commanded him to be dragged with his face downward and then casted to the Hell. And one whose provisions were expanded, and Allah gave him various kinds of wealth. Allah brought him His graces, and he recognized it. Allah decreed, “What did you do with it ” He replied, “There was none of a way, in which You’d like one to give charity in, but I’ve spent my wealth in it because of You.” Allah decreed, “You lied. Indeed you did to to be said as generous man and it was said…and so on.” [28] We seek safety and health from Allah.

Majority of The Hell Dwellers

Generally the Hell will be filled with rude and arrogant people, also the stingy wealth hoarders [29], whereas the Paradise will be inhabited by the poor, the weak, and destitute [30]. Also, majority of the Hell dwellers will be of women, due to their lack of gratitude towards the kindness of their husband [31].

Among the dwellers of Hell, there is one who are exposed to the fire of hell to his ankle, there were exposed to the waist and was exposed to fire up his throat [32]

One Who Committed Major Sin Will not be Eternal if Died upon Tawheed

Those who have had faith equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed to be taken out from Hell. So they will be taken out but (by then) they will be blackened (charred). Then they will be put in the river of Hayâ’ or Hayât (life) and they will revive like a grain that grows near the bank of a flood channel. [33]

Author: Marwan Ibn Musa
Article of www.whatisquran.com

References:

  • “Tafseer Ibn Katsir” by Imam Ibn Katsir
  • “The Splendor of Paradise and the Terrors of Hell” (Sheikh Ali Hasan; a translation)
  • “After Death Obstacles” by Zainal Abidin,
  • “Shahihul Jami’, etc.

____________________
Notes:

[1] Keep in mind, that God gave severe punishment to the inhabitants of hell, not because oppressed them, but becauseof justice.
[2] Narrated by Muslim.
[3] See Al Hijr/The Rocky Tract: 43-44.
[4] See Al Humazah/The Traducer: 8.
[5] Narrated by Muslim.
[6] See At Tahrim/The Prohibition: 6.
[7] See An Naba’/The Tidings: 24.
[8] See Az Zumar/The Troops: 16.
[9] See An Naba’/The Tidings: 25.
[10] See Ash Shaaffaat/Those Who Set the Ranks: 62-68.
[11] Narrated by Tirmidhi, he commented, “Hasan shahih.”
[12] See Al Ghaasyiyah/The Overwhelming: 6.
[13] See Al Haaqqah/The Reality: 35-37.
[14] See Ibrahim: 16.
[15] See Al Mulk/The Sovereignty: 7-8.
[16] See At Tahrim/The Prohibition: 6.
[17] See Ibrahim: 49-50.
[18] See Al A’raaf/The Height: 41.
[19] See Al Anbiya’/The Prophets: 100, Hud: 106 dan Faathir/Originator: 37.
[20] See Az Zukhruf/The Ornaments of Gold: 77.
[21] See Al Mu’min/The Believer: 49-51.
[22] See An Nisa’/The Women: 56.
[23] See Al A’laa/The Most High: 13.
[24] Narrated by Tirmidhi.
[25] Narrated by Ahmad and Tirmidhi, See: Silsilah Ash Shahihah (512).
[26] Narrated by Bukhari.
[27] Narrated by Muslim.
[28] Narrated by Muslim.
[29] See: Shahihul Jami’ no. 2529.
[30] Narrated by Muslim.
[31] Narrated by Bukhari.
[32] Narrated by Muslim.
[33] Narrated by Bukhari.

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