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al-Jannah wa an-Naar
In The Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah
Based on the Book by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar
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
locaetd, 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" 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)
The 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, In 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)
The 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 hat 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) ha
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
cal 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 good"
(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 drink
boiling 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 w |