This will be the start of a series of articles on Jahannam
Pictures of Their Punishments
(1) The Punishment of the People of Hell Will Vary in Degree
As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror is greater than in others, so the people of Hell will be given different levels of punishment. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim and Ahmad from Samurah, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) said, concerning the people of Hell:"There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to their collarbones". According to another report, "up to their necks" (Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat Na'imihaa, Baab Shiddat Harr an-Naar, 4/2185)
The Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) has told us about those who will receive the lightest punishment in Hell. al-Bukhaari reports from al-Nu'maan ibn Basheer who said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) say, "The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed a smouldering ember, and his brains will boil because of it."
al-Bukhaari and Muslim both narrate from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) say, when his uncle Abu Taalib was mentioned: "Maybe my intercession will help him on the Day of Resurrection, so that he may be put in a shallow part of Hell, with fire reaching to his ankles and causing his brain to boil". (al-Bukhaari in Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417 and Muslim in Kitaab al-Imaam, Baab Shifa'at an-Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam), 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib, 1/195, hadith no. 360)
Many aayaat confirm the different levels of punishment that will be given to the people of Hell:
"The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.." (4:145)
"..and on the Day that Judgement will be established : "Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest Penalty!" (40:46)
"Those who reject Allaah and hinder from the Path of Allaah, for them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief ". (16:88)
al-Qurtubi said, "This topic indicates that the kufr of the person who simply disbelieves is not like the kufr of a person who oppresses, disbelieves, rebels and disobeys. There is no doubt that the kuffaar will suffer different levels of punishment in hell, as is known from Qur'aan and Sunnah. We know for certain that the punishment of those who oppressed and killed the Prophets and Muslims, and spread corruption and disbelief on earth, will not be the same as the punishment of those who simply disbelieved, but treated the Prophets and Muslims well. Do you not see Abu Taalib, how the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) will bring him up to a shallow level of Hell, because he helped him, protected him and treated him well? The hadith narrated by Muslim from Samurah may be interpreted as referring to the kuffaar, as there is a hadith about Abu Taalib, or it may be interpreted as referring to those monotheists who will be punished". (at-Tadhkirah, p. 409)
(2) Roasting of the Skin
The Fire of the Almighty will burn the skin of the kuffaar. The skin is the site of sensation, where the pain of burning is felt, and for this reason, Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will replace the burnt skin with a new one, to be burnt anew, and this will be repeated endlessly:
"Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty. For Allaah is Exalted in Power, All-Wise" (4:56)
(3) Melting
One of the kinds of torment will be the pouring of al-Hameem over their heads. al-Hameem is ultra-heated water; because of its extreme heat, it will melt their innards and everything inside:
"... then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as skins". (22:19-20)
at-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallaahu Anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) said: "al-Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until it reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out of his feet, and everything is melted, then he will be restored as he was." He (at-Tirmidhi) said, "It is a sahih ghareeb hasan hadith". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.145, Jaami' al-Usool, 10/540)
(4) Scorching (the face).
The noblest and most dignified part of a person is the face, hence the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) forbade us to strike the face. One of the ways in which Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will humiliate the people of Hell is by gathering them on their faces, blind, deaf and dumb, on the Day of Resurrection:
"..We shall gather them together prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf; their abode will be Hell; everytime it shows abatement, We shall increase for them the Fierceness of the Fire". (17:97)
Then they will be thrown on their faces in the Fire:
"And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire; "Do you receive a reward other than that which you have earned by your deeds?" (27:90)
The Fire will burn and cover their faces forever, with no barrier between them and it:
"If only the unbelievers knew when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and no help can reach them!" (21:39)
"The Fire will burn their faces and they will therein grin, with their lips displaced" (23:104)
"Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire". (14:50)
"Is then one who has to fear the brunt of the penalty on the Day of Judgement his face, ?" (39:24)
Look at this horrific scene that makes one shudder!
"The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger." (33:66)
Do you not see that just as meat and fish are turned over when they are cooked, so their faces will be turned over in the Fire of Hell. We seek refuge with Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) from the punishment of the people of Hell.
(5) Dragging
Another of the painful torments that the Kuffaar will suffer is being dragged on their faces into Hell:
"Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad. The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces : "Taste the touch of Hell." (54:47-48)
Their pain at being dragged will be increased by the fact that they will be tied up in chains and fetters:
"...But soon shall they know - when the yokes round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along, in the boiling fetid fluid, then shall they be burned". (40:70-72)
Qataadah said, "They will be dragged once in the Fire, and once in al-Hameem." (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.147)
(6) Blackening of the faces.
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will blacken the faces of the people of Hell in the Hereafter:
"On the Day when some faces will be white and some faces will be black; to those who faces will be black : "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the Penalty for rejecting Faith". (3:106)
This is intense blackness, as if the darkness of night had covered their faces
"But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil, and ignominy will cover their faces. No defender will they have from Allaah. Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the darkness of night. They are Companions of the Fire, they will abide therein [for aye!] (10:27)
(7) The Fire Will Surround the Kuffaar
The people of Hell are the Kuffaar whose sins and disobedience surround them, leaving no hasanah for them. Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) said, in response to the Jews who claimed that the Fire would only touch them for a certain length of time:
"Nay, those who seek gain in evil and are girt round by their sins - they are companions of the Fire; therein shall they abide " (2:81)
No one will be in such a state unless he is a kaafir and a mushrik. Siddeeq Hasan Khan says, "What is referred to here by evil deeds is a certain type of deed, the reasons for which should be overwhelming, with no way out or means of achieving hasanah. Eternity in Hell is for the kuffaar and mushrikeen, so evil and sin in this aayah has to be interpreted as meaning kufr and shirk. Thus the arguments of the Mu'tazilah and Khawaarij are shown to be false by the proven mutawaatir reports that state that the sinners among the monotheists will eventually be brought forth from Hell."
Sins and evil deeds surround the Kuffaar like a bracelet around the wrist, so their punishment should fit their crimes. Hence the Fire will surround the Kuffaar on all sides, as Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"There will be a bed of Hell and over them coverings " (7:41)
The "bed" is what comes under them, and the "coverings" are what come over them. What is meant is that fires will surround them from above and below, as Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"On the Day when the torment shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet" (29:55)
"They shall have coverings of Fire above them, and coverings of Fire beneath them". (39:16)
Some of the Salaf interpreted the "Bed" (al-Mihaad) as meaning a mattress and the "cover" (al-Ghawaash) as being a blanket (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/168)
The "surrounding" may be interpreted in another way, which is that Hell will have a wall to surround the kuffaar so that they will never be able to get out or escape form it, as Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"..Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in; If they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (18:29)
(8) The Fire Will Leap Up Over Their Hearts
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you what that which Breaks to Pieces is? the Fire of the Allaah, kindled , that which mourns to the hearts". (104:4-6)
Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurtubee said, "The Fire eats into him until it reaches his heart, then his body will be created anew. It was reported that when Thaabit al-Bananee read this aayah, he said, "The Fire will burn them until it reaches their hearts, while they are still alive; this is how great their suffering is!" Then he wept." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)
(9) Their entrails will be spilled out in the Fire
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) said: "A man will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire, and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, "O So-and-so, what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do evil?" He will say, "I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it, and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it." Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642, hadith no. 5139)
One of the people whose entrails will be spilled out in Hell is 'Amr ibn Lahay who was the first to change the religion of the Arabs. The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam him dragging his own entrails in Hell. Muslim reports from Jaabir ibn Abdullaah that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi WaSalaam) said, "I saw 'Amr ibn 'Aamir al-Khuza'ee dragging his own entrails in Hell, and he was the first one to introduce as-Saa'ibah (a she-camel turned loose for free pasture for the sake of idols, upon which nothing was allowed to be carried". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642)
(10) The Chains, Fetters and Hammers of the People of Hell
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) has promised that the people of Hell will have chains fetters and hammers in the Fire:
"For the Rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes and a blazing Fire". (76:4)
"With Us are fetters and a Fire and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous". (73:12-13)
The yokes will be placed around their necks:
"...We shall put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be a requital for their ill deeds". (34:33)
"When yokes round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along." (40:71)
The chains or fetters are something with which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will punish them:
"With Us are fetters..." (73:12)
The chains are another kind of punishment, with which the wrongdoers will be tied up, just as criminals are chained up in this world. See how the Qur'aan describes them:
"The stern command will say, "Seize him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits". (69:30-32)
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) has promised the people of Hell hooked rods of iron which are like hammers with which the evildoers will be beaten when they try to escape from the Fire, and they will be thrown ever deeper into Hell:
"And for them are hooked rods of iron . Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and said to them: "taste the torment of burning!" (22:21-22)
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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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"No food will there be for them but a bitter Daree obnoxious thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger". (88:6-7)
ad-Daree is a thorny plant know as ash-Shubruq that grows in the Hijaaz. Ibn 'Abbaas said, "It is a low-growing thorny plant; when it grows tall it is called daree". Qataadah said, "It is one of the very worst types of food" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.115). This food of the people of Hell will be of no benefit whatsoever to them, and they will not enjoy it in the least; this is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer. Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum ? For We have truly made it 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"Then, will you truly - O you that go wrong, and treat 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:
".. will be given to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels " (47:15)
This is the hospitality that will be offered to them on that awesome Day. May Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 and a raging Fire , 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 (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"So no friend has he here this Day, Nor has he any food except corruption 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 ! 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 Ta'ala 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"...and if they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (18:29)
"...and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find great difficulty in swallowing it.." (14:16-17)
These aayaat mention four kinds of drink that the people of Hell have to endure:
(1) al-Hameem: an extremely hot water.
As Allaah says: "In its midst and in the midst of the boiling hot water will they wander round!" (55:44)
This was explained as being ultra-hot water. And Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says: "They will be given to drink from a boiling hot spring." (88:5)
(2) al-Ghassaaq: as discussed above.
(3) al-Sadeed (pus): what flows from the flesh and skin of the Kaafir. Muslim reports from Jaabir that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabaal". They asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, what is the mud of khabaal?" He said, "The sweat of the people of Hell", or "the juice of the people of Hell".
(4) al-Muhl: according to the hadith of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri narrated by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said: "It is like boiling oil, and when it is brought near a person's face, the skin of the face falls off into it". Ibn 'Abbaas said, "It is like very thick oil".
Some of the sinners will be fed the burning coals of Hell as an appropriate punishment:
"Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat us a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire!" (4:10)
"Those who conceal Allaah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit - swallow into themselves naught but Fire.." (2:174)
As for the dress of the people of Hell, Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) has told us that garments of fire will be tailor-made for them, as it says in the Qur'aan:
"..But for those who deny for them will be cut out a garment of Fire; over their heads will be poured out boiling water" (22:19)
When Ibraaheem at-Taymi recited this Aayah he used to say, "Glory be to Allaah, Who has created garments out of fire" (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.126)
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says,
"And you will see the sinners that Day bound together in fetters. Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with Fire". (14:49-50)
The Punishment of the People of Hell:
The Intensity of the Suffering of the People of Hell
The Fire is an intense punishment, in which there are different types of torment, to escape which people would give the dearest possessions that they own:
"As for those who reject Faith, and die rejecting - never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is a penalty grievous and they will find no helpers". (3:91)
"As to those who reject faith - if they had everything on earth and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the Penalty of the Day of Judgement, it would never be accepted of them. Theirs would be a grievous Penalty." (5:36)
Muslim reports from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said: "One of the people of Hell who found the most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked: O son of Aadam, have you ever seen anything good? Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?" He will say, "No, by Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala), O Rabb"" (Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102).
Just a few short moments will make the kuffaar forget all the good times and pleasure that they had enjoyed. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, Allaah will say to one whose punishment in the Fire is the lightest, "If you had whatever you wanted on earth, would you give it up to save yourself?" He will say, "Yes". Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will say, "I wanted less than that from you: when you were still in the loins of Aadam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me"". (al-Bukhaari, in Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/416, See also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102)
The horror and intensity of the Fire will make a man lose his mind, and he would give up everything he holds dear to escape it, but he will never be able to:
"..the sinner's desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by his children, his wife and his brother, his kindred who sheltered him, and all, all that is on earth, so that it could deliver him. By no means! For it would be the Fire of Hell! Plucking out right to the skull". (70:11-16)
This horrendous ongoing punishment will make the life of these evildoers one of continual sorrow and pain.
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 angels stern severe, who flinch not the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do they are commanded." (66:6)
Their number is nineteen as Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 " (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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 of Hell: "Call upon your Rabb to lighten for us the torment for a day!" (40:49)
The Gates of Hell
Allaah has told us that Hell has seven gates, as He (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) said:
"And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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."
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 . 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 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says,
"But those who reject Our Signs, they are the Companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over ." (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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"Woe to every 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 Allaah, kindled , which mounts to the heart. It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched." (104:1-9)
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 Intensity of Its Heat and the Vastness of Its Smoke and Sparks
Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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, neither cool, nor 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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:
"But he whose balance will be light, will have his home in a pit. And what will explain to you what this 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 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 in three columns, no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze". Indeed! It throws about sparks as forts, as if there were yellow camels ." (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 (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) 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 (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) told us: "Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell." Someone said, "O Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam), it is enough as it is!" He said, "It 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 ; 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 (Radiyallahu Anhu) who said:
"The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) 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 (Radiyallahu Anhu) 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)
As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:
"Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire". (3:16)
"...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling to faith: "Believe in your Rabb," and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise". (3:191-194)
Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allaah Ta'ala. In al-Haakim's al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad's al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn Maalik (Radiyallahu Anhu) states, "The Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "By Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala), Allaah will never thrown one whom He loves into the Fire" (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami' 6/104)
Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah: "The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says, "Fasting is a shield with which one may protect oneself from the Fire". (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)
In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala)" It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264).
If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said: "Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove him seventy years distance from the Fire". (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee - Sahih al-Jaami' 5/310)
Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allaah and jihaad for His sake:
"But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two gardens " (55:46)
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa'ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah(Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said: "No one who weeps out of fear of Allaah will enter Hell until the milk goes back into the breast and a man will never have both the dust from fighting in the way of Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) and the smoke of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) will never meet in the Fire of Hell". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794)
We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allaah from it:
"Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous." Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in". (25:64-65)
Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from Anas, that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "No one asks Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala)) for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, "O Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) admit him to Paradise". And no Muslim asks Allaah for protection from Hell three times, but Hell will say, "O Allaah save him from me"" (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145, no.5506)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu Anhu) that when the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, "Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) asks them and He knows best, "What are they seeking protection from?" They tell Him, "From the Fire". He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by Allaah, O Rabb, They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if they had seen it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape it". He (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala) says, "Bear witness that I have forgiven them"". (Sahih al-Jaami', 2/233, no. 2169)
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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