The Journey into the Hereafter - The Unbeliever and Hell (part 7 of 8)
Since 2012-12-03
How the Hellfire will receive the unbelievers.
The Unbeliever and Hell
{…and for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire (i.e. Hell). (11) When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring.} [Al-Furqan 25:11-12].
{...وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِمَن كَذَّبَ بِالسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا ﴿١١﴾ إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا} الفرقان: 11-12
Transliteration: waaAAtadnaliman kaththaba bialssaAAati saAAeeran (11) Itha raathum min makanin baAAeedin samiAAoo laha taghayyuthan wazafeeran
When they near it, they will anticipate their shackles and their destiny as fuel:
{Verily, We have prepared for the disbelievers iron chains, iron collars, and a blazing Fire.} [Al-Insan 76:4].
{نَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَ وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا} الإنسان: 4
Transliteration: Inna aAAtadna lilkafireena salasila waaghlalan wasaAAeeran
{Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.} [Al-Muzzammil 73:12].
{إِنَّ لَدَيْنَا أَنكَالًا وَجَحِيمًا} المزمل: 12
Transliteration: Inna ladayna ankalan wajaheeman
Angels will rush at God’s command to seize and shackle him:
{(It will be said): “Seize him and fetter him,} [Al-Haaqah 69:30].
{خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ} الحاقة: 30
Transliteration: Khuthoohu faghulloohu
{…And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved.} [Saba’ 34:33].
{...وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَغْلَالَ فِي أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا...} سبأ: 33
Transliteration: wajaAAalna alaghlala fee aAAnaqi allatheena kafaroo
Bound in chains…
{Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!} [Al-Haaqah 69:32].
{ثُمَّ فِي سِلْسِلَةٍ ذَرْعُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا فَاسْلُكُوهُ} الحاقة: 32
Transliteration: Thumma fee silsilatin tharAAuhasabAAoona thiraAAan faoslukoohu
…he will be dragged along:
{When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along.} [Ghafir 40:71].
{إِذِ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَالسَّلَاسِلُ يُسْحَبُونَ} غافر: 71
Transliteration: Ithi alaghlalu fee aAAnaqihim waalssalasilu yushaboona
While they are being tied down, chained, and dragged to be thrown into Hell, they will hear its rage:
{And for those who disbelieve in their Lord (Allah) is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination. (6) When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath as it blazes forth. (7) It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: “Did no warner come to you?” } [Al-Mulk 67:6-8].
{وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٦﴾ إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ ﴿٧﴾ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ} الملك: 6-8
Transliteration: Walillatheena kafaroo birabbihim AAathabu jahannama wabisa almaseeru (6) Itha olqoo feehasamiAAoo laha shaheeqan wahiya tafooru (7) Takadu tamayyazu mina alghaythi kullama olqiya feeha fawjun saalahum khazanatuha alam yatikum natheerun
Since they will be driven from the great plain of gathering, naked and hungry, they will beg the inhabitants of Paradise for water:
{And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: “Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provided you with.” They will say: “Both (water and provision) Allah has forbidden to the disbelievers.”} [Al-A’raaf 7:50].
{وَنَادَىٰ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّـهُ ۚ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ} الأعراف: 50
Transliteration: Wanada ashabu alnari ashaba aljannati an afeedoo AAalayna mina almai aw mimma razaqakumu Allahu qaloo inna Allaha harramahuma AAala alkafireena
At the same time the faithful in Paradise will be received with honor, made comfortable, and served with delicious banquets, the disbeliever will dine in Hell:
{“Then moreover, verily, you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)! (51) “You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum. (52) “Then you will fill your bellies therewith,} [Al-Waqi’a 56:51-53].
{ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ ﴿٥٢﴾ فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ} الواقعة: 51-53
Transliteration: Thumma innakum ayyuha alddalloona almukaththiboona (51) Laakiloona min shajarin min zaqqoomin (52)Famalioona minha albutoona
Zaqqoom: a tree whose roots are in the bottom of Hell and which branches into its other levels; its fruit resembles the heads of the devils:
{Is that (Paradise) better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum (a horrible tree in Hell)? (62) Truly We have made it (as) a trail for the Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers, wrong-doers, etc.). (63) Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-fire, (64) The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of Shayatin (devils); (65) Truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith.} [As-Saaffat 37:62-66].
{أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ ﴿٦٢﴾ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٦٣﴾ إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ ﴿٦٤﴾ طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيَاطِينِ ﴿٦٥﴾ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَآكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ} الصافات: 62-66
Transliteration: Athalika khayrun nuzulan am shajaratu alzzaqqoomi (62) Inna jaAAalnahafitnatan lilththalimeena (63) Innaha shajaratun takhruju fee asli aljaheemi (64) TalAAuha kaannahu ruoosu alshshayateeni (65) Fainnahum laakiloona minhafamalioona minha albutoona
The wicked will have other food to eat as well, some that chokes, [1]and some like dry, thorny bushes. [2]
{Nor any food except filth from the washing of wounds, (36) None will eat except the Khati’un (sinners, disbelievers, polytheists, etc.).} [Al-Haaqqa 69:36-37].
{وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ غِسْلِينٍ ﴿٣٦﴾ لَّا يَأْكُلُهُ إِلَّا الْخَاطِئُونَ} الحاقة: 36-37
Transliteration: WalataAAamun illa min ghisleenin (36) La yakuluhu illaalkhatioona
And to wash down their melancholy meals, an extremely cold mix of their own pus, blood, sweat and wound discharge [3] as well as boiling, scolding water which dissolves their intestines:
{… and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels?} [Muhammad 47:15].
{...وَسُقُوا مَاءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَاءَهُمْ} محمد: 15
Transliteration: wasuqoo maan hameeman faqattaAAa amAAaahum
The clothing of the denizens of Hell will be made of fire and pitch:
{... then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them,…} [Al-Hajj 22:19].
{...فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ...} الحج: 19
Transliteration: faallatheena kafaroo quttiAAat lahum thiyabun min narin
{Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces.} [Ibrahim 14:50].
{سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ} إبراهيم: 50
Transliteration: Sarabeeluhum min qatranin wataghshawujoohahumu alnnaru
Their sandals, [4] bed, and canopies will likewise be made of fire; [5] a punishment encapsulating the entire body, from heedless head to transgressing toe:
{Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water,} [Ad-Dukhan 44:48].
{ثُمَّ صُبُّوا فَوْقَ رَأْسِهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْحَمِيمِ} الدخان: 48
Transliteration: Thumma subboo fawqa rasihi min AAathabi alhameemi
{On the Day when the torment (Hell-fire) shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet, and it will be said: “Taste what you used to do.”} [Al-’Ankaboot 29:55].
{يَوْمَ يَغْشَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَمِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِهِمْ وَيَقُولُ ذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ} العنكبوت: 55
Transliteration: Yawma yaghshahumu alAAathabu min fawqihim wamin tahti arjulihim wayaqoolu thooqoo ma kuntum taAAmaloona
Their punishment in Hell will vary according to their disbelief and other sins.
{And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is? (5) The fire of Allah, kindled, (6) Which leaps up over the hearts, (7) Verily, it shall be closed in on them, (8) In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars, etc.).} [Al-Humaza 104:5-9].
{وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ ﴿٥﴾ نَارُ اللَّـهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ ﴿٦﴾ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ ﴿٧﴾ إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ ﴿٨﴾ فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ} الهمزة: 5-9
Transliteration: Wama adraka ma alhutamatu (5) Naru Allahi almooqadatu (6) Allatee tattaliAAu AAala alafidati (7)lnnaha AAalayhim musadatun (8) Fee AAamadin mumaddadatin
Every time the skin will burn through, it will be replenished with new skin:
{Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise.} [An-Nisaa’ 4:56].
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا} النساء: 56
Transliteration: Inna allatheena kafaroo biayatina sawfa nusleehim naran kullama nadijat julooduhum baddalnahum juloodan ghayraha liyathooqoo alAAathaba inna Allaha kana AAazeezan hakeeman
Worst of all, the punishment will keep increasing:
{So taste you (the results of your evil actions); no increase shall We give you, except in torment.} [An-Naba’ 78:30].
{فَذُوقُوا فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمْ إِلَّا عَذَابًا} النبأ: 30
Transliteration: Fathooqoo falan nazeedakum illaAAathaban
The psychological effect of this punishing chastisement will be tremendous. A chastisement so severe that its sufferers will cry out for it to be multiplied on those who led them astray:
{They will say: “Our Lord! Whoever brought this upon us, add to him a double torment in the Fire!”} [Saad 38:61].
{قَالُوا رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا فِي النَّارِ} ص: 61
Transliteration: Qaloo rabbana man qaddama lana hathafazidhu AAathaban diAAfan fee alnnari
The daring will make their first attempt to break out, but:
{And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). (21) Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: “Taste the torment of burning!”} [Al-Hajj 22:21-22].
{وَلَهُم مَّقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ ﴿٢١﴾ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَن يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ} الحج: 21-22
Transliteration: Walahum maqamiAAu min hadeedin (21) Kullama aradoo an yakhrujoo minha min ghammin oAAeedoo feehawathooqoo AAathaba alhareeqi
After failing several times, they will seek assistance from Iblees, the Great Satan himself.
{And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).”} [Ibrahim 14:22].
{وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنفُسَكُم ۖ مَّا أَنَا بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَا أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِيَّ ۖ إِنِّي كَفَرْتُ بِمَا أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ} إبراهيم: 22
Transliteration: Waqala alshshaytanu lamma qudiya alamru inna Allaha waAAadakum waAAda alhaqqi wawaAAadtukum faakhlaftukum wama kana liya AAalaykum min sultanin illa an daAAawtukum faistajabtum lee falataloomoonee waloomoo anfusakum maana bimusrikhikum wama antum bimusrikhiyya innee kafartu bimaashraktumooni min qablu inna alththalimeena lahum AAathabun aleemun
Giving up on Satan, they will turn to the angels guarding Hell to get their torment reduced, even if just for a day:
{And those in the Fire will say to the keepers (angels) of Hell: “Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!”} [Ghafir 40:49].
{وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ فِي النَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًا مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ} غافر: 49
Transliteration: Waqala allatheena fee alnnari likhazanati jahannama odAAoo rabbakum yukhaffif AAanna yawman mina alAAathabi
Awaiting the response for as long as God wills, the guards will come back and ask:
{They will say: “Did there not come to you, your Messengers with (clear) evidences and signs? They will say: “Yes.” They will reply: “Then call (as you like)! And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but in error!”} [Ghafir 40:50].
{قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا فَادْعُوا ۗ وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ} غافر: 50
Transliteration: Qaloo awalam taku tateekum rusulukum bialbayyinati qaloo bala qaloo faodAAoo wama duAAao alkafireena illa fee dalalin
Losing hope in the reduction of punishment, they will seek death. This time they will turn to the Hell’s Chief Keeper, the angel, Malik, pleading to him for forty years:
{ And they will cry: “O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.”…} [Az-Zukhruf 43:77].
{وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ} الزخرف: 43
Transliteration: Wanadaw ya maliku liyaqdi AAalaynarabbuka
His curt rebuttal after a thousand years will be:
{… He will say: “Verily you shall abide forever.”} [Az-Zukhruf 43:77].
{قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّاكِثُونَ} الزخرف: 77
Transliteration: qala innakum makithoona
Eventually, they will return to He Whom they refused to turn to in this world, asking for one last chance:
{They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers.’} [Al-Mu’minoon 23:106-107].
{قَالُوا رَبَّنَا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا شِقْوَتُنَا وَكُنَّا قَوْمًا ضَالِّينَ ﴿١٠٦﴾ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْهَا فَإِنْ عُدْنَا فَإِنَّا ظَالِمُونَ} المؤمنون: 106-107
Transliteration: Qaloo rabbana ghalabat AAalaynashiqwatuna wakunna qawman dalleena (106) Rabbanaakhrijna minha fain AAudna fainna thalimoona
God’s respond will be thus:
{He (Allah) will say: “Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!”} [Al-Mu’minoon 23:108].
{قَالَ اخْسَئُوا فِيهَا وَلَا تُكَلِّمُونِ} المؤمنون: 108
Transliteration: Qala ikhsaoo feeha wala tukallimooni
The pain from this response will be worse than their fiery torment. For the disbeliever will know his stay in Hell will be for an eternity, his omission from Paradise absolute and final:
{Verily, those who disbelieve and did wrong [by concealing the truth about Prophet Muhammad SAW and his message of true Islamic Monotheism written with them in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], Allah will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to anyway, - (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi). (168) Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever, and this is ever easy for Allah.} [An-Nisaa’ 4:168-169].
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَظَلَمُوا لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّـهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا ﴿١٦٨﴾ إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّـهِ يَسِيرًا} النساء: 168-169
Transliteration: Inna allatheena kafaroo wathalamoo lam yakuni Allahu liyaghfira lahum wala liyahdiyahumtareeqan (168) Illa tareeqa jahannama khalideena feehaabadan wakana thalika AAala Allahi yaseeran
The greatest deprivation and sorrow for an unbeliever will be spiritual: he will be veiled from God and will be deprived of seeing Him:
{Nay! Surely, they (evil-doers) will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day.} [Al-Mutaffifin 83:15].
{كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ} المطففين: 15
Transliteration: Kalla innahum AAan rabbihim yawmaithin lamahjooboona
Just like they refused to “see” Him in this life, they will be separated from God in the next life. The faithful will jeer at them.
{But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers (34) On (high) thrones, looking (at all things). (35) Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they used to do?}[Al-Mutaffifin 83:34-36].
{فَالْيَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ ﴿٣٤﴾ عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنظُرُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾ هَلْ ثُوِّبَ الْكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ} المطففين: 34-36
Transliteration: Faalyawma allatheena amanoo mina alkuffari yadhakoona (34)AAala alaraiki yanthuroona (35) Hal thuwwiba alkuffaru ma kanoo yafAAaloona
Their total despair and grief will culminate when death is brought in the form of a ram and slaughtered in front of them, so they know no refuge will ever be found in a final dissolution.
{And warn them (O Muhammad SAW) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not.} [Maryam 19:39].
{وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ إِذْ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ} مريم: 39
Transliteration: Waanthirhum yawma alhasrati ith qudiya alamru wahum fee ghaflatin wahum la yuminoona
Footnotes:
[1] Quran 73:13.
[2] Quran 88:6-7.
[3] Quran 78:24-25.
[4] Saheeh Muslim.
[5] Quran 7:41.
By IslamReligion.com [co-author Abdurrahman Mahdi].
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