A Description of Hellfire (part 2 of 5)
Its Location
There is no exact mention from the Quran or the sayings of Prophet
Muhammad which pinpoint the location of Hell. No one knows its
exact place except God. Due to some linguistic evidence and context
of certain hadeeth, some scholars have stated that Hell is in the
heavens, yet others say it is in the lower earth.
Its Size
Hell is huge and immensely deep. We know this through several
ways.
First, innumerable people will enter Hell, each, as described in a
hadeeth, with the molar teeth as large as Uhud (a mountain in
Medina)[1] The distance between
the shoulders of its inhabitants has also been described as being
equivalent to three days of walking.[2] Hell will house all the
unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and there will
still be room for more. God says:
{On the Day when We will say to Hell:
'Are you filled?' It will say, 'Are there any more (to
come)?'} [Quran 50:30]
{يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ
امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ} [ق:٣٠]
Transliteration: Yawma Naqūlu Lijahannama Hal Amtala'ti Wa
Taqūlu Hal Min Mazīdin
The Fire of Hell is likened to a mill that grinds thousands and
thousands of tons of grain and then waits for more to come.
Second, a stone thrown from the top of Hell will take a very long
time to reach the bottom. One of the companions of the Prophet, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, describes how they were
sitting with the Prophet and heard the sound of something falling.
The Prophet inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed
their lack of knowledge, he said:
That was a stone thrown into Hell
seventy years ago and it is yet in the way (the other « side) of
Hell until now.» [3]
Another report states:
«If a stone as big as seven pregnant
camels was thrown from the edge of Hell, it would fly through it
for seventy years, and yet it would not reach the bottom.»
[4]
Third, a great many angels will bring Hell on the Day of
Resurrection. God speaks of it:
{And Hell will be brought near that
Day…} [Quran 89:23]
{وَجِيءَ يَوْمَئِذٍ
بِجَهَنَّمَ...} [الفجر: ٢٣]
Transliteration: Wa Jī'a Yawma'idhin Bijahannama
The Prophet said:
«Hell will be brought forth that Day
by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by
seventy thousand angels.» [5]
Fourth, another report that indicates the vast size of Hell is that
the sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell on the Day of
Resurrection.[6]
Its Levels
Hell has various levels of heat and punishment, each is reserved
according to the extent of their disbelief and sins of those being
punished. God says:
{Surely, the hypocrites will be in the
lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.} [Quran 4:145]
{إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ
الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ} [النساء:١٤٥]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Munāfiqīna Fī Ad-Darki Al-'Asfali
Mina An-Nāri
The lower the level of Hell, the greater is the intensity of heat.
Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, so will they
be in the lowest part of Hell.
God refers to the levels of Hell in the Quran:
{For all will be (ranked) by degrees
according to what they did.} [Quran 6:132]
{وَلِكُلٍّ دَرَجَاتٌ مِّمَّا
عَمِلُوا} [الأنعام:١٣٢]
Transliteration: Wa Likullin Darajātun Mimmā `Amilū
{Is one who seeks the good pleasure of
God then like the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His
abode is Hell - and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in
varying grades with God, and God is All-Seer of what they
do.} [Quran 3:162-163]
{أَفَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ
كَمَن بَاءَ بِسَخَطٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمَأْوَاهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ
الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٦٢﴾ هُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ اللَّهِ
ۗ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ} [آل عمران: ١٦٣]
Transliteration: 'Afamani Attaba`a Riđwāna Allāhi Kaman Bā'a
Bisakhaţin Mina Allāhi Wa Ma'wāhu Jahannamu Wa Bi'sa Al-Maşīru
(162) Hum Darajātun `Inda Allāhi Wa Allāhu Başīrun Bimā
Ya`malūna
The Gates of Hell
God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in the Quran:
{And surely, Hell is the promised
place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is
a class of sinners assigned.} [Quran 15:43-44)]
{وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ
أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ
لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ}
[الحجر:43-٤٤]
Transliteration: Wa 'Inna Jahannama Lamaw`iduhum
'Ajma`īna(43) Lahā Sab`atu 'Abwābin Likulli Bābin Minhum Juz'un
Maqsūmun
Each gate has an allotted share of the damned who will enter
through it. Each will enter according to his deeds and assigned a
level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought to
Hell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it
forever:
{And those who disbelieved will be
driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are
opened and its keepers will say, 'Did there not come to you
messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord
and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?' They will
say, 'Yes, but the word (meaning the decree) of punishment has come
into effect upon the disbelievers.'} [Quran 39:71]
{وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ
جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ
يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ
يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ
الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ} [الزمر:٧١]
Transliteration: Wa Sīqa Al-Ladhīna Kafarū 'Ilá
Jahannama Zumarāan Ĥattá 'Idhā Jā'ūhā Futiĥat 'Abwābuhā
Wa Qāla Lahum Khazanatuhā 'Alam Ya'tikum Rusulun Minkum Yatlūna
`Alaykum 'Āyāti Rabbikum Wa Yundhirūnakum Liqā'a Yawmikum Hādhā
Qālū Balá Wa Lakin Ĥaqqat Kalimatu Al-`Adhābi
`Alá Al-Kāfirīna
They will be told after admission:
{Enter the gates of Hell to abide
eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the
arrogant.} [Quran 39:72]
{قِيلَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ}
[الزمر: ٧٢]
Transliteration: Qīla Adkhulū 'Abwāba Jahannama Khālidīna
Fīhā Fabi'sa Mathwá Al-Mutakabbirīna
The gates will be shut and there will be no hope of escape as God
says:
{But those who reject Our signs, they
are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted
over (meaning the gates will be locked).[7]} ]Quran 90:19-20[
{وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا هُمْ
أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ ﴿١٩﴾ عَلَيْهِمْ نَارٌ
مُّؤْصَدَةٌ} [البلد:19-٢٠]
Transliteration: Wa Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Bi'āyātinā Hum 'Aşĥābu
Al-Mash'amahi (19)`Alayhim Nārun Mu'uşadahun
Furthermore, God says in the Quran:
{Woe to every scorner and mocker, who
collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his
wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into
the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is
the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, Which mounts directed at the
hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed down upon them in
extended columns.} [Quran 104:1-9]
{وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ
﴿١﴾ الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ
﴿٢﴾ يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ
﴿٣﴾ كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ
﴿٤﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ
﴿٥﴾ نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ
﴿٦﴾ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ
﴿٧﴾ إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ
﴿٨﴾ فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ}
[الهمزة:1- ٩]
Transliteration: Waylun Likulli Humazatin Lumazahin(1)
Al-Ladhī Jama`a Mālāan Wa `Addadahu (2) Yaĥsabu 'Anna Mālahu
'Akhladahu (3) Kallā Layunbadhanna Fī Al-Ĥuţamahi(4)Wa Mā 'Adrāka
Mā Al-Ĥuţamahu (5) Nāru Allāhi Al-Mūqadahu (6)Allatī Taţţali`u
`Alá Al-'Af'idahi (7) 'Innahā `Alayhim Mu'uşadahun (8)
Fī `Amadin Mumaddadahin
The gates of Hell are also closed before the Day of Judgment. The
Prophet of Islam spoke of them closing in the month of
Ramadan.[8]
Its Fuel
Stones and stubborn unbelievers make the fuel of Hell as God
says:
{O you who have believed, protect
yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and
stones...} [Quran 66:6]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا
أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ
...} [التحريم:٦]
Transliteration: Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Qū 'Anfusakum
Wa 'Ahlīkum Nārāan Waqūduhā An-Nāsu Wa Al-Ĥijāratu...
{…then fear the Fire, whose fuel is
men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.} ]Quran
2:24[
{... فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي
وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ
لِلْكَافِرِينَ} [البقرة:٢٤]
Transliteration: ... Fa Attaqū An-Nāra Allatī Waqūduhā
An-Nāsu Wa Al-Ĥijāratu 'U`iddat Lilkāfirīna
Another source of fuel for Hell will be the pagan gods that were
worshipped besides God:
{Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what
you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be
coming to (enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods,
they would not have come to it, but all are eternal
therein.} [Quran 21:98-99]
{إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ
اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ
﴿٩٨﴾ لَوْ كَانَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ آلِهَةً مَّا
وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ} [الأنبياء:٩٩]
Transliteration: 'Innakum Wa Mā Ta`budūna Min Dūni Allāhi
Ĥaşabu Jahannama 'Antum Lahā Wa Aridūna (98) Law Kāna Hā'uulā'
'Ālihatan Mā Waradūhā Wa Kullun Fīhā Khālidūna
The Clothing of its
Inhabitants
God tells us that the dress of the people of Hell will be garments
of fire tailored for them:
{…But those who disbelieved will have
cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be
scalding water.} [Quran 22:19]
{...فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قُطِّعَتْ لَهُمْ ثِيَابٌ مِّن نَّارٍ
يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ الْحَمِيمُ} [الفجر:١٩]
Transliteration: ... Fa-Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Quţţi`at Lahum
Thiyābun Min Nārin Yuşabbu Min Fawqi Ru'ūsihimu Al-Ĥamīmu
{And you will see the criminals that
Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch
(melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.} [Quran
14:49-50]
{وَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍ
مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ ﴿٤٩﴾
سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ
النَّارُ} [إبراهيم:49-٥٠]
Transliteration: Wa Tará Al-Mujrimīna Yawma'idhin
Muqarranīna Fī Al-'Aşfādi(49) Sarābīluhum Min Qaţirānin Wa
Taghshá Wujūhahumu An-Nāru
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Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Muslim
[2] Saheeh Muslim
[3] Mishkat
[4] Sahih al-Jami'
[5] Saheeh Muslim
[6] Tahawi in Mushkal al-Aathaar,
Bazzar, Baihaqi, and others.
[7] Based on the explanation of
Ibn Abbas ('Tafsir Ibn Kathir').
[8] Tirmidhi.
By IslamReligion.com
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