A Description of Hellfire (part 4 of 5)
The intensity of the fire of Hell will be such that people
will be willing to give up their dearest possessions to escape
it:
{Indeed, those who disbelieve and die
while they are disbelievers - never would the (whole) capacity of
the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek
to) ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful
punishment, and they will have no helpers.} [Quran
3:91]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا
وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الْأَرْضِ
ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَىٰ بِهِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ} [آل عمران:٩١]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Wa Mātū Wa
Hum Kuffārun Falan Yuqbala Min 'Aĥadihim Mil'u Al-'Arđi Dhahabāan
Wa Law Aftadá Bihi 'Ūlā'ika Lahum `Adhābun 'Alīmun Wa Mā
Lahum Min Nāşirīna
The Prophet of Islam said:
«One of the people of Hell who found
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 Adam, have you ever seen anything
good?' Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?' He will say, 'No, by
God, O Lord.» [1]
Few moments in Hell and the person will forget all the good times
they had. The Prophet of Islam informs us:
«On the Day of Resurrection, God will
ask the one whose punishment in the Fire is lightest, 'If you had
whatsoever you wanted on earth, would you give it to save
yourself?' He will say, 'Yes.' God will say, 'I wanted less than
that from you when you were still in the loins of Adam, I asked you
not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on
associating others in worship with Me.'» [2]
The horror and intensity of the Fire is enough to make a man lose
his mind. He would be willing to give up everything he holds dear
to saved from it, but he never will be. God says:
{The criminal will wish that he could
be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children, and
his wife and his brother, and his nearest kindred who shelter him,
and all - all that is on earth - so it could save him. No! Indeed,
it is the Flame (of Hell), plucking out (his being) tight to the
skull!} [Quran 70:11-16]
{يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِي
مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ ﴿١١﴾
وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ ﴿١٢﴾ وَفَصِيلَتِهِ
الَّتِي تُؤْوِيهِ ﴿١٣﴾ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ
جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ ﴿١٤﴾ كَلَّا ۖ
إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ نَزَّاعَةً
لِّلشَّوَىٰ} [المعارج:11-١٦]
Transliteration: Yawaddu Al-Mujrimu Law Yaftadī Min
`Adhābi Yawmi'idhin Bibanīhi (11) Wa Şāĥibatihi Wa 'Akhīhi(12) Wa
Faşīlatihi Allatī Tu'uwyhi (13) Wa Man Fī Al-'Arđi Jamī`āan Thumma
Yunjīhi(14) Kallā 'Innahā Lažaá(16) Nazzā`atan
Lilshshawaá
The punishments of Hell will vary in degree. The torment of some
levels of Hell will be greater than others. People will be put in a
level according to their deeds. The Prophet of Islam said:
«There are some whom the Fire will
reach their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their
waists, and yet others up to their necks.» [3]
He spoke of the lightest punishment in Hell:
«The person who will receive the least
punishment among the people of Hell on the Day Resurrection will be
a man, a smoldering ember will be placed under the arch of his
foot. His brains will boil because of it.» [4]
This person will think no one else is being punished more severely
than himself, even though he will be the one receiving the lightest
punishment.[5]
Many verses of the Quran speak of various levels of punishment for
the people of Hell:
{The hypocrites will be in the lowest
depths 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
{and on the Day that Judgment will be
established (it will be said to the angels): Cast the people of
Pharaoh into the severest penalty!} [Quran 40:46]
{وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ
أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ}
[غافر:٤٦]
Transliteration: Wa Yawma Taqūmu As-Sā`atu 'Adkhilū
'Āla Fir`awna 'Ashadda Al-`Adhābi
The Fire kindled by God will burn the skin of the people of Hell.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and the site of sensation
where the pain of burning is felt. God will replace the burnt skin
with a new one to be burnt again, and this will keep on
repeating:
{Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses - We will drive them
into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will
replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment.
Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.} [Quran 4:56]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا
سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم
بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ ۗ إِنَّ
اللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا} [النساء:٥٦]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Ladhīna Kafarū Bi'āyātinā
Sawfa Nuşlīhim Nārāan Kullamā Nađijat Julūduhum Baddalnāhum
Julūdāan Ghayrahā Liyadhūqū Al-`Adhāba 'Inna Allāha Kāna `Azīzāan
Ĥakīmāan
Another punishment of Hell is melting. When super-heated water will
be poured on their heads, it will melt away the internals:
{…poured upon their heads will be
scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and
(their) skins.} [Quran 22:19-20]
{...يُصَبُّ مِن فَوْقِ رُءُوسِهِمُ
الْحَمِيمُ ﴿١٩﴾ يُصْهَرُ بِهِ مَا فِي
بُطُونِهِمْ وَالْجُلُودُ} [الحج:19-٢٠]
Transliteration: ...Yuşabbu Min Fawqi Ru'ūsihimu
Al-Ĥamīmu (19) Yuşharu Bihi Mā Fī Buţūnihim Wa
Al-Julūdu
Prophet Muhammad said:
«Super-heated water will be poured
onto their heads and will dissolve through it until it cuts up
their innards, expelling them; until it comes out of their feet,
and everything is melted. Then they will be restored as they
were.» [6]
One of the ways God will humiliate the sinful in Hell is by
gathering them on Judgment Day on their faces, blind, deaf, and
dumb.
{and We will gather them on the Day of
Resurrection (fallen) on their faces - blind, dumb and deaf. Their
refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing
fire.} [Quran 17:97]
{وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا ۖ مَّأْوَاهُمْ
جَهَنَّمُ ۖ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَاهُمْ سَعِيرًا}
[الإسراء:٩٧]
Transliteration: Wa Naĥshuruhum Yawma Al-Qiyāmati
`Alá Wajūhihim `Umyāan Wa Bukmāan Wa Şummāan Ma'wāhum
Jahannamu Kullamā Khabat Zidnāhum Sa`īrāan
{And brings an evil deed - such will
be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said),
'Are you recompensed for anything but what you used to do?'}
[Quran 27:90]
{وَمَن جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ
وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كُنتُمْ
تَعْمَلُونَ} [النمل:٩٠]
Transliteration: Wa Man Jā'a Bis-Sayyi'ati
Fakubbat Wujūhuhum Fī An-Nāri Hal Tujzawna 'Illā Mā Kuntum
Ta`malūna
{The Fire will burn their faces and
they will grin therein, their lips displaced.} [Quran
23:104]
{تَلْفَحُ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ وَهُمْ
فِيهَا كَالِحُونَ} [المؤمنون:١٠٤]
Transliteration: Talfaĥu Wujūhahumu An-Nāru Wa Hum
Fīhā Kāliĥūna
{The Day their faces will be turned
over in the Fire, they will say, 'How we wish we had obeyed God and
obeyed the Messenger.'} [Quran 33:66]
{يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي
النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا
الرَّسُولَا} [الأحزاب:٦٦]
Transliteration: Yawma Tuqallabu Wujūhuhum Fī
An-Nāri Yaqūlūna Yā Laytanā 'Aţa`nā Allāha Wa 'Aţa`nā
Ar-Rasūlā
Another painful punishment of unbelievers will be getting dragged
on their faces into Hell. God says:
{Indeed, the criminals are in error
and madness. The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces
(it will be said), 'Taste the touch of Hell.'} [Quran
54:47-48]
{إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَالٍ
وَسُعُرٍ ﴿٤٧﴾ يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ
عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا مَسَّ سَقَرَ} [القمر:47-٤٨]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Mujrimīna Fī Đalālin Wa
Su`urin(47) Yawma Yusĥabūna Fī An-Nāri `Alá Wujūhihim
Dhūqū Massa Saqara
They will be dragged on their faces while they are tied in chains
and fettered:
{Those who deny the Book (the Quran)
and that with which We sent Our messengers - they are going to
know, when the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they
will be dragged in boiling water; then in the Fire they will be
filled (with flame).} [Quran 40:70-72]
{الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِالْكِتَابِ
وَبِمَا أَرْسَلْنَا بِهِ رُسُلَنَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ
﴿٧٠﴾ إِذِ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ
وَالسَّلَاسِلُ يُسْحَبُونَ ﴿٧١﴾ فِي
الْحَمِيمِ ثُمَّ فِي النَّارِ يُسْجَرُونَ}
[غافر:70-٧٢]
Transliteration: Al-Ladhīna Kadhdhabū Bil-Kitābi Wa
Bimā 'Arsalnā Bihi Rusulanā Fasawfa Ya`lamūna(70) 'Idhi Al-'Aghlālu
Fī 'A`nāqihim Wa As-Salāsilu Yusĥabūna(71) Fī Al-Ĥamīmi Thumma Fī
An-Nāri Yusjarūna
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Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Muslim
[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[3] Saheeh Muslim
[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[5] Saheeh Muslim
[6] Tirmidhi
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