Summary

Summary

1) The objective behind creating the creations.2) The description of Hell Fire.3) The torment of the people of Hell.4) Taking refuge in Allaah from Hell.5) A warning against Hell and encouraging repentance.First Khutbah

O Muslims! Allaah created the creations so that they would worship Him. He provided them with evidences proving His greatness in order that they may fear Him; He described to them the harshness of His torment and the place of His punishment in order that they would control themselves from corruption and sinfulness and in order that it would be an incentive for them to achieve success and to be guided. Beware of that which Allaah warned you against, and fear that which He scared you from.

Fear the Hell Fire which He described in His Book and through His Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam. It is a dwelling which has its own fury and roar. Its heat is great. It is black and dark, depressing and burning. Allaah says which means, It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned). Altering (i.e. blackening the skins. Over it are Nineteen (angels). (Al-Muddaththir: 28-30). Its flame never extinguishes; a dwelling in which Allaah deprives its people from being close to Him and from joy and happiness, Allaah says that which means, Hell, which they will (enter to) burn, and wretched is the resting place. (Saad: 56).The mention of its levels and its steep bottom surrounding walls terrifies the hearts of the people fearful of Allaah. The Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, I swear by The One in Whose Hand my soul is, if you saw what I saw you would laugh little, and cry excessively, people said, O Prophet of Allaah! What did you see? He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam replied, I saw Paradise and Hell (Muslim).

Numaan Ibn Al-Basheer, may Allaah be please with him, said I heard the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam saying, I warn you of the Fire, I warn you of the Fire until his over garment fell from his shoulders to his feet (Ahmad and others). He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam also said, Do not forget the two great things, do not forget the two great things: Paradise and Hell. Then he sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said while crying, "I swear by The One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, if you know what I know, you would climb the mountains and pour dust on your heads (out of fear)" (Abu Ya'laa) .O Muslims! Ibn Masood, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Paradise is closer to one of you than his shoelace, and Hell is likewise (Bukhaari). He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam also said, according to the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, The fire which you light is one of the seventy parts (of heat) from the fire of Hell. It (Hell Fire) was increased by sixty nine parts, each part is just as hot (Bukhaari).What you feel from heat during summer is but a small breath from Hell to remind you with it. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, The Fire complained to its Lord saying, O Lord! I am eating up myself (burning), so Allaah allowed it to release two breaths, one during the winter and one during the summer; the coldest days you experience result from the breath of Zamhareer (cold punishment in Hell), and the hottest days you experience result from the breath of Fire (Bukhaari)

Hellfire will come on the Day of Resurrection being led by seventy thousand handles. Each handle will be pulled by seventy thousand angles. It will come in an angry state and the criminals will be certain of the consequence of their deeds which they are to face, when they see it. Nations will drop to their knees, and Man will remember what he had set forth. Allaah says, which means, And brought (within view) that Day, is Hell - that Day man will remember, but how (i.e. what good) to him will be the remembrance? He will say: 'Oh. I wish I had sent ahead (some good) for my life.' So on that Day none will punish (as severely) as His punishment, And none will bind (as severely) as His binding (of the evildoers). (Al-Fajr: 23-26). It takes seventy years to reach its bottom. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard a sound of a rock, This is a rock which was thrown in Hell Fire seventy years ago, and it just reached its bottom now (Muslim).The Siraat (a bridge) will be set over Hell with all the harshness of its Fire and its hooked rods. The believers will pass over it with a speed according to their deeds, some will pass as fast as the blink of an eye, some as fast as the blowing of the wind, some as birds fly, and some as fast as quick horse. Some people will pass safely, others will be scratched and others will be taken down into the Fire. The Fire will reach up to some peoples ankles, while it will reach others to their knees, others to their waists and yet others to their throats. The people of Hell will be led to it tired and scared. They will be pushed towards it and shoved. They will be dragged in its heat and then thrown into its flames. Fire will be boiling with them in it like water boils in a pot, Allaah says, which means, When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a (dreadful) inhaling while it boils up (Al-Mulk: 7).

They will ask for food, and they will be granted the most revolting rations which have been prepared for the wrong doers, Allaah says which means, Indeed the tree of Zaqqum, is the food for the sinful. Like murky oil, it boils within bellies. Like the boiling of scalding water (Ad-Dukhaan: 43-46).Ibn Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, If a drop from Zaqqoom (a tree in Hell) were to be dropped on earth, it would make peoples life bitter, so how would the case be for those whose food is Zaqqoom, and have nothing else as food (Ahmad).When they ask for help they would be provided with a poisonous thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger. It will have thorns which will neither reach their stomachs nor come out of their mouths. They would ask for help and they would be given as food the filth from the washing of wounds, pus and blood which comes out of the flesh of the people of Hell. When their thirst reaches its ultimate, they would be given water from a boiling spring with extremely high temperature, which would split up their stomachs, damage their sinful bodies, and burn their disobedient faces. Allaah says which means, And say, 'the truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever disbelieves - let him disbelieve.' Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. (Al-Kahf: 29).Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, Boiling water will be poured on their heads and it would pierce their skulls until it reaches their stomachs; this will make their guts melt and go down to their feet, then everything would be returned to its original condition again (Ahmad & Tirmithi).

An-Numaan Ibn Al-Basheer, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, The least among the people of Hell in punishment is one whose sandals and laces are of fire from which his brain boils as a pot of water would boil (when set on fire), he will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in reality, he is the least in punishment (Bukhaari & Muslim).

They will suffer in Hell in different ways: torment of fire, garments made of pitch which solid strong mountains cannot tolerate. They will be tied up with their hands and feet to their necks in fetters, its chains overburdening them. Their feet will be tied to their foreheads and their faces will turn gloomy as a result.

Doors will become sealed and the hardship that lies therein will be great, Allaah says which means, It has seven gates; for every gate is of them (i.e. Satan's followers) a portion designated (Al-Hijr: 44).

They will cry and be saddened, and will cry out loud from the severity of the torment while they are in its valleys, Allaah says which means, And they will call:' O Maalik, let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'Indeed you will remain.' (Az-Zukhruf: 77).

Their sorrow will be continuous, so they will never feel happy. Their destiny is certain (in fire) and they will never depart from it, the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said as narrated by Abdullaah Ibn Qays, may Allaah be pleased with him, The dwellers of Hell will cry so much that ships can sail in their tears, and their tears will be of blood (Al-Haakim). They will be crying because they wasted their lives without taking provisions from it for the hereafter, and the more they weep the more they feel the craving to cry. What a moment to regret for having their Creator angry with them! They will call, as Allaah says, which means, And they will cry out therein, 'Our Lord, remove us; We will do righteousness - other than what we were doing! But did we not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the Warner had come to you? So taste (the punishment), for there is not for the wrongdoers and helper.'" (Faatir: 37). And also, If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord (saying), 'Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us (to the world); we will work righteousness. Indeed, they are (now) certain (As-Sajdah: 12). Also, 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-Muminoon: 106-107).

They will call unto to the Lord Whom they continued to disobey, transgress His boundaries, and were enemies of His devout slaves; they will be calling unto The Lord whose judgment is just on them, and His wrath and punishment befell them. Allaah says which means, He will say, 'Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.' (Al- Muminoon: 108).

That day, the one who cries is not sympathized with, and the one who supplicates is never responded to; it is too late to get what they desire. Their sins surround them. They continue to hope for rescue until a sound calls saying, O people of Paradise it is an eternal life which has no death, O people of Hell it is an eternal life which has no death. A Fire which cannot be resisted, and a soul which does not die, Allaah says, which means, Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal indeed, for him is hell; he will neither die therein nor live. (Taa Haa: 74).

They blame each other and belie each other, Allaah says which means, (Allaah) will say, 'enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.' Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, 'Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.' He will say, 'For each is double, but you do not know.' (Al- Araaf: 38). Also, And (Ibraheem) said, 'You have only taken other than Allaah idols as (a bond of) affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers.' (Al- Ankaboot: 25).

They become furious with those who led them astray and increased their misguidance, Allaah says, which means, And those who disbelieved will (then) say, 'Our Lord show us those who misled us of the jinn and men (so) we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest.' (Fussilat: 29).

The one who blinded himself from the remembrance of Allaah would say to his intimate companion who hindered him from the Quraan and made disobedience look appealing. Allaah says, which means, At length, when such a one comes to Us, he says to his evil companion: Would that between me and thee were the distance of East an West! Ah! Evil is the companion indeed!(Az- Zukhruf: 38).

But this would not benefit them because they will be sharing the punishment, Allaah says, which means, (Allaah) will say, 'enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire.' Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, 'Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire.' He will say, 'For each is double, but you do not know.' (Al- Araaf: 38).

Slaves of Allaah! These are some of the descriptions of the Fire and its people, so ask Allaah to protect you from Hell Fire. Ask Allaah to keep you away from any words or deeds which would bring you closer to Hell Fire. We live in a time during which evil and trials are successive; trials of doubts and fast busy life, which lead anyone who falls in its trap to turn away from his faith, manners and behavior. Abu Baarzah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Amongst the things which I fear on you the most are following your desires regarding your provisions and private parts and doubts (regarding the religion) in another narration he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said, and trials (Ahmad).Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Paradise is surrounded by difficulties and Fire is surrounded by temptations (Bukhaari).Overcome these difficulties and awaken your hearts from its heedlessness. Keep yourselves away from the sources of temptations and guard yourselves with the Quraan and the Sunnah. Know that you have time now, yet you are awaiting a sudden death. One who will not benefit from his present life, certainly will not benefit from what will come after. There is no disaster greater than being heedless and having a dead heart. There nothing which will warn you better than the graying of your hair, and no destiny worse than Hell. Allaah says, which means, and We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And we have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease (i.e. hypocrisy) and the disbelievers will say, 'What does Allaah intend by this as an example?' Thus does Allaah lead astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it (i.e. mention of the fire) is not but a reminder to humanity. No! By the moon, and (by) the night when it departs, and (by) the morning when it brightens, Indeed, it (i.e. the Fire) is of the greatest (afflictions), as a warning to humanity To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind. (Al-Muddaththir: 31-37).Second KhutbahO Muslims! Protect yourselves from the Fire, and take lessons from those who came before you, before those who come after you take lessons from you. Follow the footsteps of those who repented, and take the path of those who returned to Allaah, because this is the time to turn to Allaah and ask His forgiveness and abandon sinning.

Slaves of Allaah! O you who transgressed the boundaries and stayed away from the right path! Hasten to repentance, and wash yourselves from the filth of sins; protect yourselves from Hell. I do not know how sinners can live comfortably while Allaah says, which means, And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby (Saba: 51).Salves of Allaah! Rescue yourselves from the Fire. Beware of the wrath of The Compeller, Uday Ibn Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Allaah will speak to each one of you without an interpreter; you will look to your right and see only what you set forth from your deeds, look behind and see only what you set forth from your deeds, and look in front of you and see Hell facing him; so protect yourselves from Hell even if you spend as little as half a date, or a kind word (Bukhaari & Muslim).Slaves of Allaah! Protect yourselves, your wives, your children and those under your responsibility from Hell. Abandoning prayers, imitating the disbelievers, looking at prohibited things via satellite channels, consuming alcohol, and women not adhering to the Islamic dress code of hijaab, are all from the deeds and actions of the people of Hell. Every disobedience to Allaah and His Messenger is from the deeds of the people of Hell; so protect yourselves from the Fire, Allaah says, which means, And whoever disobeys Allaaah and His messenger and transgresses His limits He will put Him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (An-Nisaa: 14).

O Muslims! O You who accepted Allaah as your Lord, Islam as your religion and Muhammad sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam as your prophet and messenger, respond to Allaah, repent to Him and listen to His call, Allaah says, which means, Oh you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are appointed angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allaah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded (At-Tahreem: 6).http://www.alminbar.com/khutbaheng/2598.htm

Those who enter the hellfire but will not remain in it forever

Who are They?

Those who will enter the Hellfire and then come out of it are the people of Tawheed. They are the ones who do not associate anything with Allaah. However, they have accumulated many sins. Their evil deeds have exceeded the limit and their good deeds have become light on the scale. These individuals will enter the Hellfire because of their sins: Afterwards, they will come out of it due to the intercession of the interceders. By the Mercy of Allaah, groups of people who never produced any good deeds will be extracted from the Hellfire.

Sins Punishable In The Hellfire

I will mention here some of the sins, which there is evidence for , informing us that those who commit them will be punished by means of the Hellfire:

Splitting Up Into Groups That Oppose The Sunnah

Aboo Sufyaan narrated: "The Messenger of Allaah stood among us one day and said; 'Indeed those before you from the People of the Book divided seventy-two groups. And this group (Muslims) will divide into seventy-three. Seventy-two groups will be in the Fire and one of them will be in Paradise. And it is the Jamaa'ah.'" [2]

This is an authentic hadeeth. Al-Haakim, after checking its chains of narration, said about it. "These chains present evidence in favor of the authenticity of the hadeeth."

Imaam ath-Thahabee agreed with this. Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said, "It is a well known authentic hadeeth."

It has also been authenticated by ash-Shaatibee in his book of al-`Itisaam. Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al_Albaanee gathered its routes of narration, discussed their chains, and clarified that it is an authentic hadeeth, there being no doubt concerning its authenticity. [3]

However, Sideeq Hasan Khaan is of the opinion that the addition to the hadeeth 'All of them are in the Hellfire except one'

And similar addition, such as; 'Seventy-two are in the Hellfire' are all weak additions to the hadeeth. He cites this claim of weakness from his teacher Imaam ash-Shawkaane and before him, Aboo al-Wazeer, and before him, Ibn Hazm. And he has approved of the saying, "These additions are from the schemes of the apostates. For indeed, in them are a means for turning away from Islaam and a reluctance from entering into its fold." [4]

Shaykh al-Albaanee has refuted those who claim that such addition are weak from two angles:

1. The rules of hadeeth criticism regarding the additions for the hadeeth prove its authenticity, for there is no basis in the statement of the one who has claimed that it is weak.

2. That those who have graded it authentic are greater in number and knowledge than Ibn Hazm. This is especially the case, since he is known among the people of knowledge for this severity in such criticism. We should not make use of it (his criticism) when it goes solely among lack of opposition. So how can we use it when it is opposed (by other more knowledgeable scholars)?

As for Aboo al-Wazeer, he rejected and additions to the hadeeth based upon their meaning, not due to the chain. Sideeq Hasan Khaan has spoken of this in his book al-'Ibaarah, clarifying that the one who goes by this addition is stating that those who enter Paradise from this Ummaah are few. Meanwhile, the authentic and confirmed texts show that those entering Paradise from the Ummaah will be many, almost reaching half of the inhabitants of Paradise. [5]

This may be refuted in a number of ways;

1. The meaning of the division of this Ummaah into seventy-three sects is not that the majority of this Ummaah will be in the Hellfire. This is because the majority of the Ummaah consists of common folk who do not enter into the fold of these sects. And those who divide into sects and remain in opposition to the Sunnah are fewer in description than those who avoid that in its totality.

2. Everyone who opposes the carriers of the Sunnah in an issue among the many issues of religion does not fall into the category of being in a sect in opposition to the Sunnah. Rather, the correct understanding is that they set up principles by which they become groups divided among themselves, abandoning much of the texts of the Qur'aan and Sunnah due to it. This is the case with the Khawaarij, the Mu'tazilah and the Raafidah. As for those who establish the Qur'aan and Sunnah and do not abandon these two, but differ in an issue from the many issues in Islaam, they do not fall into any of the sects.

3. The additions in the narrations are evidence that the divided sects will be in the Hellfire. However, this does not imply absolutely that they will reside in the Hellfire forever.

What is well know is that some of the people of these sects are disbelievers who will remain eternally in the Hellfire, such as the hidden extremists. They are the one who make apparent their eemaan, yet hide their disbelief, such as the Ismaa'eelees, the Drooz, the Naseereeyah and others.

Among the sects are those who oppose Ahl-us-Sunnah in major important issues. However, their differences are not based upon disbelief. There is not a definite promise for these people that they will enter Paradise. However they fall under the Will of Allaah. However they fall under the Will of Allaah. If He wills, He will forgive them, and if He wills, He will punish them. Perhaps they may have a great number of righteous deeds that will save them from the Fire. They will also be saved from the Fire by the intercession of the interceders. And they will enter the Hellfire and abide therein as long as Allaah wills for them to do so. Then they will be extracted from there, due to the intercession of the interceders and by the Mercy of the Most Merciful.

Those Who Hold Back From Hijrah (Migration)

It is not permissible for the Muslim to reside in the lands of the disbelievers when there are Muslim lands that exist. This is especially so if his residence in the lands of disbelief will involve him in fitnah [trouble for his religion]. Allaah does not accept the excuse of those refrain from making Hijrah (migration). Thus, Allaah informs us that the angles will reproach this group of people at the time of death and they will not accept their excuses when they plead to them saying that they were oppressed in the land.

Allaah says (which means): "Verily, as for those who the angles take in death while they are wronging themselves, they say to them: " In what state were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed in the land." They (angles) say: "Was not Allaah's Earth spacious enough for you to migrate?" Such men will find their abode in Hell--what and evil destination! Except the weak among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they able to make their way." [6]

Allaah does not accept the excuses from such individuals, except for those who are weak and can not find the method to leave, and they are not able to make a way by which they will directed to the land of Islaam. [Note from the editors: this is a general rule that has been under-explained here. One is encouraged to see what the great wise scholar Ibn 'Uthaymeen explained about related guidelines in the book "Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islaam (al-Hidaayah Publishing)

Injustice In Passing Judgment

Allaah has revealed His Sharee'ah (Diven Law) for passing judgment between mankind with equity. And He has commanded His servants with justice and fairness.

Allaah says (which means): "Verily, Allaah enjoins al-'adl (justice) and al-ihsaan (beneficence)."[7]

Thus He has made it obligatory upon the rulers and the judges that they rule with justice and avoid injustice.

Allaah says (which means): "Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those who they are due, and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. How excellent is the teaching that He (Allaah) gives you! Truly, Allaah is the Hearer of all, the Seer of all." [8]

Allaah threatens those who do not judge in truth with the Hellfire. Buraidah Bin Haseeb has narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: 'The judges are of three types: One in Paradise and two in the Hellfire. As for the one in Paradise, he is the one who knows the truth and judges by it. For the one who knows the truth and does not do justice in his ruling, then he is in the Fire. And as for the one who passes judgment between people out of ignorance, then he also is in the Fire.' [9]

Lying Upon The Messenger Of Allaah

Ibn al-Atheer has compiled a chapter in his book Jaami' al-Usool in which he lists many ahaadeeth which warn against lying upon the Messenger of Allaah. Among them, is that which has been recorded by Imaams al-Bukhaaree, Muslim and at-Tirmithee, on the authority of 'Alee who said that the Messenger of Allaah said, "Do not lie upon me. For indeed, the one who lies upon me will be tormented by the Hellfire."

In another hadeeth the Prophet said, "Whoever attributes a statement to me of which I did not say , then let him find his seat in the Hellfire." [10]

Also, the Messenger of Allaah said, "Whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire." [11]

Among the other hadeeths is the one where Allaah's Messenger said, "Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else. So whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire!" [12]

Pride

Among of the major sins is pride. Aboo Hruayrah narrared that the Messenger of Allaah said, "Allaah said: 'Pride is my cloak and greatness is my lower garment. Whoever disputes with me regarding any of these will be cast into the Fire.'" [13]

And he also said: 'The one who has a speck of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise.'

So a man said to him "Indeed a man likes to have nice clothes and nice sandals." He said: 'Allaah beautiful and He loves beauty. Pride is disregarding the truth and belittling people.' [14]

Killing An Individual Without Due Right

Allaah says (which means): "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allaah are upon him, and the great punishment is prepared for him." [15]

The killing of an individual Muslim is not permissible in Islaam except for one of three cases, as has been stated in the following hadeeth, in which the Messenger of Allaah said, "The blood of an individual who testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship besides Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah, is not lawful, except for one of three cases. They are: A life for a life, a married person who commits adultery, and the one who abandons his religion and breaks away from the Jamaa'ah." [16]

The Prophet also said "The believer will remain within the margins of his religion, as long as he does not spill blood illegally." [17]

Ibn `Umar said: "Of those dilemmas which there is no way out for the one who fails, is the shedding of blood without due reason." [18]

The Messenger of Allaah has warned the Muslims from killing one another. And he has informed us that the killer and the one killed are both in the Fire.

Aboo Bakrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said, "When two Muslims face each other with their swords, then the killer and the one killed are (both) in the Fire." I said 'I understand the killer, but what of the one who is killed?' He said, "Indeed, he was intent upon killing his companion." [19]

Due to this, the righteous servant refrains from killing his brother, fearing that he might be of the dweller of the Fire. And so the killer will attain his sin and the sin of the one he is killing.

Allaah says (which means): "And recite to them (the Jews) the story of the two sons of Aadam in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allaah. It was accepted from one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; 'I will surely kill you.' The former said: 'Allaah accepts only from those who give Him due reverence. If you stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allaah the Lord of the Worlds. I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dweller of the Fire. And that is the recompense of the wrong doers.'" [20]

Consuming (Ribaa) Interest Or 'Usury

Among the sins that destroy the individual performing it, is usury. Concerning those who take interest after knowledge has reached them of its prohibition, Allaah says (which means), "But whoever returns to ribaa, such are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein" [21]

And He says (which means): "O you who believer! Do not consume ribaa, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allaah that you may be successful. and fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers." [22]

The Prophet has counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that destroy the one performing it. It is recorded in the Two Saheeh collection that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins."

They said: 'And what are they, O Messenger of Allaah?' So he said, "To associate partners with Allaah (shirk), magic, killing individual which Allaah has forbidden except with due right, consuming interest, taking the wealth of the orphan, running away from the battlefield, and slandering chaste believing women." [23]

Taking The Wealth Of The People Unjustly

Among the greatest forms of oppression bringing a guarantee of the Hellfire is the consumption of people's wealth unjustly. This is as Allaah says (which means): "O you who believe! Do not consume property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade among you by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allaah." [24]

One who unjustly consumes the wealth of people also takes the wealth of the orphan unjustly. Allaah has specifically mentioned their wealth, due to their frailty, the ease at which their wealth can be consumed, and the detestableness of such crime. "Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat only fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the Blazing Fire!" [25]

The Picture-Makers

The people who will receive the worst punishment on the Day of Judgment are the picture-makers. [Editor's note: There are a number of crimes in addition to this one, for which the Prophet mentioned they would warrant the worst punishment.] They are the ones who compete with Allaah's ability to create. Ibn Mas'ood reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "The people with the worst punishment according to Allaah are the picture-makers." [26]

Ibn 'Abbaas said that he heard the Prophet say: " Every picture-maker is in the Hellfire. A soul will be placed for him into every picture that he fabricated, and Allaah will punish him (by it) in the Hellfire." [27]

`Aaishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said concerning a cushion that had pictures on it, "Indeed the makers of these pictures will be tormented on the Day of Judgment. It will be said to them: Bring life to that which you have created." [28]

He also said, "The people who will receive the worst torment are those who try to imitate the creation of Allaah." [29]

Aboo Hurayrah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "Allaah says: And who is worse than he who tries to create the likes of My creation. Then let them create a seed, or let them create a kernel or grain." [30]

Those Who Rely On Evil-Doers (Dhalimoon)

From among the means that cause the entrance into the Hellfire, is the reliance on evildoers, the enemies of Allaah, and befriending them.

Allaah says (which means):

"And incline not towards those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you and you have no protectors other than Allaah, nor will you then be helped."[31]

The Women Who Will Be Clothed Yet Naked And The Ones Who Will Whip The Backs of People

Among the types of people that will enter the Hellfire, are the evil women who display their beauty indecently. They put the servants of Allaah to trial and do not themselves abide in the obedience of Allaah. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, "There are two types of people from the dwellers of the Fire that I have never seen before. A people who have whips like tails of cows by which they will be beating the people. And women who will be clothed yet naked, swaggering and bent over, their heads will be like the slanted humps of the bukht camel. They will not enter Paradise, nor will they sense its odor, even though its can be sensed from such and such distance." [32]

Concerning those with whips like the tails of cows, al-Qurtubee said: "The description of the ones with whips is visible among us even now , in Morocco."

Commenting on the words of al-Qurtubee, Sideeq Hasan Khaan said: "Rather they are present in every time, at every place, increasing day by day among the leaders and the notables. Thus we seek refuge from all that Allaah hates." [33]

I say, we can still see this type of people in many of the lands, whipping the backs of people. May they and their likes perish!

And the women who appear naked in spite of their being clothed are many in our time. Perhaps their evil has not grown so widespread before as it has these days. They are just as the Messenger of Allaah has described them, clothed yet naked, bent-over and swaggering, and upon their heads is the hump of the bukht camel.

Those Who Torture Animals

"The Hellfire was presented to me and I saw in it a woman from the Tribe of Israa'eel who was being punished for a cat she had tied up and did not feed it, nor did she let it go so that it may eat the rodents of the earth, until it died of starvation."[34]

If this is the condition of the one who tortures a cat, then how is it for the one who is tested by torturing the servants of Allaah? And how much more is it, if the torture is for the righteous ones among them because of their eemaan and their Islaam?

The Lack Of Sincerity In seeking Knowledge

Al-Haafiz al-Munthiree cited many hadeeths which warn against seeking knowledge for other than Allaah's sake. I have chosen only some of them. The Messenger of Allaah said: 'Whoever acquires knowledge, by which the Face of Allaah is sought, and he does not learn it except to attain honor by it in this world, he will not perceive the odor of Paradise on the Day of Judgment." [35]

Jaabir reported that the Prophet said: "Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. So whoever does that, then: The Fire, the Fire." [36]

Ibn `Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever acquires a knowledge for other than Allaah's sake, or desiring other than that, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire."[37]

Those Who Drink From Gold And Silver Vessels

Umm Salamah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "One who drinks from a gold a silver vessel is only gulping the fire of Jahannam (Hellfire) into his stomach." [38]

In other similar narration, he said: "The one who eats and drinks from a gold and silver vessel, is only.." [39]

Huthayfah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say: "Do not wear silk garments nor silk brocade. And do not drink from gold and silver vessels, nor eat from such bowls. For, indeed they are for them (disbelievers) in this world, and they are for you in the next." [40]

The One Who Cuts Down The Lote-Tree Which Shades The People

The Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever cuts down a lote-tree, Allaah will pour Fire on his head."[41]

`Aa'ishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Indeed the ones who cut down the lote-tree, a molten Fire will be poured on their heads." [42]

The Recompense of Suicide

It has been confirmed in the two Saheehs that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever kills himself with a weapon, then that weapon will be in his hand, stabbing him in the stomach in the Hellfire eternally. And whoever kills himself with poison, then the poison will be in his hand, he will be sipping it in the Hell Fire eternally. And whoever throws himself from mountain and kills himself, then he will be falling down in the Hell Fire eternally." [43]

Aboo Hurayrah said that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, "The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in the Hell Fire. And the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in the Hell Fire." [44]

Notes:

1. Taken from a chapter from al-Yawn al-Aakhir: al-Jannah wan-Naar. Translated by Isma'eel Ibn al-Arkaan, edited for Hudda.

2. Reported by Aboo Daawood, ad-Daarimee, al-Haakim, Ahmad and others.

3. As-Saheehah (no. 204)

4. Al-`Itibaar, pg. 206

5. See as-Saheehah (no. 204)

6. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:97-98)

7. Surat an-Nahl (16:90)

8. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:58)

9. An authentic hadeeth narrated by Aboo Daawood. The of Jaamir 'al-Usool (al-Arnaa'oot) (10:167) graded it saheeh.

10. Recorded by al-Bukhaaree, from the hadeeth of Salamah Bin al-Akwa'.

11. Al-Bukhaaree and Aboo Daawood.

12. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, on the authority of al-Mugheerah Bin Shu'bah. These narrations can be found in Jaami' al-Usool (10:611).

13. Muslim.

14. See these two hadeeths as well as others regarding the topic of pride and the calling away from it in Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh (3:634-635)

15. Surat an-Nisaa ' (4:93)

16. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer (2:355)

17. Al-Bukhaaree, on the authority of Ibn `Umar .

18. See Fath al-Baaree (12:187)

19. Muslim (4:2213)

20. Surat al-Maa'idah (5:27-29)

21. Surat al-Baqarah (2:275)

22. Surah Aali `Imraan (3:130-131)

23. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim

24. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:29-30)

25. Surat an-Nisaa' (4:10)

26. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. See Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh (2:505)

27. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

28. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

29. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, on the authority of `Aa'isha.

30. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. All the narrations in this section, as well as their checking, can be found in Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:505).

31. Surah Hood (10:113)

32. Recorded by Muslim, Ahmad and al-Bayhaqee. See as-Saheehah (no. 1326).

33. Al- 'Itibaar pg. 113.

34. Saheeh Muslim. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeh (3:688)

35. Reported by Aboo Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibban and al-Haakim who said that it was authentic according to the condition of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

36. Reported by Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh, and al-Bayhaqee.

37. Recorded by at-Tirmithee and Aboo Daawood. See this hadeeth and all others in this section, as well as their checking, in the book at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb by al-Haafiz al-Munthire, (1:91)

38. Al-Bukhaaree. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:462)

39. Muslim.

40. Al-Bukhaaree and Musilm

41. Aboo Daawood. See Mishkaat-ul-Masaabeeh (2:215) Al-Albaanee has declared it authentic in his Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 6352) [Old Edition]

42. Reported by al-Bayhaqee. See Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 88) [Old Eidtion]

43. See at-Takhweef min-an-Naar pg. 148.

44. See Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 114) [Old Edition]

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Hellfire: Its People And Its TerrorSaalih Ibn Humayd

First Khutbah

Praise be to Allah. I praise and thank Him, exalted is He, and I glorify and revere him. Forever does He merit attributes of veneration and perfection. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner and I thus admit His Oneness. I also testify that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger, the selected Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) who is of a better lineage than the entire humanity and is far more honorable than them all. May Allahs peace and blessings be upon him and his righteous companions, people of benevolence and honesty and those who follow the way of Allahs messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) and his righteous companions.

O People, I advise you and myself to fear Allah, glorified is He, Allah says which translates as: And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah (Al-Baqarah: 281). Beware of a Day when you will stand for a long time awaiting a thorough judgment. Fellow Muslims, every soul will be held accountable only for the deeds s/he has committed. No one will be punished for a sin s/he did not commit. On Judgment Day, every soul will stand alone in his/her defense.

Sinful desires lead many people astray. Their faith is not reflected in their deeds. They speak but they never act on what they say. This is the position of the unintelligent persons. Having learned the truth, they then deny it. They declare permissible what Allah and His messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) have decreed as prohibited. Al-Hassan Al-Basri may Allah bless his soul, exclaims: Do they believe in Judgment Day? No, I swear by the Master of the Day of Resurrection, they are liars. No one is admitted to paradise except one who genuinely seeks it and no one will be saved from the Hellfire except one who truly fears it. Entering in to the Hellfire is an indisputable fact, As Allah says which translates as: There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a decree which must be accomplished (Maryam: 71) but is salvation from the Hellfire an indisputable fact too?

Who shows signs of real fear from it? Who would be truly delighted to be saved from it? Musa Ibn Sad said: Whenever we were in the company of Sufyan, we would feel that we were surrounded by the hellfire because of the look of fear and terror we saw on his face. Whoever honestly fears the Hellfire strives to avoid it and whoever strives to avoid it attains Paradise. As in the Quran which translates as: Saying: Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah), But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the fire, Verily, We used to invoke Him (Alone and none else) before. Verily, He is Al-Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful (At-Tur: 2628). Truly, Allah guides and has mercy on those who fear Him.

Brothers in Islam, our sermon seeks to remind and warn of the hellfire and fill your hearts with the fear of what was mentioned in the Glorious Quran and what Prophet Muhammad, (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), said concerning the punishment of the disbelievers and those who do not abide by Allahs laws. Our sermon is about the Hellfire, its people, and its terror. We seek refuge in Allahs mercy from it, as Allah says which translates as: O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded (At-Tahrim: 6).

Al-Hassan Al-Basri, may Allah bless his soul, states: By Allah! It is never that a servant of Allah honestly believes in the Hellfire, but he feels as if the spacious earth has become incredibly narrow, whereas if the Hellfire was right behind a hypocrite, he would still not believe in it until he tumbles into its burning depths. I swear that the servants of Allah have never been warned against anything more horrific.

Allah says which translates as: Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell); None shall enter it save the most wretched, Who denies and turns away (Al-Layl: 14- 16). This is the Hellfire, of which those who fear it will never sleep. Fear of the Hellfire torments the righteous. Allah says which translates as: Verily, it {Hell, or their denial of prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) or the Day of Resurrection} is but one of the greatest calamities. A warning to mankind, To any of you that chooses to go forward (by working righteous deeds), or to remain behind (by commiting sins) (Al-Muddaththir: 35- 37).

Do you not know that even angels and prophets are warned against the Hellfire? Concerning angels, Allah says which translates as: And if any of them should say: Verily, I am an Ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah) such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc) (Al-Anbiya: 29). As regards to the prophets, He says which translates as: And set not up with Allah any other Ilah (god) lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected, (from Allahs Mercy) (Al-Isra: 39).

O People, avoid the Hellfire by giving away as little as a date. Avoid the Hellfire by saying a good word. Mention the Hellfire repeatedly and seek to be saved from it, as Allah says which translates as: With this Allah does frighten His slaves: O My slaves, therefore fear Me! (Az-Zumar: 16). The Hellfire is the worst abode, its torment is the most horrific of all, its heat is extreme, its pit is bottomless, and its maces are made of iron. A stone may continue to fall for seventy years before if reaches its depth. Its ways are narrow, it is constantly ablaze, terribly drawing its breath, and its gates are locked. Its scorching columns are outstretched. Its heat is continuously increasing. It is the wrath of Al Jabbar and His punishment.

Whole nations will be brought to their knees. Those who were unjust to themselves will realize the consequences of their actions. The disbelievers will be dispatched to a shadow of smoke ascending in three columns, which yields no shade or coolness and is of no use against the fierce blaze. The flames of a blazing fire will surround them. They will hear its exhalations and groaning and witness its rage and fury. They will be called on by the angels of the Hellfire, as the Quran says which translates as: So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode will be for the arrogant (An-Nahl: 29). They will be gathered in the Hellfire, with the angels of the punishment crushing them. They will groan in its straits as they tumble downwards. You will see the sinners on that day bound together in fetters, their garments will be made of liquid pitch, and their faces will be covered with fire. Their necks will be shackled and they will be dragged by chains, pulled by the forehead and feet, and then thrown into the Hellfire. A burning fluid will be poured onto their heads and it will melt their skins and their stomachs. Their hands will be shackled with iron fetters, and their foreheads, sides, and backs will be burnt.

Taste you the touch of Hell (Al-Qamar: 48). They will be made to eat bitter Zaqqum and Dari, which will neither nourish nor satisfy their hunger. They will be made to drink a boiling fluid and a dark, murky, and intensely cold liquid that will burn their faces and tear up their stomachs. The Quran describes which translates as: He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat (Ibrahim: 17) Therein they will cry: Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do (Allah will reply): Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc) there is no helper (Fatir: 37) As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment (An-Nisa: 56) They will wish to die, only there will be no way out of the Hellfire, nor will there be an escape. The Quran describes which translates as: And they will cry: O Malik let your Lord make an end of us, he will say: Verily you shall abide forever. Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth (Az-Zukhruf: 77-78). Their inhalation and exhalation will then be heard even louder when they are deprived of what they desire. Their despair will be increased and they will think to themselves, It makes no difference to us, whether we rage, or bear with patience. There is no place of refuge for us (Ibrahim: 21). We seek refuge in Allah, from His wrath and severe punishment.

Brothers in Islam, these are indisputable facts about the Hellfire which I swear by Allah will be fulfilled. Allah says which translates as: but the Word from Me took effect, that I will fill Hell with Jinn and mankind together (As-Sajdah: 13).

Woe unto every disbeliever and wicked person who does wrong, prefers worldly life and does not believe in Judgment Day, as Allah says which translates as: The Mujrimoon (polythiests, idolaters, and disbelievers) will be known by their marks (black faces) (Ar-Rahman: 41) And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless. A slanderer, going about with calumnies. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinfull. Cruel, after all that base-born (of illegitimate birth) (Al-Qalam: 10- 13). Those who do not believe in Allah, the Almighty, nor encourage the feeding of the poor, who never prays nor feeds the poor, joining with the disbelievers in denying Judgment Day. These are the people of the Hellfire. We seek refuge in Allah from them.

Servants of Allah, people of the Hellfire will include wine drinkers, those who sever kinship relations, believe in magic, remind others of the charity they gave them, backbite others, let their garments hang down below their ankles, hoard silver and gold and refuse to spend in the way of Allah. Among the people to be most severely tortured are those who create pictures and statues to imitate Allahs creation and those who oppress people in this world.

What would be the position of the reciters of the Quran, scholars and mujahideen (fighters in Jihad) whose deeds are for showing off, and those who command people to do good deeds yet do not do them themselves, who forbid people from committing sins, yet do not refrain from committing sins themselves, who never practice what they preach, who rebuke when they advice and turn a deaf ear when advised and who judge without knowledge or without justice. These are people of the hellfire.

A ruler who betrays his people will be condemned to the Hellfire.

A person who pledged allegiance to the Imam but for the sake of the world (material gains). If the Imam bestowed on him (something) out of that (worldly riches) he stood by his allegiance and if he did not give him, he did not fulfill the allegiance such a person is condemned.

Whoever cuts off the right of a Muslim man by his oath, Allah forbids him the Garden an obliges the Fire for him.

Whoever eats or drinks from gold or silver utensils is indeed filing his stomach with the fire of hell.

Allah says which translates as: Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a fire into their own bellies, they will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire (An-Nisa: 10).

Woe to the one who devours usury! The fire is the only worthy punishment for him whose body is nourished by usury or by what is forbidden. There will be two types of people who are destined for the Hellfire: people with whips, like the tails of cows, who beat the people (i.e. tyrannical rulers who are the enemies of their own people), and woman who although clothed, are yet naked, seducing and being seduced, their hair styled like tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the Garden nor will its fragrance even reach them If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she will be made to stand on the Day of Resurrection wearing a trousers of pitch and a shirt of mange Cheat and deceit will be condemned to the fire Indecency leads to the Hellfire The worst of people in the sight of Allah is he who people avoid due to his indecency, aggressiveness, and vulgarity. Woe unto those who wish that indecency would spread among those who believe, they will be severely tortured in this world and in the Hereafter.

Dear Muslims, may Allah have mercy on you and I, and save us from this horrible torture. These are the various types of punishments in the Hellfire and the different characteristics of the people of the Hellfire. So fear Allah and avoid the Hellfire by shedding tears out of fear of Allah, for no man who cried out of fear of Allah will ever be tortured in the Hellfire. Two eyes will never be touched by the Fire; and eye that sheds tears out of fear of Allah, and a vigilant eye that stayed awake on guard for the sake of Allah (in Jihad). Whoever fasts a day is distanced from the Hellfire by a space to be covered in seventy years. Seek refuge with Allah from the Hellfire, for this is one of the characteristics of the righteous, who constantly remembers Allah.

The angels will pass by those who remember Allah in parties and Allah will say, From what do they seek refuge? The angels reply: They seek refuge from the hellfire Allah says, Did they see it? The angels say: No by Allah, O Lord! They did not see it, Allah says: How it would have been if they saw it? The angels say: If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it. Then Allah says, I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.

In another narration: Whenever a Muslim prays to be admitted to paradise three times, paradise says: O Allah, admit him to paradise. Whenever a Muslim seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times, The Hellfire seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times for that Muslim, The Hellfire says: O Allah, grant him refuge from me. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. As in the Quran, which translates as: Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the fire (Al-`Imraan: 16). our Lord, avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment. Evil indeed it is as an abode and as a place to dwell (Al-Furqan: 65, 66). May we all benefit from the Glorious Quran.

Second Khutbah

Praise be to Allah, the Originator, the restorer, who effects all He wills, I praise and thank Him. Exalted is He, for it is with gratitude that ones blessings last and are increased. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger who has warned all people, be they near or far. May Allahs peace and blessings be upon him, his household, his wives, his companions, and those who piously follow their example until Judgment Day.

O People, the mention of the Hellfire terrifies the hearts of those who are afraid of it and dispels sleep from the eyes of worshippers.

Fellow Muslims, contemplate the Day of Resurrection with your hearts, think of the destination of the two kinds of people, either to paradise or to the Hellfire, and determine which of the two you want and ponder with your imagination. Make your hearts and your bodies sense the heat of the Hellfire, its fetters, its depths, its fuel, its rocks, its chains and shackles, its boiling fluid, its dark murky fluid. Think of the Blazing fire and its severely intolerable heat. Cry and call on one another to cry. Visualize in your hearts the image of the wrongdoers being tormented in the flames of the Hellfire. Allah says which translates as: They shall have coverings of fire, above them and covering beneath them (Az-Zumar: 16). whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the fire (Al-Isra: 97). Seize him and fetter him. Then throw him in the blazing fire. Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits (Al-Haqqah: 30-32). In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke. Neither cool, nor good (Al-Waqi`a: 42-44).

So, fear Allah so that He may have mercy on you. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from Hellfire, and from any word or deed that may bring us near to it. Avoid the Blazing Fire, that Abode that has been reserved for the disbelievers.

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Hell-fire and its peopleKhutbah by Shaykh Salaah al-BudayrO Muslims! Allah created the creations so that they would worship Him. He provided them with evidences proving His greatness in order that they may fear Him; He described to them the harshness of His torment and the place of His punishment in order that they would control themselves from corruption and sinfulness and in order that it would be an incentive for them to achieve success and to be guided. Beware of that which Allah warned you against, and fear that which He scared you from. Fear the Hell-fire which He described in His Book and through His Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam. It is a dwelling which has its own fury and roar. Its heat is great. It is black and dark, depressing and burning. Allah says which means, It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned). Altering (i.e. blackening the skins. Over it are Nineteen (angels). (Al-Muddaththir: 28-30). Its flame never extinguishes; a dwelling in which Allah deprives its people from being close to Him and from joy and happiness, Allah says that which means, Hell, which they will (enter to) burn, and wretched is the resting place. (Saad: 56).The mention of its levels and its steep bottom surrounding walls terrifies the hearts of the people fearful of Allah. The Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, I swear by The One in Whose Hand my soul is, if you saw what I saw you would laugh little, and cry excessively, people said, O Prophet of Allah! What did you see? He (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, I saw Paradise and Hell (Muslim).Numaan Ibn al-Basheer, may Allah be please with him, said I heard the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam saying, I warn you of the Fire, I warn you of the Fire until his over garment fell from his shoulders to his feet (Ahmad and others). He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam also said, Do not forget the two great things, do not forget the two great things: Paradise and Hell. Then he sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said while crying, I swear by The One in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, if you know what I know, you would climb the mountains and pour dust on your heads (out of fear) (Abu Yalaa).O Muslims! Ibn Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Paradise is closer to one of you than his shoelace, and Hell is likewise (Bukhari). He sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam also said, according to the narration of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, The fire which you light is one of the seventy parts (of heat) from the fire of Hell. It (Hell Fire) was increased by sixty-nine parts, each part is just as hot (Bukhari).What you feel from heat during summer is but a small breath from Hell to remind you with it. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, The Fire complained to its Lord saying, O Lord! I am eating up myself (burning), so Allah allowed it to release two breaths, one during the winter and one during the summer; the coldest days you experience result from the breath of Zamhareer (cold punishment in Hell), and the hottest days you experience result from the breath of Fire (Bukhari)Hell-fire will come on the Day of Resurrection being led by seventy thousand handles. Each handle will be pulled by seventy thousand angles. It will come in an angry state and the criminals will be certain of the consequence of their deeds which they are to face, when they see it. Nations will drop to their knees, and Man will remember what he had set forth. Allah says, which means, And brought (within view) that Day, is Hell that Day man will remember, but how (i.e. what good) to him will be the remembrance? He will say: Oh. I wish I had sent ahead (some good) for my life. So on that Day none will punish (as severely) as His punishment, And none will bind (as severely) as His binding (of the evildoers). (Al-Fajr: 23-26). It takes seventy years to reach the bottom of Hell. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard a sound of a rock, This is a rock which was thrown in Hell-fire seventy years ago, and it just reached its bottom now. (Muslim).The Siraat (a bridge) will be set over Hell with all the harshness of its Fire and its hooked rods. The believers will pass over it with a speed according to their deeds, some will pass as fast as the blink of an eye, some as fast as the blowing of the wind, some as birds fly, and some as fast as quick horse. Some people will pass safely, others will be scratched and others will be taken down into the Fire. The Fire will reach up to some peoples ankles, while it will reach others to their knees, others to their waists and yet others to their throats. The people of Hell will be led to it tired and scared. They will be pushed towards it and shoved. They will be dragged in its heat and then thrown into its flames. Fire will be boiling with them in it like water boils in a pot, Allah says, which means, When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a (dreadful) inhaling while it boils up (Al-Mulk: 7).They will ask for food, and they will be granted the most revolting rations which have been prepared for the wrong-doers, Allah says which means, Indeed the tree of Zaqqum, is the food for the sinful. Like murky oil, it boils within bellies. Like the boiling of scalding water (Ad-Dukhaan: 43-46).Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, If a drop from Zaqqum (a tree in Hell) were to be dropped on earth, it would make peoples life bitter, so how would the case be for those whose food is Zaqqum, and have nothing else as food (Ahmad).When they ask for help they would be provided with a poisonous thorny plant, which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger. It will have thorns which will neither reach their stomachs nor come out of their mouths. They would ask for help and they would be given as food the filth from the washing of wounds, pus and blood which comes out of the flesh of the people of Hell. When their thirst reaches its ultimate, they would be given water from a boiling spring with extremely high temperature, which would split up their stomachs, damage their sinful bodies, and burn their disobedient faces. Allah says which means, And say, the truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills let him believe; and whoever disbelieves let him disbelieve. Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. (Al-Kahf: 29).Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, Boiling water will be poured on their heads and it would pierce their skulls until it reaches their stomachs; this will make their guts melt and go down to their feet, then everything would be returned to its original condition again (Ahmad and Tirmithi).An-Numaan Ibn al-Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said when he heard the sound of a rock, The least among the people of Hell in punishment is one whose sandals and laces are of fire from which his brain boils as a pot of water would boil (when set on fire), he will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in reality, he is the least in punishment (Bukhari and Muslim).They will suffer in Hell in different ways: torment of fire, garments made of pitch which solid strong mountains cannot tolerate. They will be tied up with their hands and feet to their necks in fetters, its chains overburdening them. Their feet will be tied to their foreheads and their faces will turn gloomy as a result. Doors will become sealed and the hardship that lies therein will be great, Allah says which means, It has seven gates; for every gate is of them (i.e. Satans followers) a portion designated (Al-Hijr: 44).They will cry and be saddened, and will cry out loud from the severity of the torment while they are in its valleys, Allah says which means, And they will call: O Maalik, let your Lord put an end to us! He will say, Indeed you will remain. (Az-Zukhruf: 77).Their sorrow will be continuous, so they will never feel happy. Their destiny is certain (in fire) and they will never depart from it, the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said as narrated by Abdullaah Ibn Qays, may Allah be pleased with him, The dwellers of Hell will cry so much that ships can sail in their tears, and their tears will be of blood (Al-Haakim). They will be crying because they wasted their lives without taking provisions from it for the hereafter, and the more they weep the more they feel the craving to cry. What a moment to regret for having their Creator angry with them! They will call, as Allah says, which means, And they will cry out therein, Our Lord, remove us; We will do righteousness other than what we were doing! But did we not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the Warner had come to you? So taste (the punishment), for there is not for the wrongdoers any helper. (Faatir: 37). And also, If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord (saying), Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us (to the world); we will work righteousness. Indeed, they are (now) certain (As-Sajdah: 12). Also, 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-Muminoon: 106-107).They will call unto to the Lord Whom they continued to disobey, transgress His boundaries, and were enemies of His devout slaves; they will be calling unto The Lord whose judgment is just on them, and His wrath and punishment befell them. Allah says which means, He will say, Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me. (Al- Muminoon: 108).That day, the one who cries is not sympathised with, and the one who supplicates is never responded to; it is too late to get what they desire. Their sins surround them. They continue to hope for rescue until a sound calls saying, O people of Paradise it is an eternal life which has no death, O people of Hell it is an eternal life which has no death. A Fire which cannot be resisted, and a soul which does not die, Allah says, which means, Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is hell; he will neither die therein nor live. (Taa Haa: 74).They blame each other and belie each other, Allah says which means, (Allah) will say, enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire. Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire. He will say, For each is double, but you do not know. (Al-Araaf: 38). Also, And (Ibraheem) said, You have only taken other than Allah idols as (a bond of) affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers. (Al-Ankaboot: 25).They become furious with those who led them astray and increased their misguidance, Allah says, which means, And those who disbelieved will (then) say, Our Lord show us those who misled us of the jinn and men (so) we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest. (Fussilat: 29).The one who blinded himself from the remembrance of Allah would say to his intimate companion who hindered him from the Quran and made disobedience look appealing. Allah says, which means, At length, when such a one comes to Us, he says to his evil companion: Would that between me and thee were the distance of East and West! Ah! Evil is the companion indeed! (Az-Zukhruf: 38).But this would not benefit them because they will be sharing the punishment, Allah says, which means, (Allah) will say, enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire. Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister until, when they have all overtaken one another therein, the last of them will say about the first of them, Our Lord, these had misled us, so give them a double punishment of the Fire. He will say, For each is double, but you do not know. (Al-Araaf: 38).Slaves of Allah! These are some of the descriptions of the Fire and its people, so ask Allah to protect you from Hell-fire. Ask Allah to keep you away from any words or deeds which would bring you closer to Hell-fire. We live in a time during which evil and trials are successive; trials of doubts and fast busy life, which lead anyone who falls in its trap to turn away from his faith, manners and behaviour. Abu Baarzah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Amongst the things which I fear on you the most are following your desires regarding your provisions and private parts and doubts (regarding the religion) in another narration he sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, and trials (Ahmad).Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, Paradise is surrounded by difficulties and Fire is surrounded by temptations (Bukhari).Overcome these difficulties and awaken your hearts from its heedlessness. Keep yourselves away from the sources of temptations and guard yourselves with the Quran and the Sunnah. Know that you have time now, yet you are awaiting a sudden death. One who will not benefit from his present life, certainly will not benefit from what will come after. There is no disaster greater than being heedless and having a dead heart. There nothing which will warn you better than the greying of your hair, and no destiny worse than Hell.Allah says, which means, and We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And we have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve - that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is disease (i.e. hypocrisy) and the disbelievers will say, What does Allah intend by this as an example? Thus does Allah lead astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And it (i.e. mention of the fire) is not but a reminder to humanity. No! By the moon, and (by) the night when it departs, and (by) the morning when it brightens, Indeed, it (i.e. the Fire) is of the greatest (afflictions), as a warning to humanity - To whoever wills among you to proceed or stay behind. (Al-Muddaththir: 31-37).Slaves of Allah! Protect yourselves, your wives, your children and those under your responsibility from Hell. Abandoning prayers, imitating the disbelievers, looking at prohibited things via satellite channels, consuming alcohol, and women not adhering to the Islamic dress code of hijaab, are all from the deeds and actions of the people of Hell. Every disobedience to Allah and His Messenger is from the deeds of the people of Hell; so protect yourselves from the Fire, Allah says, which means, And whoever disobeys Allah and His messenger and transgresses His limits He will put Him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. (An-Nisaa: 14).

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Question Reference Number:: 26792Title: Hell will never cease to exist and neither will its people

Home > Basic Tenets of Faith > Belief > Belief in the Last Day and the Signs of the Hour > Paradise and Hell > Question:

Allaah threatens the kaafirs and atheists with Hell, they will abide therein for ages [al-Naba 78:23]. Will their torment in the Fire continue forever, and if so, doesnt that contradict Allaahs justice and mercy? Or will their punishment last for ages the length of which is known to Allaah, and if so, what will their fate be after that, is there any reference to that in the Quraan or Sunnah?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

What Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah believe is that Hell will never cease to exist or be extinguished, and no one will be brought forth from it except the sinners among the people of Tawheed. As for the kuffaar and atheists, they will abide therein forever.

Imaam Ibn Hazm said in his book Maraatib al-Ijmaa: Hell is real; it is an abode of torment that will never cease to exist, and its people will never cease to exist, they will remain there without end.

And he said in his book al-Fasl fil-Milal wal-Ahwa wal-Nihal: All the sects of the ummah are agreed that Paradise and its delights will never cease to exist, and that Hell and its torments will never cease to exist, except for al-Jahm ibn Safwaan, Abul-Hudhayl al-Allaaf and some of the Raafidis. As for Jahm, he said that Paradise and Hell will cease to exist, as will their people. Abul-Hudhayl said that Paradise and Hell will not cease to exist, and neither will their people, but their movements will cease and they will remain immobile, never moving, and their people will be alive, being blessed or tormented. And that group of Raafidis said that the people of Paradise will come out of Paradise, and the people of Hell will come out of Hell, to wherever Allaah wants to take them.

(al-Fasl 4/154, Dar al-Jeel edition)

Al-Tahhaawi said in his Aqeedah: Paradise and Hell are two created entities that will never cease to exist or come to an end.

There is a great deal of evidence in the Quraan and Sunnah to confirm this belief. For example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom; and theirs will be a lasting torment[al-Maa'idah 5:37]

(The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein[al-Zukhruf 43:75]Their reward with their Lord is Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever[al-Bayyinah 98:8]No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked to leave it [Paradise][al-Hijr 15:48]

And they will never get out of the Fire[al-Baqarah 2:167]and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle[al-Araaf 7:40]Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!

[Faatir 35:36]

In the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Death will come on the Day of Resurrection like a black and white ram, and it will stand between Paradise and Hell. It will be said, O people of Paradise, do you recognize this? They will crane their necks and look, and will say, Yes, it is death.

It will be said, O people of Hell, do you recognize this? They will crane their necks and look, and will say, Yes, it is death. Then the command will be issued and it will be slaughtered. Then it will be said, O People of Paradise, it is eternal and there is no death. O people of Hell, it is eternal and there is no death. Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

And warn them (O Muhammad) 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]

(Narrated by Muslim, 5087, from the hadeeth of Abu Saeed al-Khudri)

This clear saheeh text leaves no room for doubt concerning this matter, which is that the people of Hell will abide therein forever, and will not die or come out, just as the people of Paradise will abide therein forever.

The commentator of al-Tahhaawiyyah said: Many reports of the Sunnah indicate that those who said Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah will be brought forth from Hell. The ahaadeeth about intercession clearly indicate that the sinners among the people of Tawheed will be brought forth from Hell and that this applies only to them; if the kuffaar were to be brought forth from it, they would be like the believers, and that contradicts the exclusiveness indicated in the hadeeth.

(Sharh al-Tahhaawiyyah, p. 430, al-Maktab al-Islami edition).

With regard to the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

They will abide therein for ages [ahqaab]. Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges[al-Naba 78:23-25]

what is meant, as al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, is They will stay in the Fire for as long as those ages last, and these ages will never cease. Every time one age ceases, another will come. Huqub means a lifetime or an age, and (the plural) ahqaab means ages. Hiqbah means a year, the plural of which is hiqab. Huqb means eighty years, or it was said that it means more than that, as we shall see, and the plural is ahqaab. The meaning in this verse is that they will abide therein for the ages of the Hereafter, to which there is no end. The verse does not specifically mention the Hereafter (by saying the ages of the Hereafter) because it is clear that the context here is speaking of the Hereafter. It is like saying the days of the Hereafter, days after days, without end. If it was referring to time it would have mentioned a specific length of time, such as five ages or ten ages, etc. The word ahqaab/huqub is used because that was the longest period of time according to the Arabs, so they would understand that. It is a metaphor for eternity, i.e., that they would abide therein forever. And it was said that ages (ahqaab) were mentioned rather than days because ahqaab is more indicative of eternity. These meaning are very similar.

This eternal abiding is for the mushrikeen. The verse may also be interpreted as referring to the sinners who will be brought forth from Hell after these ages have passed.

And it was said that ahqaab refers to the time when they will drink the hameem (boiling water) and ghasaaq (dirty wound discharges). When that comes to an end they will have another kind of punishment. Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

They will abide therein for ages [ahqaab]. Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges[al-Naba 78:23-25].

(From Tafseer al-Qurtubi)

With regard to the aayah:

As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills. Verily, your Lord is the Doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills).[Hood 11:106-107 interpretation of the meaning]

Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned in his Tafseer eleven scholarly opinions, all of which indicate that the kuffaar will abide forever in Hell. One of these opinions states that the exception applies only to the sinners among the believers, who will be brought forth from Hell after some time. On this basis, the phrase As for those who are wretched is general and applies to both kaafirs and sinners, and the exception refers to the word khaalideena [translated here as dwell therein for all the time]. In al-Saheeh it is narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Some people will enter Hell, then when they are like ashes, they will be brought forth from it and admitted to Paradise, and it will be said, These are the Jahannamiyyeen (the hellish ones).

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6896).

Another view is that illa (except) here [ in the phrase translated as They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord wills] means siwa (apart from), as in the phrase ma mai rajulun illa Zayd (there is no man with me apart from Zayd). So the meaning here is: so long as the heavens and the earth endure, apart from (or in addition to) the eternity which Allaah wills they should abide therein.

We have refrained from quoting all the opinions here for the sake of brevity, but the reader may benefit from referring to them.

Hence we may note that the teaching of the Quraan and Sunnah, and scholarly consensus (ijmaa), that Hell and its people will remain forever, is not contradicted by any clear saheeh text of the Book of Allaah or the Sunnah of His Messenger, or by any report from the Sahaabah and Taabieen.

So this is the answer to your question, Or will their punishment last for ages the length of which is known to Allaah, and if so, what will their fate be after that, is there any reference to that in the Quraan or Sunnah?

We may add here that in the texts that we have quoted and in others that we have not mentioned, there is evidence to confirm the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah in this matter. The fact that the texts do not say anything about their fate after those ages proves what we have mentioned, that those ages will not come to an end. May Allaah protect us and you from that.

There is nothing in what we have mentioned that contradicts the mercy and justice of Allaah. Rather this is what is implied by His justice and mercy, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism), for them will be the fire of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!Therein they will cry: Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do. (Allaah will reply:) Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) there is no helper.

[Faatir 35:36-37]

Verily, the Mujrimoon (criminals, sinners, disbelievers) will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever.

(The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein.

We wronged them not, but they were the Zaalimoon (polytheists, wrongdoers).

And they will cry: O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us He will say: Verily, you shall abide forever.

Indeed We have brought the truth (Muhammad with the Quraan) to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth

[al-Zukhruf 43:74-78]

Shall We then treat the Muslims (believers of Islamic Monotheism, doers of righteous deeds) like the Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers)?

What is the matter with you? How judge you?

[al-Qalam 68:34-35]

Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah SYMBOL 190 \f "Symbol" Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death? Worst is the judgement that they make.

And Allaah has created the heavens and the earth with truth, in order that each person may be recompensed what he has earned, and they will not be wronged

[al-Jaathiyah 43:21-22]

To Him is the return of all of you. The Promise of Allaah is true. It is He Who begins the creation and then will repeat it, that He may reward with justice those who believed and did deeds of righteousness. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of boiling fluids and painful torment because they used to disbelieve[Yoonus 10:4]Whoever ponders these blessed verses will be certain that Allaah is All-Wise, All-Knowing, Most Merciful, and He does not wrong any soul in the slightest. Your Lord is not unjust towards His slaves and

He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned[al-Anbiya 21:23 interpretation of the meaning]And Allaah knows best.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)

Descriptions of Hell in IslamThe Creation of Hell-Fire

"Fear the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers."[Ali'-Imran, 3: 131]

"Truly Hell is lying in wait- a destination for the transgressors."[an-Naba, 78: 21-22](Ones rejection of faith is transgression against Allah and himself).

Abdullah bin Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: Allah Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, When someone dies, he is shown his destination morning and evening and if he belongs to the people of Paradise, (he will be shown his place) among the people of Paradise, and if he is from the people of Hell, (he will be shown his place) among the people of Hell. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allahs Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: There was a dispute between Hell and Paradise during which Hell said, The haughty and the proud will find abode in me. And Paradise said, The meek and the humble will find their abode in me. Thereupon, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, (addressing Hell) said, You are the means of My punishment by which I punish those of My servants whom I wish. (and addressing Paradise), He said, You are My mercy by means of which I will show mercy to those whom I wish. And each one of you will be full. [Muslim]

The Gates of Hell

The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds until, when they arrive there, its gates will be opened..

[az-Zumar, 39: 71]

And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all. It has seven gates: to each of those gates is a specific class of sinners assigned.[al Hijr, 15: 43-44]

To them will be said, Enter you the gates of Hell to dwell therein. And how evil is this abode of the arrogant.[az Zumar, 39: 72]

But those who reject Our signs are the companions of the left hand on them will be fire vaulted over.[al Balad, 90: 19-20]In Arabic, the phrase on them will be fire vaulted over indicates that the gates of Hell be closed. In other words, the fire will encompass the companions of the Fire, and the gates of Hell will imprison them within. As well, the gates of Hell will be locked, vaulted all