The Punishment of the People of Hell
The Intensity of the Suffering of the People of Hell
The Fire is an intense punishment, in which there are different types of
torment, to escape which people would give the dearest possessions that they
own:
“As for those who reject Faith, and die rejecting - never would be accepted
from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it
for ransom. For such is [in store] a penalty grievous and they will find no
helpers”. (3:91)
“As to those who reject faith - if they had everything on earth and twice
repeated, to give as ransom for the Penalty of the Day of Judgement, it would
never be accepted of them. Theirs would be a grievous Penalty.” (5:36)
Muslim reports from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
“One of the people of Hell who found the most pleasure in the life of this
world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, and will be dipped
into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked: O son of Aadam, have you ever
seen anything good? Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?” He will say, “No,
by Allaah (swt), O Rabb"” (Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102).
Just a few short moments will make the kuffaar forget all the good times and
pleasure that they had enjoyed. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Anas ibn
Maalik that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “On the Day of Resurrection,
Allaah will say to one whose punishment in the Fire is the lightest, “If you
had whatever you wanted on earth, would you give it up to save yourself?” He
will say, “Yes”. Allaah (swt) will say, “I wanted less than that from you:
when you were still in the loins of Aadam, I asked you not to associate
anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in
worship with Me"”. (al-Bukhaari, in Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah
wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/416, See also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/102)
The horror and intensity of the Fire will make a man lose his mind, and he
would give up everything he holds dear to escape it, but he will never be
able to:
“..the sinner’s desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from the
Penalty of that Day by [sacrificing] his children, his wife and his brother,
his kindred who sheltered him, and all, all that is on earth, so that it
could deliver him. By no means! For it would be the Fire of Hell! Plucking
out [his being] right to the skull”. (70:11-16)
This horrendous ongoing punishment will make the life of these evildoers one
of continual sorrow and pain.
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Pictures of Their Punishments
(1) The Punishment of the People of Hell Will Vary in Degree
As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror is
greater than in others, so the people of Hell will be given different levels
of punishment. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim and Ahmad from
Samurah, the Prophet (saw) said, concerning the people of Hell:
“There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to
their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to their collarbones”.
According to another report, “up to their necks” (Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah
wa Sifaat Na’imihaa, Baab Shiddat Harr an-Naar, 4/2185)
The Messenger of Allaah (saw) has told us about those who will receive the
lightest punishment in Hell. al-Bukhaari reports from al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer
who said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, “The person who will have the
least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be
a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed a smouldering ember, and
his brains will boil because of it.”
In another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari from an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer,
the Prophet (saw) said, “The person who will have the least punishment among
the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of
whose feet will be placed two smouldering embers, because of which his brains
will boil like water boils in a mirjal [copper vessel] or qumqum
[narrow-necked vessel].” (al-Bukhaari in Sahih, Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab
Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417, and Muslim in his Sahih,
Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 363)
According to a report narrated from an-Nu’man ibn Basheer by Muslim, the
Prophet (Saw) said: The person who will have the least punishment among the
people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection is a man who will be given shoes
and laces of fire, because of which his brains will boil like water in a
mirjal (copper vessel). He will ot think that anyone could be more severely
punished than himself, yet he will be the one with the lightest punishment”.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 364; Muslim also reports from Abu
Sa’eed al-Khudri in the same chapter, no. 361)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim both narrate from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that he heard
the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, when his uncle Abu Taalib was mentioned:
“Maybe my intercession will help him on the Day of Resurrection, so that he
may be put in a shallow part of Hell, with fire reaching to his ankles and
causing his brain to boil”. (al-Bukhaari in Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat
al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417 and Muslim in Kitaab al-Imaam, Baab
Shifa’at an-Nabi (saw), ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, 1/195, hadith no. 360)
Many aayaat confirm the different levels of punishment that will be given to
the people of Hell:
“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire..” (4:145)
“..and [the Sentence will be] on the Day that Judgement will be established
[it will be said to the angels]: “Cast the people of Pharaoh into the
severest Penalty!” (40:46)
“Those who reject Allaah and hinder [men] from the Path of Allaah, for them
will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief [or
corruption]”. (16:88)
al-Qurtubi said, “This topic indicates that the kufr of the person who simply
disbelieves is not like the kufr of a person who oppresses, disbelieves,
rebels and disobeys. There is no doubt that the kuffaar will suffer
different levels of punishment in hell, as is known from Qur’aan and Sunnah.
We know for certain that the punishment of those who oppressed and killed the
Prophets and Muslims, and spread corruption and disbelief on earth, will not
be the same as the punishment of those who simply disbelieved, but treated
the Prophets and Muslims well. Do you not see Abu Taalib, how the Prophet
(Saw) will bring him up to a shallow level of Hell, because he helped him,
protected him and treated him well? The hadith narrated by Muslim from
Samurah may be interpreted as referring to the kuffaar, as there is a hadith
about Abu Taalib, or it may be interpreted as referring to those monotheists
who will be punished”. (at-Tadhkirah, p. 409)
Ibn Rajab said, “Know that the different levels of punishment suffered by the
people of Hell will be according to the levels of their deeds for which they
entered Hell”. Then he quotes the evidence for that, such as the words of
Ibn ‘Abbaas, “The punishment of those who were extreme in their disbelief and
spread corruption on earth, calling others to kufr, will not be like the
punishment of those who did not do such things”. Then Ibn Rajab says,
“Similarly, the punishments of the monotheists in Hell will be at different
levels, according to their deeds. The punishment of those who were guilty of
major sins (kabaa’ir) will not be like that of those who were guilty of minor
sins (saghaa’ir). The punishment may be reduced for some of them because of
other good deeds, or for whatever reason Allaah (swt) wills. Hence some of
them may die in the Fire”. (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p. 142-143)
(2) Roasting of the Skin
The Fire of the Almighty will burn the skin of the kuffaar. The skin is the
site of sensation, where the pain of burning is felt, and for this reason,
Allaah (swt) will replace the burnt skin with a new one, to be burnt anew,
and this will be repeated endlessly:
“Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the Fire. As often
as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins,
that they may taste the penalty. For Allaah is Exalted in Power, All-Wise”
(4:56)
(3) Melting
One of the kinds of torment will be the pouring of al-Hameem over their
heads. al-Hameem is ultra-heated water; because of its extreme heat, it will
melt their innards and everything inside:
“… then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for
them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt
or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as [their] skins”.
(22:19-20)
at-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said:
“al-Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until it
reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out
of his feet, and everything is melted, then he will be restored as he was.”
He (at-Tirmidhi) said, “It is a sahih ghareeb hasan hadith”. (at-Takhweef
min an-Naar, p.145, Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/540)
(4) Scorching (the face).
The noblest and most dignified part of a person is the face, hence the
Prophet (saw) forbade us to strike the face. One of the ways in which Allaah
(swt) will humiliate the people of Hell is by gathering them on their faces,
blind, deaf and dumb, on the Day of Resurrection:
“..We shall gather them together prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf;
their abode will be Hell; everytime it shows abatement, We shall increase for
them the Fierceness of the Fire”. (17:97)
Then they will be thrown on their faces in the Fire:
“And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire; “Do
you receive a reward other than that which you have earned by your deeds?”
(27:90)
The Fire will burn and cover their faces forever, with no barrier between
them and it:
“If only the unbelievers knew [the time] when they will not be able to ward
off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and [when] no help
can reach them!” (21:39)
“The Fire will burn their faces and they will therein grin, with their lips
displaced” (23:104)
“Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire”. (14:50)
“Is then one who has to fear the brunt of the penalty on the Day of Judgement
[and receive it on] his face, [like one guarded therefrom]?” (39:24)
Look at this horrific scene that makes one shudder!
“The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will
say, “Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger.”
(33:66)
Do you not see that just as meat and fish are turned over when they are
cooked, so their faces will be turned over in the Fire of Hell. We seek
refuge with Allaah (swt) from the punishment of the people of Hell.
(5) Dragging
Another of the painful torments that the Kuffaar will suffer is being dragged
on their faces into Hell:
“Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad. The Day they
will be dragged through the Fire on their faces [they will hear]: “Taste the
touch of Hell.” (54:47-48)
Their pain at being dragged will be increased by the fact that they will be
tied up in chains and fetters:
“...But soon shall they know - when the yokes [shall be] round their necks,
and the chains, they shall be dragged along, in the boiling fetid fluid, then
shall they be burned”. (40:70-72)
Qataadah said, “They will be dragged once in the Fire, and once in
al-Hameem.” (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.147)
(6) Blackening of the faces.
Allaah (swt) will blacken the faces of the people of Hell in the Hereafter:
“On the Day when some faces will be [lit up with] white and some faces will
be [in the gloom of] black; to those who faces will be black [it will be
said]: “Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the Penalty for
rejecting Faith”. (3:106)
This is intense blackness, as if the darkness of night had covered their faces
“But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil, and ignominy
will cover their faces. No defender will they have from [the wrath of]
Allaah. Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the
darkness of night. They are Companions [or dwellers] of the Fire, they will
abide therein [for aye!] (10:27)
(7) The Fire Will Surround the Kuffaar
The people of Hell are the Kuffaar whose sins and disobedience surround them,
leaving no hasanah for them. Allaah (swt) said, in response to the Jews who
claimed that the Fire would only touch them for a certain length of time:
“Nay, those who seek gain in evil and are girt round by their sins - they are
companions [or dwellers] of the Fire; therein shall they abide [forever]”
(2:81)
No one will be in such a state unless he is a kaafir and a mushrik. Siddeeq
Hasan Khan says, “What is referred to here by evil deeds is a certain type of
deed, the reasons for which should be overwhelming, with no way out or means
of achieving hasanah. Eternity in Hell is for the kuffaar and mushrikeen, so
evil and sin in this aayah has to be interpreted as meaning kufr and shirk.
Thus the arguments of the Mu’tazilah and Khawaarij are shown to be false by
the proven mutawaatir reports that state that the sinners among the
monotheists will eventually be brought forth from Hell.”
Sins and evil deeds surround the Kuffaar like a bracelet around the wrist, so
their punishment should fit their crimes. Hence the Fire will surround the
Kuffaar on all sides, as Allaah (swt) says:
“There will be a bed of Hell [Fire] and over them coverings [of Hellfire]”
(7:41)
The “bed” is what comes under them, and the “coverings” are what come over
them. What is meant is that fires will surround them from above and below,
as Allaah (swt) says:
“On the Day when the torment [Hellfire] shall cover them from above them and
from underneath their feet” (29:55)
“They shall have coverings of Fire above them, and coverings of Fire beneath
them”. (39:16)
Some of the Salaf interpreted the “Bed” (al-Mihaad) as meaning a mattress and
the “cover” (al-Ghawaash) as being a blanket (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/168)
The “surrounding” may be interpreted in another way, which is that Hell will
have a wall to surround the kuffaar so that they will never be able to get
out or escape form it, as Allaah (swt) says:
“..Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose [smoke and flames]
like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in; If they implore relief,
they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces.
How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!” (18:29)
(8) The Fire Will Leap Up Over Their Hearts
We have already explained that the physical bodies of the people of Hell will
be made huge in size. In spite of that, the Fire will penetrate their bodies
until it reaches their innermost depths:
“Soon will I cast him into Hellfire! And what will explain to you what
Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave
alone, Darkening and changing the colour of man!” (74:26-29)
Some of the Salaf said concerning the phrase, “naught does it leave alone”
that it meant, “it eats bones and flesh and brains and does not leave
anything untouched” (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)
Allaah (swt) says: “By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that
which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you what that which Breaks
to Pieces is? [It is] the Fire of the [wrath of] Allaah, kindled [to a
blaze], that which mourns [right] to the hearts”. (104:4-6)
Muhammad ibn Ka’b al-Qurtubee said, “The Fire eats into him until it reaches
his heart, then his body will be created anew. It was reported that when
Thaabit al-Bananee read this aayah, he said, “The Fire will burn them until
it reaches their hearts, while they are still alive; this is how great their
suffering is!” Then he wept.” (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)
(9) Their entrails will be spilled out in the Fire
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (saw)
said: “A man will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and thrown
into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire, and he
will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The
people of Hell will gather around him and say, “O So-and-so, what is wrong
with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do evil?” He
will say, “I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it, and I used to
forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it.” Then he will walk around and
around like a donkey in a treadmill” (al-Bukhaari and Muslim, Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 2/642, hadith no. 5139)
One of the people whose entrails will be spilled out in Hell is ‘Amr ibn
Lahay who was the first to change the religion of the Arabs. The Prophet
(saw) saw him dragging his own entrails in Hell. Muslim reports from Jaabir
ibn Abdullaah that the Prophet (saw) said, “I saw ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuza’ee
dragging his own entrails in Hell, and he was the first one to introduce
as-Saa’ibah (a she-camel turned loose for free pasture for the sake of idols,
upon which nothing was allowed to be carried”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642)
(10) The Chains, Fetters and Hammers of the People of Hell
Allaah (swt) has promised that the people of Hell will have chains fetters
and hammers in the Fire:
“For the Rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes and a blazing Fire”.
(76:4)
“With Us are fetters [to bind them] and a Fire [to burn them] and a food that
chokes, and a penalty grievous”. (73:12-13)
The yokes will be placed around their necks:
“...We shall put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be a
requital for their ill [or evil] deeds”. (34:33)
“When yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be
dragged along.” (40:71)
The chains or fetters are something with which Allah (swt) will punish them:
“With Us are fetters...” (73:12)
The chains are another kind of punishment, with which the wrongdoers will be
tied up, just as criminals are chained up in this world. See how the Qur’aan
describes them:
“The stern command will say, “Seize him and bind him, and burn him in the
blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is
seventy cubits”. (69:30-32)
Allaah (swt) has promised the people of Hell hooked rods of iron which are
like hammers with which the evildoers will be beaten when they try to escape
from the Fire, and they will be thrown ever deeper into Hell:
“And for them are hooked rods of iron [to punish them]. Every time they seek
to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and
[it will be] said to them: “taste the torment of burning!” (22:21-22)
(11) They will be accompanied by their objects of worship and their devils in
Hell
The Kuffaar and Mushrikeen used to glorify the false deities that they
worshipped instead of Allaah (swt); they would defend them and give of
themselves and their wealth in their worshipping. On the Day of
Resurrection, Allaah (swt) will cause those deities that they used to worship
instead of Him to enter the Fire, as a source of humiliation and shame for
them, so that they will know that they were misled and that they worshipped
something that has no power either to benefit them or to harm them:
“Verily, you [disbelievers] and the [false] gods that you worship besides
Allaah are [but] fuel for Hell! To it will you [surely] come! If these had
been gods, they would not have got there! But each one will abide therein.”
(21:98-99)
Ibn Rajab says, “Because the Kuffaar worship their gods instead of Allaah
(swt) and believe that they will intercede for them with Allaah (swt) and
will bring them closer to Him, they will be punished by having these gods in
Hell with them as a source of humiliation and shame, and to make them feel
deep sorrow and regret. Because when a punishment is accompanied by the
thing that was the reason for the punishment, the pain and sorrow becomes
more intense.” (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.105)
For this reason the sun and moon will be thrown into Hell, and will be fuel
for it, to punish those wrongdoers who used to worship them instead of
Allaah. As the hadith says, “The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell”.
(al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Imaan, and al-Bazzar, al-Isma’eelee and
al-Khattabee, see Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 1/32)
al-Qurtubee says, “They will be placed in Hell, because they were worshipped
instead of Allaah (swt). It is not a punishment for them, because they are
inanimate, but that will be done in order to increase the sorrow and shame of
the Kaafireen. This is what was said by some of the scholars.”
(al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p.392)
For the same reason, the Kuffaar and their devils will be gathered together,
so as to make the punishment more intense:
“And if anyone withdraws himself from the remembrance of [Allaah]
All-Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one to be an intimate companion to
him. Such evil ones really hinder them from the Path, but they think that
they are being guided aright! At length, when [such a one] comes to Us, he
says, [to his evil companion], “Would that between me and you were the
distance of east and west”. Ah, evil is the companion indeed! When you have
done wrong, it will avail you nothing, that Day that you shall be partners in
punishment”. (43:36-39)
12) Their sorrow, regret and supplications
When the Kuffaar see Hell, they will be filled with intense regret, at a time
when regret will be of no avail:
“...they would declare [their] repentance when they see the penalty but the
judgement between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done unto
them.” (10:54)
When the Kuffaar looks at the record of his deeds, and sees his kufr and
shirk, for which he deserves eternal Hell, he will pray for oblivion and
death:
“But he who is given his Record behind his back, soon will he cry for
perdition, and he will enter a blazing Fire”. (84:10-12)
They will repeat their prayer for oblivion when they are thrown into the Fire
and its heat touches them:
“And when they are cast, bound together, into a constricted place therein,
they will plead for destruction there and then! This Day plead not for a
single destruction: plead for destruction oft-repeated”. (25:13-14)
Their screams will grow louder and more desperate and they will call on their
Rabb, hoping that He (swt) will take them out of the Fire:
“Therein will they cry aloud [for assistance]: “Our Rabb! Bring us out, we
shall work righteousness, not the [deeds] we used to do.” (35:37)
At that time, they will come to realise the error and foolishness of their
kufr:
“They will further say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence we
would not [now] be among the companions of the blazing Fire”. (67:10)
“They will say, “Our Rabb! Twice have You made us without life and twice have
you given us life! Now we have recognised our sins: Is there any way out
[of this]?” (40:11)
But their prayer will be harshly refused, and they will be answered as
animals deserve to be answered:
“They will say, “Our Rabb! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we became a
people astray. Our Rabb! Bring us out of this; if ever we return [to evil]
then shall we be wrongdoers indeed!” He [Allaah] will say, “Be driven into
it with ignominy! And speak not to Me!” (23:106-108)
The promise will come true, and they will reach a destination where no prayer
will benefit them and there will be no hope:
“If only you could see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before
their Rabb [saying], “Our Rabb! We have seen and we have heard; now then
send us back [to the world], we will work righteousness for we do indeed
[now] believe”. If We had so willed, surely We could certainly have brought
every soul its true guidance, but the Word from Me will come true: I will
fill Hell with jinns and men all together. Taste you then - for you forgot
the Meeting of this Day of yours, and We too will forget you - taste the
penalty of eternity for your [evil] deeds!” (32:12-14)
After that the people of Hell will call upon the keepers of Hell: “Pray to
your Rabb to lighten us the penalty for a day [at least]! They will say,
“Did there not come to you your Messengers with clear signs?” They will say,
“Yes”. They will reply, “Then pray [as you like]! But the prayer of those
without faith is nothing but [futile wandering] in [mazes of] error”.
(40:49-50)
Then they will ask for intercession so that their Rabb might annihilate them:
“And they will cry, “O Malik [Guard of Hell]! Would that your Rabb put an
end to us”. He will say, “Nay, but you shall abide"” (43:77)
Everything they ask for will be refused. There will be no coming out of the
Fire, no reduction in the torment, and no oblivion. Rather it is ongoing,
eternal punishment, and at that time they will be told:
“...and whether you are patient of it, or impatient of it, it is all the
same. You are only being requited for what you used to do.” (52:16)
Then their wailing will increase, and they will weep for a long time:
“Let them laugh a little: much will they weep: a recompense for the [evil]
that they do”. (9:82)
They will weep until no tears are left, then they will weep blood, and their
tears will leave traces on their faces like the channels cut into rock by
water. In al-Mustadrak by al-Haakim there is a report from ‘Abdullaah ibn
Qays that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “The people of Hell will weep
so much that if ships were placed in their tears, they would float, and they
will weep blood - meaning, instead of tears”
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Prophet (saw) said: “The people of Hell
will be made to weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left. Then
they will weep blood until they have as it were channels in their faces, if
ships were put in them, they would float”. (1)
Those evildoers lost their own souls and their families when they preferred
kufr to eemaan. Listen to the wailing and cries when they are punished:
“The Day when their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will
say, “Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allaah and obeyed the Messenger!”
And they would say, “Our Rabb, verily we obeyed our chiefs and our great
ones, and they misled us from the (right) Path. Our Rabb, give them double
penalty and curse them with a very great curse!” (33:66-68)
Listen to how Allaah (swt) described their condition [we seek refuge with
Allaah (swt) from that]:
“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
earth endure, except as your Rabb wills..” (11:106-107)
az-Zajjaj said, “The high tone (az-Zafeer) is because of the intensity of
their groaning and it is very high. It was suggested that az-Zafeer means
the panting of the breath in the chest due to extreme fear, so that the ribs
become swollen. The “low tone” (ash-Shaheeq) is a long drawn-out breath, or
an intake of breath; in either case it is an indication of the great extent
of their grief and anguish. Their situation is likened to that of the one
whose heart was overwhelmed by heat and whose soul was surrounded by it.
al-Layth said, “az-Zafeer means that a man will take deep breaths because of
his intense grief, and ash-Shaheeq refers to his exhaling” (Siddeeq Hasan
Khan, Yaqadhat uli al-I’tibaar p.72)
(1) Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated these two hadiths in Silsilat
al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 4/245, no. 1679 and attributed the first hadith to
al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak. al-Haakim said “It is a hadith whose isnaad is
saheeh”. adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Sheikh Naasir said, “He should have
added: according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim. All the men of
its isnaad are men who narrated the hadith they (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
recorded. He mentioned that one of them, Abul-Nu’man, whose nickname was
‘Aarim had become confused. Sheikh Naasir quoted the second hadith in
support of the first, and attributed it to Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Abi-Dunyaa;
Yazeed al-Raqqas one of the narrators, is da’eef, but the rest of the
narrators are those from whom al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated.
How to Save Oneself From the Fire
As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved
from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims pray to
their Rabb with faith to save them from the Fire:
“Those who say, “Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our
sins and save us from the agony of the Fire”. (3:16)
“...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give
us salvation from the torment of the Fire. Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to
the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any
helpers. Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith:
“Believe in your Rabb,” and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins
and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the
company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. Our Rabb! Grant us what You did
promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of
Judgement, for You never break Your Promise”. (3:191-194)
Many ahadith speak in detail about this matter and describe the deeds that
will protect one from the Fire, for example, love of Allaah (swt). In
al-Haakim’s al-Mustadrak, and Ahmad’s al-Musnad, a report from Anas ibn
Maalik (ra) states,
“The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “By Allaah (swt), Allaah will never
thrown one whom He loves into the Fire” (sahih, See Sahih al-Jaami’ 6/104)
Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as Ahmad reports in
al-Musnad and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Imaan, with a hasan isnaad from Jaabir
ibn ‘Abdullaah:
“The Prophet (saw) said, “Allaah (swt) says, “Fasting is a shield with which
one may protect oneself from the Fire”. (Sahih al-Jaami, 4/114)
In Shu’ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from ‘Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the
Prophet (saw) said, “Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allaah (swt)”
It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its
isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami’ 3/264).
If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then
that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree that
the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said:
“Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of
Allaah, Allaah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance from
the Fire”. (Ahmad, al-Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee - Sahih
al-Jaami’ 5/310)
Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allaah and jihaad for His
sake:
“But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two
gardens [ie in Paradise]” (55:46)
at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa’ee reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the
Messenger of Allaah(saw) said:
“No one who weeps out of fear of Allaah will enter Hell until the milk goes
back into the breast [i.e. never] and a man will never have both the dust
from fighting in the way of Allaah (swt) and the smoke of Hell”. (Mishkaat
al-Masaabeeh, 2/356, no. 3828, isnaad is sahih)
al-Bukhaari reports from Abu ‘Abs that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said,
“No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allaah (swt) will never meet in
the Fire of Hell”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3794)
Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger of Allaah (saw)
said, “A Kaafir and the one who kills him will never meet in the Fire of
Hell.” (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/349, no. 3795)
We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allaah from
it:
“Those who say, “our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is
indeed an affliction grievous.” Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place
to rest in”. (25:64-65)
Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Haakim report with a sahih isnaad from
Anas, that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “No one asks Allaah (swt))
for Paradise three times, but Paradise will say, “O Allaah (swt) admit him to
Paradise”. And no Muslim asks Allaah for protection from Hell three times,
but Hell will say, “O Allaah save him from me"” (Sahih al-Jaami, 5/145,
no.5506)
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that when the Prophet
(saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said,
“Allaah (swt) asks them and He knows best, “What are they seeking protection
from?” They tell Him, “From the Fire”. He asks, “And have they seen it.”
They say, “No, by Allaah, O Rabb, They have not seen it.” He says, “How
would it be if they had seen it?” They say, “They would be even more afraid
and anxious to escape it”. He (swt) says, “Bear witness that I have forgiven
them"”. (Sahih al-Jaami’, 2/233, no. 2169)
From IslamWorld.net
