And indeed he (Satan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand? This is Hell which you were promised! Burn therein this Day, for that you used to disbelieve.

The Noble Qur’an 36:62-64

Description of Hell

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5681, Narrated AbuSa’id al-Khudri May Allah be pleased with him
The Prophet(saws) May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said, “The awnings of Hell have four thick walls, each wall a distance of forty years.” [Tirmidhi transmitted it]

The Noble Qur’an Hud 11:106
As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 57.2
Malik related to me from his paternal uncle Abu Suhayl ibn Malik from his father that Abu Hurayra said, “Do you think that it (hell) is red like this fire of yours? It is blacker than tar.”

Hadith - Qudsi 38

When Allah (swt) created Paradise and Hell-fire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying: Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said: So he came to it and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said: So he returned to Him and said: By your glory, no one hears of it without entering it. So He ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship, and He said: Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said: So he returned to it and found that it was encompassed by forms of hardship. Then he returned to Him and said: By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it. He said: Go to Hell-fire and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants, and he fount that it was in layers, one above the other. Then he returned to Him and said: By Your glory, no one who hears of it will enter it. So He ordered that it be encompassed by lusts. Then He said: Return to it. And he returned to it and said: By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 4:464, Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Abbas May Allah be pleased with him, see also Bukhari 4:464, 7:124

“...Then I saw the (Hell) Fire, and I have never before, seen such a horrible sight as that, and I saw that the majority of its dwellers were women.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is the reason for that?” He May Allah’s peace and praise be on him replied, “Because of their ungratefulness.” It was said. “Do they disbelieve in Allah (are they ungrateful to Allah)?” He May Allah’s peace and praise be on him replied, “They are not thankful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors done to them. Even if you do good to one of them all your life, when she seems some harshness from you, she will say, “I have never seen any good from you.’ “

Hadith - Reported by Darimi, Narrated Abu Sa’id May Allah be pleased with him, Tirmidhi transmitted something similar but he said seventy instead of ninety-nine.

Allah’s Messenger May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said: There dominate ninety-nine dragons over the unbeliever in the grave. They (constantly) bite him and sting him till there comes the hour (of resurrection). (These dragons are so poisonous) that if one of them exhales on the Earth, no verdure will ever grow upon it.

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi, Narrated Abu Hurayrah May Allah be pleased with him Transmitted by Tirmidhi

The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him was asked about the things which would enable most people to enter Paradise. He answered: Being careful about one’s obligations to Allah, and good behaviour. Thereafter, he was asked: What are those things which will lead a person into Hell? He answered: His mouth and genitals.

Hadith - Bukhari 8.485, Narrated Abu Huraira May Allah be pleased with him

The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said, “A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.”

Hell Affects the Seasons

Hadith - Bukhari, Narrated Abu Huraira May Allah be pleased with him

The Prophet May Allah’s peace and praise be on him said, “In very hot weather delay the Zuhr prayer till it becomes (a bit) cooler because the severity of heat is from the raging of the Hell-fire. The Hell-fire of Hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold.”

The Death of the People of Hell

Imaam Aboo Zakariyyaa Yahyaa Ibn Sharaf an-Nawawee rahimahullaah
From Fatawaa al-Imaam an-Nawawee, (p. 84)

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Will anyone die in Hell? Is there any saheeh hadeeth to that effect or not? If it is true, then what is the nature of this death, and to whom will it happen?

It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘As for the people of Hell, they are its inhabitants, and they neither live therein nor die. But there are people who will enter Hell because of their sins – or mistakes – so Allah will cause them to die once, then when they become like coal, He will give permission for intercession (for them). They will be brought group by group to the rivers of Paradise. Then it will be said: “O people of Paradise! Pour water on them.” Then they will grow like seeds (i.e., the seeds of herbs and aromatic plants, or it was said, small plants that grow in between grasses, or it may mean wheat).’”

The scholars said: “What is meant by the people of Hell are its kaafir inhabitants, who will never come out of it and never die at all.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah), 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!” [Faatir 35:36]

As for the sinners among those who believe in the Oneness of Allah, those who have committed major sins (kabaa’ir), they will be punished in accordance with the degree of their sins for a period decreed by Allah, then they will die a lesser death such that they no longer feel anything, for a period decreed by Allah. Then they will be brought out dead, turned into coals and carried like luggage, and they will be thrown into the rivers of Paradise and the water of life will be poured over them. Then they will grow, like wheat at first, but quickly, like herbs. Then they will get stronger and be fully formed, and will be taken to their homes in Paradise. And Allah knows best.