Part 3

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

gates are locked will be very long, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.61) The gates of Hell may be opened and closed before the Day of Judgement. The Prophet (Saw) told us that the gates of Hell are locked during the month of Ramadhan. Al-Tirmidhi reported that Abu Hurayrah said the Prophet (saw) said: "When the first night of Ramadhan comes, the Shayaateen and evil jinns are chained up. The gates of Hell are closed and not one of them is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is closed." (Ibid, p.66)

The Fuel of Hell Stones and the rebellious disbelievers are the fuel of Hell, as Allaah says: "O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones!" (66:6) "...then fear the Fire [hell] whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers" (2:24) What is meant by the people who will be fuel for the Fire is the disbelievers and polytheists. As for the type of stone that will fuel the Fire, Allaah (swt) knows best what it really is. Some of the Salaf thought that this stone was brimstone or sulphur. 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'oud said, "It is a stone of sulphur which Allaah (swt) created in the first heaven the day He created the heavens and earth and prepared it for the disbelievers". This was reported by Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Haatim and Haakim in al-Mustadrak. Ibn 'Abbaas, Mujaahid and Ibn Juryayj were also of this opinion. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/107) If this opinion was based on something that the Prophet (saw) had said then we could accept it without hesitation or argument. If it is the matter of ijtihaad, based on knowledge of the nature and qualities of stones, then we cannot accept it without question. There may be other stones that are superior to sulphur in strength and flammability. The first Muslims saw that sulphur has qualities that do not exist in other stones, so they thought that it would be the fuel of Hell. Ibn Rajab said, "Most of the mufassireen suggest that what is meant by stones is sulphur, with which the Fire of Hell will be fuelled. It was said that it includes five kinds of torment that are not found in other stones: it catches fire quickly, it has an unpleasant odour, it produces a lot of smoke, it sticks to flesh, and it is very hot when it is heated" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.107). Allaah may create other kinds of stones that are superior to sulphur, and we can be sure that whatever exists in the Hereafter will be different from this world. Another fuel for the Fire will be the gods, which were worshipped instead of Allaah (swt); "Certainly! You [disbelievers] and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are [but] fuel for Hell! [Surely] you will enter it. Had these [idols etc] been aaliha [gods] they would not have entered there [Hell] and all of them will abide therein." (21:98-99) "al-Jawhaari said, "Everything that is used to feed the Fire or increase it is its fuel". Abu Ubaydah said, "Everything that you throw into the Fire is fuel for it" (Yaqazah uli al-i'tibaar, p.61)

The Intensity of Its Heat and the Vastness of Its Smoke and Sparks Allaah (swt) says:

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

"And those on the left hand - who will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke, [that shadow] neither cool, nor [even] good". (56:41-44) This aayah includes all of the things that people avail themselves of in this world when it is too hot; these three things are: water, air and shade. But the aayah states that these three things will be of no help whatsoever to the people of Hell. The air of Hell is al-Sumoom, which is an intensely hot wind; its water is alHameem, boiling water; its shade is al-Yahmoom, which is a part of the smoke of Hell. (at-Takhweef min anNaar, p.85) Just as this aayah emphasises the horrifying position of those on the Left Hand, who are the people of Hell, another aayah emphasises the horror of Hell itself. Allaah (swt) says: "But he whose balance [of good deeds] will be [found] light, will have his home in a [bottomless] pit. And what will explain to you what this is? [It is] a Fire blazing fiercely!" (101:8-11) The shade referred to in the aayah "and the shadow of black smoke" (56:43) is the shade cast by the smoke of Hell. Shade usually makes one feel cool and comfortable, and people love to feel it, but this shade [in Hell] will neither be cool nor pleasant; it is the shadow of black smoke. The Qur'aan tells us that this shade is the smoke of Hell which rises above the Fire: ""Depart you to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns, [which yields] no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze". Indeed! It [Hell] throws about sparks [huge] as forts, as if there were [a string of] yellow camels [marching swiftly]." (77:30-33) This aayah states that the smoke that rises from Hell is so great that it is divided into three columns. It gives shade, but it is not cooling and it offers no protection from the Raging Fire. The sparks that fly from this Fire are like huge castles, and they are likened to yellow or black camels. Allaah (swt) explained how strong this Fire is, and how it affects the tormented: "Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly 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) The Fire consumes all, destroying everything and leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin, reaching to the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and exposing what is innermost. The Prophet (saw) told us: "Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell." Someone said, "O Messenger of Allaah (saw), it is enough as it is!" He said, "It [the fire of Hell] is as if sixty nine equal portions were added to the fire as we know it." (al-Bukhaari) This Fire never dies down, no matter how much time passes: "So taste you [the results of your evil actions]; no increase shall We give you, except in torment". (78:30) "...whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire". (17:97) The disbelievers will not taste the luxury of respite, and the torment will not be lessened for them no matter how long it lasts:

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

"Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped". (2:86) The Fire is rekindled every day as is stated in the hadith reported by Muslim from 'Amr ibn 'Absah (ra) who said: "The Prophet (saw) said, "Pray salaat as-subh (the early morning prayer) then stop praying when the sun is rising until it is fully up, for it rises between the horns of Shaytaan and the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed (by the angels) until the shadow becomes the length of a lance. Then cease prayer, for at that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward, pray.." al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet said, "When it becomes very hot, wait until it cools down to pray, because the intense heat is a breeze from Hell". The Fire of Hell will be further refuelled on the Day of Resurrection when it receives its inhabitants: "And when Hellfire shall be kindled to a fierce blaze, and when Paradise shall be brought near". (81:12-13)

Hell can Speak and See Whoever reads the descriptions of Hell in the Qur'aan and hadiths will discover that it is a creation that can see, speak and complain. The Qur'aan tells us that Hell will be able to see its people from afar when they are coming towards it, and it will start to utter terrifying cries that will indicate how much anger and hatred it feels towards these evildoers: "When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring". (25:12) Ibn Jareer reports that Ibn 'Abbaas said: "A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will shrink into itself. Allaah (swt) will say: "What is the matter with you?" It will say, "He is seeking refuge with you from me". He will say, "Release My slave". Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him". (Ibn Katheer quoted this report in anNihaayah, 2/21, and said that its isnaad is sahih). Imaam Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: "On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear, and a tongue to speak. It will say, "I have been appointed to take care of three types of people: every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allaah (swt) and those who made pictures" (Al-Tirmidhi stated that this hadith was sahih - at-Takhweef min anNaar, p.179, See also Jaami' al-Usool, 10/518, the editor said its isnaad is hasan).

Ibn 'Umar's Vision of Hell al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Ibn 'Umar said, "I saw in a dream that two angels came to me. Each of them was holding a whip of iron in his hand. Then I met (another) angel who was also holding a whip of iron in his hand. They said, "Do not worry, you are a good man; we just wish that you prayed more at night". They took me to the edge of Hell, which looked like a well with horns: between every two horns stood an

al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah

angel holding a whip of iron. I saw men hanging upside-down, held with chains, and I recognised some men of Quraysh. Then they led me away, towards the right. I told Hafsah about my dream, and she told the Messenger of Allaah (saw) who said, "Abdullaah is a righteous man". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.51)