Part 5

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

Concerning those kuffaar and mushrikeen who regarded their gods as equal to the Rabb of the Worlds, Allaah (swt) says: "Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire] - they and those straying in Evil and the whole hosts of Iblees together. They will say there in their mutual bickerings: "By Allaah, we were truly in an error manifest, when we held you [false gods] as equals with the Rabb of the Worlds" (26:94-98) Concerning the fate on the Day of Judgement of those who disbelieved, Allaah said: "If you do marvel [at their want of faith] strange is their saying: "When we are [actually] dust, shall we indeed then be a creation renewed?" They are those who disbelieve in their Rabb! They are those around whose necks will be yokes [of servitude]. They will be Companions of the Fire to dwell therein [for aye]!" (13:5) "..their abode will be Hell; every time it shows abatement, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire. That is their recompense, because they rejected Our Signs and said, "When we are reduced to bones and broken fragments, should we really be raised up [to be] a new creation?" (17:97-98) (2) Failing to fulfill the legislated duties, as well as denying the Day of Judgement. Allaah (swt) tells us that the people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell: "What led you into Hellfire?" (74:42) They will reply: "..We were not of those who prayed, Nor were we of those who fed the indigent, But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers, And we used to deny the Day of Judgement, Until there came to us [the Hour] that is certain." (74:43-47) (3) Obeying the misguided leaders of kufr and accepting the principles by means of which they mislead people and turn them away from the religion of Allaah (swt) as taught by the Prophets: "And We have destined for them intimate companions [of like nature] who made alluring to them what was before them and what was behind them. And the Sentence among the previous generations of jinns and men who have passed away, is proved against them; for they are utterly lost. The unbelievers say: "Listen not to this Qur'aan but talk at random in the midst of its [reading] that you may gain the upper hand!" But We shall certainly give the unbelievers a taste of a severe penalty, and We shall requite them the worst of their deeds. Such is the requital of the enemies of Allaah - the Fire, therein will be for them the eternal home, a [fit] requital for that they used to reject Our Signs" (41:25-28) When the kuffaar are thrown into Hell they will be filled with regret for having disobeyed Allaah and His Messenger and having followed their masters and leaders: "Verily Allaah has cursed the unbelievers and has prepared for them a blazing Fire, to dwell therein; no protector will they find, nor helper. 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". And they would say, "Our Rabb! We obeyed our chiefs and our great ones and they misled us as from the [Right] Path". (33:64-67)

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

(4) Hypocrisy Allaah promised Hell to the hypocrites, a promise that He has taken upon Himself to never break: "Allaah has promised the hypocrites, men and women, and the rejecters of Faith, the fire of Hell, therein shall they dwell. Sufficient is it for them. For them is the curse of Allaah and an enduring punishment." (9:68) He has told us that the position of the hypocrites is the lowest level of Hell, which si where the heat and agony are most intense: "The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire; no helper will you find for them". (4:145) (5) Arrogance: This is a quality shared by most of the people of Hell. Allaah (swt) says: "But those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance - they are the Companions (dwellers) of the Fire, to dwell therein [forever]" (7:36) Muslim devoted a chapter of his sahih to this issue, entitled Baab an-Naar Yadhkhulha al-Jabbaaroon walJannah yadkhuluha ad-du'afaa (Hell will be entered by the arrogant and Paradise will be entered by the weak). In this chapter he refers to the debate between Paradise and Hell, what they said and what Allaah (swt) sad to them. Muslim quotes the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (ra) which goes back to the Prophet (saw), in which it is stated that Hell said, "The arrogant and proud will enter me." According to another report, Hell said, "I will become rich (have too many) from the proud and arrogant". Allaah (swt) said, "You are My Punishment with which I will punish whomsoever I will". (Sahih Muslim, 4/2186, no. 2846) al-Bukhaari, Muslim and Al-Tirmidhi report from Harithah ibn Wahb that the Messenger of Allaah (swt) said: "Shall I not tell you about the people of Paradise? Every meek person who is considered to be so humble that if he were to adjure something by Allaah (swt), He would fulfil it for him. Shall I not tell you about the people of Hell? Every haughty, greedy and proud person." (Jaami' al-Usool, 10/547, no. 8111) According to a report given by Muslim, he (saw) said, "Every proud mean and arrogant person". This is confirmed by the Qur'aan "Is there not in Hell an abode for the Haughty [i.e. arrogant]?" (39:60) "But today shall you be recompensed with a penalty of humiliation for that you were arrogant on earth without just cause, and that you [ever] transgressed" (48:20) "Then, for such as had transgressed all bounds, and had preferred the life of this world, the Abode will be Hellfire" (79:37-39)

The Evil Deeds that Lead One to Hell Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah (swt) have mercy on him, was asked: "What are the deeds of the people of Hell and what are the deeds of the people of Paradise?" He replied, "The deeds of the people of Hell are:

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

associating partners in worship with Allaah (swt) disbelieving in His Messenger kufr (ingratitude, disbelief) hasad (malicious envy) lying treachery oppression and wrongdoing (zulm) promiscuity backstabbing cutting off the ties of kinship cowardice at the time of jihad miserliness inconsistency between what is in one's heart and the face one shows to people despairing of the mercy of Allaah (swt) feeling secure from the plan of Allaah (swt) panicking blindly at the time of crisis pride and extravagance at the time of plenty abandoning one's duties towards Allaah (swt) transgressing His limits violating His sanctity fearing a created being instead of the Creator showing off obeying a created being in some act of disobedience to the Creator blindly supporting falsehood mocking the signs of Allaah (swt) rejecting the truth withholding knowledge and testimony that should be revealed witchcraft and magic disobeying one's parents killing any soul forbidden by Allaah (swt) except for reasons of justice consuming the wealth of the orphan riba (usury) desertion from the battlefield slandering the reputation of innocent, chaste, believing women" (Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibar, p.222)

The Messenger of Allaah (saw) mentioned all the sins that will lead one to Hell. Muslim reports from 'Iyadh bin Himaar that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, during a lengthy khutbah: "..the people of Hell are five: the weak who lack the power to (avoid evil); the (carefree) who pursue (everything irrespective of whether it is good or evil) and who have no concern for their families or their wealth; the dishonest people whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things; and those who betray you, morning and evening, with regard to your family and your property. He also mentioned misers, liars and those who are in the habit of abusing people and using obscene, foul language". (Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat Na'imihaa Baab as-Sifaat allaatee yu'raf bihaa fid-dunyaa ahl al-Jannah wa ahl an-Naar, 4/2197 no. 2865)

Specific People Who Will Be In Hell The kuffaar and mushikreen will be in Hell, no doubt about it, but the Qur'aan and hadith also mention specific people who will be in the Fire. One of them is the Pharaoh who ruled at the time of Musa (as):

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

"He [Pharaoh] will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and will lead them into the Fire.." (11:98) Also included are the wives of Nuh (as) and Lut (as): "Allaah sets forth for an example to the unbelievers, the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were [respectively] under two of Our righteous slaves, but they were false to their [husbands] and they profited nothing before Allaah on their account, but were told: "Enter the Fire, along with those who enter!" (66:10) Abu Lahab and his wife are also among those mentioned specifically: "Perish the hands of the Father of Flame [Abu Lahab]! Perish he! No profit to him from all his wealth and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of blazing flames! His wife shall carry the [crackling] wood, as fuel! A twisted rope of palm fibre round her [own] neck!" (111:1-5) Another of them is 'Amr ibn 'Aamir al-Khuzaa'i, whom the Prophet (saw) being disembowelled in Hell (sahih hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Ahmad); and the one who killed 'Ammar and plundered his possessions. A report with a sahih isnaad quoted in Mu'jam at-Tabaraani from 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, and his son states that the Prophet (saw) said, "The one who killed 'Ammaar and plundered his possessions will be in Hell". (sahih al-Jaami', 4/110, #4170)

The Disbelievers Among the Jinn Will Be In Hell The disbelievers among the jinn will enter Hell just like the disbelievers among mankind, for the jinn are held responsible for their actions just as human beings are: "And I have only created jinns and men that they may worship Me [alone]" (51:56) On the Day of Resurrection, the jinn and mankind will be gathered alike: "And on the Day when He will gather them [all] together, [and say]: "O assembly of jinns! Many did you mislead of men" (6:128) "So by your Rabb, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and [also] the Evil Ones [with them], then We shall bring them forth on their knees round about Hell. Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against Allaah the AllGracious. And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein". (19:68-70) Then Allaah (swt) will tell the disbelieving jinn: "Enter in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and jinns into the Fire". (7:38) Then they will be thrown on their faces in Hell: "Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire], they and those straying in evil. And the whole hosts of Iblis together". (26:94-95)