Part 7

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

According to a hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon, the Prophet (saw) counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that would doom the one who committed them to Hell. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Avoid the seven sins that will condemn the one who commits them to Hell". They asked, "What are they, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?" He said, "Associating anything in worship with Allaah (swt); magic and witchcraft; killing anyone whose killing Allaah (swt) has forbidden, except in the course of justice; consuming ribaa; consuming the wealth of the orphan; running away from the battlefield; and slandering the reputation of innocent, chaste believing women". (viii) Consuming people's wealth or property unjustly As Allaah says: "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities; but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good will. Nor kill [or destroy] yourselves, for verily Allaah has been to you All-Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire, and easy is it for Allaah" (4:29-30) The one who consumes the wealth of people unjustly also consumes the property of orphans unjustly. Allaah (swt) made specific mention of the property of orphans because of their weak position and the ease which their property may be consumed, and the particular ugliness of this sin: "Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire! (4:10) (ix) Those Who Make Images of Animate Beings The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who make images and seek to imitate the creation of Allaah (swt). al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrate that 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who make images". (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/505) Ibn 'Abbaas said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, "Every maker of images will be in the Fire, and for every image he made Allaah (swt) will create for him a soul [i.e. so that the punishment will be multiplied accordingly] and Allaah (swt) will punish him in Hell." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). 'Aaishah reported that the Prophet (saw) said, concerning a pillow that had pictures on it, "The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: "Give life to that which you have created". (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). 'Aaishah also reported that the Prophet (saw) said "Those who will be most severely punished are those who imitate the creation of Allaah (swt)" (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh) Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah says, "Allaah (swt) said, "Who is a greater wrongdoer than the one who tries to create something like My creation? Let them create a grain or let them create a seed or a grain of barely" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). (x) Inclining to Those Who Do Wrong

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

One of the reasons why people will enter Hell is inclining towards and supporting those who do wrong, the enemies of Allaah (swt); "And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you, and you have no protectors other than Allaah, nor shall you be helped". (11:113) (xi) Women Who Are Dressed But Appear Naked, and Those Who Whip the Backs of People Another type of person who will enter Hell is the corrupt woman who makes a display of herself and tempts men - perhaps this phenomenon has never been quite so widespread as it is now - and never obeys Allaah (swt). Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "There are two types of people of Hell that I have never seen; people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people, and women who are dressed but appear naked, walking with an enticing gait, with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will never enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be discerned from such and such a distance". (Muslim, al-Bayhaqi, and Ahmad - Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Saheehah, 3/316, no. 1326) Concerning those who have whips like the tails of cattle, al-Qurtubee said, "This type of whip can be seen among us in Morocco until now." Commenting on al-Qurtubee's remark, Siddeeq Hasan Khan said, "Indeed it can be seen in every time and place, and it is increasing day by day among the leaders. We seek refuge in Allaah (swt) from all that Allaah (swt) despises". (Yaqadhat uli al-I'tibaar p.113) And I say: we still see such people in many places, striking the people. May they and their like perish. (xii) Those Who Torture Living Beings Muslim reports in his sahih from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "I was shown Hell and I saw a woman of Banu Israa'eel who was being punished because of a cat that she had owned. She tied it up and did not feed it, or let it eat of the vermin of the earth, until it died of hunger." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/688) If this is the case for one who tormented a cat, then how will it be for those who use all kinds of methods to torture human beings, especially when it is the righteous who are being tortured for their faith and their Islaam? May Allaah curse those who torture the believers - be it in the lands of Chechnya, Kashmir, Maluku, Philippines, Palestine, or in the jails of the Muslim lands. (xiii) Insincerity in Seeking Knowledge al-Haafidh al-Mundhiri mentions many hadiths that warn the person who seeks knowledge for a cause other than the sake of Allaah (swt). We will quote a few of them here. Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought only for the sake of Allaah (swt) but seeks it purely for some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection". It was reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah, by Ibn Hibbaan in his sahih and by al-Haakim who said, "It is sahih according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari and Muslim". Jaabir said, The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Do not seek knowledge in order to compete with the knowledgeable, or to win arguments with the ignorant, or to show off in gatherings. Whoever does any of that will be in Hell." It was reported by Ibn Maajah (ra), by Ibn Hibbaan in his sahih and alBayhaqi.

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

Ibn 'Umar (ra) said that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge for a reason other than for the sake of Allaah (swt), then let him take his place in Hell." It was reported by atTirmidhi and Ibn Maajah from Ibn 'Umar via Khaalid ibn Durayk who did not hear it directly from him; the men in their isnaads are thiqaah." (at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb by al-Mundhiri 1/91) (xiv) Those Who Drink From Vessels of Gold and Silver al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said "The one who drinks from a vessel/utensil of god and silver is pouring the fire of Hell into his stomach". According to a report narrated by Muslim, the wording is "The one who eats and drinks from vessels of gold and silver.." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/462) Hudhayfah (ra) said, I heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, "Do not wear silk or brocade, do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from such platters, for these belong to them [the kuffaar] in this world, and to you in the Hereafter" (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). (xv) The One Who Cuts Down Trees that Offer Shade To People 'Abdullaah ibn Hubaysh (ra) said, The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Whoever cuts down shade trees, Allaah (swt) will cast him head first into Hell". (Abu Dawud, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/125. Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani mentioned it in sahih al-Jaami' 5/431, hadith no. 6352 and ascribed it to Abu Dawud an ad-Diyaa, al-Mukhtarah.) al-Bayhaqi reported, with a sahih isnad from 'Aaishah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, "Those who cut down shade trees will be thrown on their heads in Hell." (al-Bayhaqi in sahih al-Jaami' 2/88, al-Albaani said it is sahih) (xvi) Those Who Commit Suicide al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever kills himself with iron (a sharp instrument) then his iron will be in his hand, and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever kills himself with poison, then he will be drinking that poison forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will be throwing himself down forever in the Fire of Hell". (at-Tawkheef min an-Naar, p. 148) al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in Hell, and the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in Hell". (sahih al-Jaami' 5/114)

The Vast Number of People in Hell Many texts indicate the large numbers of the children of Aadam will enter Hell, and the few who will enter Paradise. Allaah (swt) says: "Yet no faith will the greater part of mankind have, however ardently you desire it." (12:103)

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

An indication of the large numbers of kuffaar and mushrikeen who rejected the call of the Messengers is the fact that the Prophets will come on the Day of Resurrection some with a small group (of less than ten), others with one or two and some with no followers at all. Muslim reports from Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet (saw) aid: "I was shown the nations and I saw a Prophet accompanied by a small group, another accompanied by one or tow men, and another with no companions at all.." (sahih Muslim, 1/198, no.220) Many texts indicate that nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand of the children of Aadam will enter Hell, and only one (in a thousand) will enter Paradise. al-Bukhaari narrates from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (saw) said: Allaah will say, "O Aadam!" Aadam will reply, "I respond to Your call, I am obedient to Your commands, and all good is in Your hands." Then Allaah (swt) will say to Aadam, "Send forth the people of the Fire". Aadam will say, "How many are the people of the Fire?!" Allaah (swt) will say, "Out of every thousand, take nine hundred and ninety-nine". At that time, children's hair will turn grey and every pregnant female will spontaneously abort and you will see the people looking as if they are drunk, although they are not, but Allaah's punishment will be most severe". This speech distressed his Companions and the said, "O Messenger of Allaah (saw), who amongst us will be that man (one in a thousand)?" He said, "Be of good cheer: the thousand will be from Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) and the one will be from among you". Then he said, "By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I hope that you will be one third of the people of Paradise." We praised and glorified Allaah (swt) and then he said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of paradise, as you are among the nations like a white hair on the hide of a black bull or a round hairless spot on the foreleg of a donkey". (al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Qawl Allaah Azza wa jalla, innaa zalzalat al-Saa'ah, Shay'un 'Adheem, Fath al-Baari, 11/388; see also Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/610, Musnad Ahmad 4/435). It might be asked: how can we reconcile between these hadith and the report from Abu Hurayrah in sahih al-Bukhaari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that Allaah (swt) said to Aadam ('alayhis-salaam) - "Send forth [into Hell] ninety-nine out of every hundred [of your descendants]". It is obvious that these reports do not contradict the other sahih reports that we have quoted above, because these figures are referring to different groups. The hadith that mention a ratio of nine hundred and ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to all the progeny of Aadam, whilst the hadith of al-Bukhaari that mentions a ratio of ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to the progeny of Aadam excluding Ya'juj and Ma'juj. This reconciliation is more likely to be correct - as Ibn Hajar suggests - because Ya'juj and Ma'juj are mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa'eed whereas they are not mentioned in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah. It may be said that the first hadith refers to all of creation, so the ratio of people admitted to Hell when all nations are taken into account is 999 in every thousand. The latter hadith of al-Bukhaari explains the ratio of people who will enter Hell from this ummah alone. Ibn Hajar (said) "This interpretation is supported by the words of the Sahabah in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (ra): "If ninety-nine out of every hundred are taken from us, what will be left of us?" This division of people could happen twice: once involving all the nations, when one in a thousand will enter Paradise, and a second time involving this ummah alone, when ten out of every thousand will enter Paradise". (Fath al-Baari, 11/390).