Bukhari

Explanation:
Hell truly did complain; it is able to speak, as is mentioned in the noble verse «يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ» [50-ق:30] that on the Day of Resurrection, We will ask Hell, “Are you filled?” and it will reply, “There is still much room left.”
«وقال عياض انه الاظهر والله قادر على خلق الحياة بجزءمنها حتي تكلم اويخلق لها كلا مايسمعه من شاءمن خلقه وقال القرطبي لا احالة فى حمل اللفظ على حقيقته واذا اخبر الصادق بامرجائز لم يحتج الي تاويله فحمله على حقيقته اوليٰ۔» [مرعاة المفاتيح، ج 1، ص : 392]
That is, Iyad said that this matter is apparent: Allah, the Exalted, is capable of granting Hell the power of speech and of making whomever He wills among His creation hear its words.

Qurtubi says that there is no difficulty in taking this matter upon its apparent (literal) meaning. And when the Truthful and Trusted (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has informed us of a permissible matter, there is no need for interpretation; rather, it is appropriate to take it upon its reality.

Allamah Shawkani states:
«اختلف العلماءفي معناه فقال بعضهم هو على ظاهره وقيل بل هو على وجه التشبيه والاستعارة وتقديره ان شدة الحر تشبه نارجهنم فاحذروه واجتنبوا ضرره قال والاول اظهر و قال النووي هو الصواب لانه ظاهر الحديث ولامانع من حمله على حقيقته فوجب الحكم بانه على ظاهره انتهيٰ۔» [نیل]
That is, among its meanings, some scholars take it upon its apparent sense, while others say that the heat is likened to the fire of Hell and it is said, “Beware of its harm,” but the primary meaning is the apparent one. Imam Nawawi says that this is correct, because the hadith is apparent and there is nothing preventing it from being taken upon its reality.

Hazrat Mawlana Waheeduz-Zaman Sahib states that Hell exhales in the heat, meaning the vapor of Hell rises upward and reaches the inhabitants of the earth, who then experience intense heat. And in winter, it inhales, so the heat does not rise upward; rather, the earth’s inherent coldness prevails, and the inhabitants feel cold. There is nothing in this that contradicts sound reason, and there is no reason to doubt the hadith. Hell exists within the earth. Geologists say that at a short distance beneath the earth, there is such heat that all elements there remain melted like water. If iron were to reach there, it would instantly melt and become liquid.

The narration of Sufyan Thawri, which is mentioned at the end of this hadith, has been connected by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah himself in the Book of the Beginning of Creation, and the narration of Yahya has been connected by Imam Ahmad rahimahullah. However, the narration of Abu Awanah has not been found.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The breathing of Hell and its complaints are based on reality. Interpreting this metaphorically is not correct. If Allah, the Exalted, can grant knowledge and perception to the hoopoe of Prophet Sulayman (alayhis salam), then how could it be far-fetched for Him to grant Hell the ability to complain and breathe, especially when the Noble Qur’an itself mentions the speech of Hell? The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
﴿يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ ﴿٣٠﴾ “On that Day We will say to Hell: Are you filled? And it will say: Are there any more?” (: Qaf: 50:30)
Furthermore, in the hadiths, there is also mention of dialogue between Paradise and Hell, so there is nothing astonishing about Hell speaking. Allah, the Exalted, can grant the power of speech to whatever He wills. Moreover, Hell has several levels; where one level is extremely hot, another level is unbearably cold. Its name is the level of Zamharir. The intensity of cold in winter is due to this. (Umdat al-Qari: 4/33)
(2)
There are two objections to this hadith from a scientific perspective:
• This hadith indicates that the real source of heat and cold is Hell, whereas according to scientific research, the real source of heat and cold is the sun. When the sun is close to the earth, it is hot, and when it is far, it is cold.
The answer to this is that this hadith points to an inner cause for the intensity of heat and cold. It does not negate the apparent cause. On this basis, there is no contradiction between the hadith and science, because a thing can have multiple causes.
• The second objection is that if the cause of heat and cold is the breathing of Hell, then all regions of the earth should experience the same heat or cold, whereas this is contrary to observation.
The answer to this is that the increase or decrease of heat and cold on the earth is due to multiple factors. If these factors did not exist, the intensity of heat and cold would be the same in all regions. Among these factors are rain, shady forests, whether the regions are coastal or desert, and other elements.
And Allah knows best.

When Hell Exhales, the Heat Increases

The hadith which states that when Hell exhales, the heat increases, is an absolutely authentic hadith.

It has been narrated by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah [537], Imam Muslim [617], Imam Malik rahimahullah [المؤطا 1/16ح27], Imam Shafi'i rahimahullah [كتاب الأم ص58 ح113], and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal rahimahullah [المسند2/238 ح7246], among others, through multiple chains from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu.

Its corroborating reports are also found in the Sahifah of Hammam ibn Munabbih [ح 108], among others.

The attribution of intense heat to Hell is also narrated from other Companions, such as Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu [صحيح البخاري: 538], Sayyiduna Abu Dharr radi Allahu anhu [صحيح بخاري: 535 وصحيح مسلم: 616], and Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari radi Allahu anhu [السنن الكبر ي للنسائي 1/465 ح 1490], among others.

Some scholars say that this hadith is to be understood metaphorically, while other scholars say that it is to be understood literally.

Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr rahimahullah (d. 465 AH) writes:

«ولكلا القولين وجه يطول الاعتلال له . والله الموفق للصواب»

That is, both of these opinions have clear meanings, the discussion of which would be lengthy, and Allah is the One who grants success in accepting the truth. [التمهيد ج 19 ص 117]

If the literal meaning of this hadith is taken, then the intense heat on earth is due to the exhalation of Hellfire, the reality of which is known only to Allah. As for those regions where it remains cold even during this period, these are exceptional cases and there are preventatives present. For example, during intense heat, if it rains, the weather becomes cool; similarly, high mountains, dense trees, and snow are among those preventatives due to which the intensity of heat is reduced.

Principles are not changed due to exceptional cases. For example, the statement of Allah the Exalted:

﴿إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا﴾

"Indeed, We created man from a mixed drop (of fluid) so that We may test him; so We made him hearing and seeing." [سورة الدهر: 2]

Whereas many people are born deaf or blind and remain deaf or blind their entire lives.

Just as there is specification and exception in this noble verse, similarly, there is exception and specification in the hadith regarding the exhalation of the Fire. «والله اعلم»

. . . For the complete article, see . . .
Monthly al-Hadith, Issue 16, pages 25 to 26