Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3434 — The creation of the earth

It is narrated from Ata bin Yasar that he asked Ka'b al-Ahbar: "What holds up this earth on which we live?" He replied: "The command of Allah Almighty." I said: "I know that it is the command of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, that holds it up, but (as an outward means) what is that command?" He said: "A green tree in the hand of one of the angels; that angel stands on the back of a huge, coiled fish, and all the heavens are beneath the Divine Throne." I asked: "Who dwells in the second earth?" He said: "There is al-Rih al-'Aqim (the barren, destructive wind). When Allah Almighty intended to destroy the people of Ad, He revealed to the angels guarding this wind: 'Open one door of it.' They said: 'Our Lord, shall we open an opening the size of a bull's nostril?' Allah Almighty said: 'If you open that much, it will overturn the earth and everything on it.' So it was opened only as wide as the ring of a signet." I asked: "Who are the inhabitants of the third earth?" He said: "The stones of Hell." I asked: "Who lives in the fourth earth?" He said: "The sulphur of Hell." I said: "Is there really sulphur there?" He replied: "Yes, by the One in whose Hand is my soul, and there are seas (of heat) there such that if mountains were thrown into them, they would melt and crumble to pieces from their heat." I asked: "Who are the inhabitants of the fifth earth?" He said: "The snakes of Hell." I asked: "Are there really snakes there?" He said: "Yes, by the One in whose Hand is my soul; they are as long and wide as valleys." I asked: "Who are the inhabitants of the sixth earth?" He said: "The scorpions of Hell." I said: "Are there really scorpions there?" He replied: "Yes, by the One in whose Hand is my soul; they are like great ships, their tails are like spears, and when one of these scorpions stings a disbeliever, his flesh falls away from his bones onto his feet." I asked: "Who are the inhabitants of the seventh earth?" He said: "That place is Sijjin. In it Iblis is bound in chains. The angels sought Allah's help against his evil, so Allah Almighty imprisoned him there, with one hand bound in front of him and one behind him, and one foot in front and one behind. His followers bring him news, and he has an appointed time in which he will be let loose."
Bughyat al-Bahith 'an Zawa'id Musnad al-Harith: 3434. Its chain contains Isma'il bin Ayyash, who is da'if (weak) in what he narrates from the people of the Hijaz, and this is from the Isra'iliyyat (reports from the People of the Book).