Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abu Alia states that the thickness of a disbeliever's skin will be forty cubits.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would often mention Hell, saying that its heat is very intense, its depth is very great, and its mace is made of iron.

Hazrat Mujahid says that there are some pits in Hell in which there are snakes like Bactrian camels and scorpions like black mules. The people of Hell will flee from the fire towards these pits, where the snakes and scorpions will welcome them. They will seize them by their mouths and eyes, but there will be no help for them except that they return to the fire. And the lightest punishment in Hell will be for the person who will be made to wear shoes of fire, due to which his brain will boil. His lips and molars will be of fire. All the people of Hell will flow in it like a few grains in a lot of water.

Hazrat Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib asked the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) whether his uncle, who protected him and became angry at the disbelievers for his sake, would also be punished. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: He is in fire up to his ankles; if I had not interceded, he would have been in the lowest level.

Muhammad bin Wasi' narrates: I went to Hazrat Bilal bin Abi Burdah and said to him, "O Bilal! Your father narrated to me a hadith of the Messenger of Allah that he said: 'There is a valley in Hell whose name is Hubhab. It is incumbent upon Allah to admit the rebellious and arrogant into it.' So, O Bilal, beware lest you become among its inhabitants."

It is narrated from Hazrat Huzail that the souls of the people of Pharaoh are in the bellies of black birds; they come to the Fire morning and evening, so this is their being presented upon it.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Abdur Rahman says that I have heard that many people who possess long whips and do not show mercy to others will be told, "Throw away your whips and enter Hell."

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Hazrat Ka’b, "O Ka’b, you have frightened us." Hazrat Ka’b replied, "Yes, indeed. Allah Almighty will gather all creation on one land. On that day, Hell will take three breaths. After the first breath, no eye will have any tears left, to the extent that blood will begin to flow. The second time, all people will fall to their knees and plead, 'O Lord, myself, myself,' even Allah’s friend Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him). And the third time, O Umar! Even if you have the deeds of seventy prophets, you will still be afraid until you know which group you belong to."

Hazrat Dhahhak, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَلَہُمْ مَقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِیدٍ }, states that "maqaami'" refers to hammers.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Harith says that the Zabaniyah will have their heads in the sky and their feet on the earth.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the fire of Hell was kindled for a thousand years until it became white, then it was kindled for a thousand years until it became red, then it was kindled for a thousand years until it became black; thus, that fire is as black as a dark night.

Hazrat Abdullah, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an (وَجِیئَ یَوْمَئِذٍ بِجَہَنَّمَ), says that Hell will be brought forth in such a state that it will have seventy thousand reins, and with each rein there will be seventy thousand angels.

Hasan, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَآخَرُ مِنْ شَکْلِہِ أَزْوَاجٌ}, says that there will be various kinds of punishments.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The first to be clothed in the garments of fire will be Iblis; it will be placed on his forehead and he will be dragged from behind, and his progeny will be behind him. He will cry out, "O destruction!" and his offspring will cry out, "O their destruction!" It will be said to them that { لاَ تَدْعُوا الْیَوْمَ ثُبُورًا وَاحِدًا وَادْعُوا ثُبُورًا کَثِیرًا } do not call for one destruction, but for many destructions.

Hazrat Abu Salih, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { نَزَّاعَۃً لِلشَّوَی }, says that it refers to the flesh of their shins.

Hazrat Mujahid says that by { نَزَّاعَۃً لِلشَّوَی } is meant the limbs.

Hazrat Abu Salih, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَمَا یُغْنِی عَنْہُ مَالُہُ إذَا تَرَدَّی }, states that when he will be thrown into the fire.

Hazrat Ka'b addressed the people and said, "Do you know what is meant by this saying of God { وَإِنْ مِنْکُمْ إِلاَّ وَارِدُہَا }?" The people replied, "In our opinion, it means entering Hell." He said, "No, it means that Hell will be brought forth and it will be extended. When all the good and bad people stand upon it, a caller will announce, 'Take your people and leave My people.' Hell will seize the people of Hell. Hell will recognize them even more than parents recognize their children. The believers will be saved from it. The body of the keeper of Hell is so large that the distance between his two shoulders is a journey of one year. He has iron rods with him. Whoever he strikes once, that person will keep falling in Hell for seven hundred thousand years."

Hazrat Ibn Ma'qil, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَلَوْ تَرَی إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلاَ فَوْتَ }, states that they will be warned, but they will not be able to escape from it.

Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair narrates that on the Day of Judgment, a tall and big man will be brought forth and he will be weighed in the scale, but in the sight of Allah, his weight will not even be equal to the wing of a mosquito. Then the Prophet recited this verse: { فَلاَ نُقِیمُ لَہُمْ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ وَزْنًا }.

It is narrated from Hasan that there will be no collars around the necks of the people of Hell because they found their Lord to be Mighty, but when the spark is extinguished, they will be entered into the Fire. Then Hasan fell to the ground and fainted.

Hazrat Abu Abdullah Al-Jadali narrates that when I came to Bayt al-Maqdis, I found Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit, Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both), and Hazrat Ka’b al-Ahbar (may Allah be pleased with him) conversing with each other. Hazrat Ubadah said that on the Day of Resurrection, people will be gathered in one plain. Allah Almighty will say, "This is the Day of Decision. We have gathered you and those before you. If you have any plan, then make it. Today, no rebellious oppressor or devil can escape from Me." Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "We find in the Book that a neck will emerge from Hell and will say, 'O people! I have been sent towards three types of sinners. I know them well. Nothing can save them from me. I have been sent towards those who associate partners with Allah, every oppressive tyrant, and every rebellious devil.' Then that neck will snatch those people and, forty days or forty years before the reckoning begins, they will be thrown into the Fire. Then a group will be hastening towards Paradise. The angels will say to them, 'Wait for the reckoning.' They will say, 'We were neither wealthy nor rulers. What reckoning do we have?' Allah Almighty will say, 'My servants have spoken the truth. I am the One who fulfills promises. Enter Paradise.' Then they will enter Paradise forty days or forty years before the reckoning begins."

Hazrat Dhahhak, in the commentary of the Holy Qur'an verse { لاَ جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَہُمُ النَّارَ وَأَنَّہُمْ مُفْرَطُونَ }, states that he will be made to enter the Fire.

Hazrat Al-Hawzi (may Allah be pleased with him), in the commentary of the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِینَ إِلَی جَہَنَّمَ وِرْدًا }, says that the thirsty will enter.

Hazrat Dahhak (may Allah be pleased with him) also interprets "warda" as thirst.

The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Some people will be seized by the Fire up to their ankles, some up to their knees, some up to their waists, and some up to their necks.

Hazrat Muhammad Rasbi narrates that when Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed Hazrat Bishr bin Asim as governor, Hazrat Bishr wrote that he had no need for it. He said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that rulers will be brought on the Day of Judgment and made to stand on the bridge over Hell. Allah will grant salvation to the obedient ruler, and the disobedient one will be thrown into the valley of Hell to burn." Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Hazrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) about this. Hazrat Salman expressed ignorance, and Hazrat Abu Dharr said, "Yes, I know this hadith. And there is another valley in Hell." Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked who would be thrown into it. Hazrat Abu Dharr replied, "The one whose nose and eyes Allah has covered with dust and whose cheeks have been rubbed on the ground."

Hazrat Abu Salih narrates that Allah Almighty will take account of those people to whom messengers were sent, then Allah will admit into Paradise those who obeyed Him. And those who disobeyed will be admitted into Hell. Then children will remain, and those people who died during the period of interruption of revelation, and those who were insane. Allah Almighty will say: Surely you have seen that whoever disobeyed Me, I admitted him into Hell. So now I command you to enter this fire. Then a neck will emerge from it for them; so whoever enters it, for him there will be salvation, and whoever hesitates and does not enter, for him there will be destruction.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Salih that when Abu Talib became ill, people said to him that he should send someone to his nephew so that he might bring a cluster of grapes from Paradise for him, perhaps he would be cured by it. They came to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), and at that time Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was sitting with the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said that surely Allah Almighty has made it (the blessings of Paradise) forbidden for the polytheists.

It is narrated from a person of Banu Tamim that he says: We were with Abu Awam when he recited this verse { عَلَیْہَا تِسْعَۃَ عَشَرَ } and said, "What do you people say? Are there nineteen thousand angels or only nineteen?" The narrator says, "I said, 'Nineteen.'" He asked, "How do you know?" I replied, "Because Allah says { وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَہُمْ إِلاَّ فِتْنَۃً لِلَّذِینَ کَفَرُوا }." He said, "You have spoken correctly. In the hand of each angel is a hammer made of iron with two edges. When he strikes with it once, seventy thousand angels fall from it. The distance between the two shoulders of each angel is such and such."

It is narrated from Hazrat Humaid that the lightest punishment that will be given to someone is that he will be made to wear shoes of fire, due to which his brain will boil and his heart will scream and be on the verge of bursting, and he will say that no one has been given as severe a punishment as the punishment he has been subjected to.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him), in the explanation of the verse { فَسُحْقًا لأَصْحَابِ السَّعِیرِ } of the Holy Qur'an, says that it refers to a valley of Hell.

Hazrat Abdullah, in the explanation of the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَہُمْ فِیہَا کَالِحُونَ }, says that just as the head seller heats the head over the fire.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: In the grave of a disbeliever, ninety-nine serpents will be set upon him, which will keep biting him until the Day of Resurrection. If even one of those serpents were to blow on the earth, all vegetation on the earth would cease to grow.

Hasan, in the commentary of the verse of the Holy Qur'an {إِنَّ عَذَابَہَا کَانَ غَرَامًا }, says that know that every creditor will be separated from his debtor except for the debtor of Hell.

The meaning of the verse { فَضُرِبَ بَیْنَہُمْ بِسُورٍ لَہُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُہُ فِیہِ الرَّحْمَۃُ } in the Holy Quran is Paradise, and the meaning of { وَظَاہِرُہُ مِنْ قِبَلِہِ الْعَذَابُ } is Hell.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) that Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him) and Hazrat Haroon (peace be upon him) sent the two sons of Hazrat Haroon for a sacrifice. They came and lied that the fire had consumed it. Allah Almighty sent down fire upon both of them, which burned them. Allah Almighty revealed to Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him) and Haroon (peace be upon him) and said: "I do this with My friends, so how will I deal with My enemies?!"

Hazrat Harm bin Hayan used to say that I have not seen anything like the Fire from which the one fleeing is asleep, and I have not seen anything like Paradise whose seeker is asleep.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Bridge of Sirat will be placed over Hell. It will have thorns like the plant called Sa'dan. Then people will begin to cross it. Some will attain salvation safely. Some will be scratched but will be saved. Some will be seized and thrown into it. When Allah Almighty has finished judging His servants, the believers will not see some people who used to pray in the world, give zakat, fast, perform Hajj, and strive in jihad. The believers will say: O our Lord! Some of Your servants used to pray in the world, give zakat, fast, perform Hajj, and strive in jihad, but now we do not see them? Allah Almighty will say: Go towards Hell, and take out from it whomever you recognize among them. They will go towards Hell, and the fire will have seized people according to their deeds. Some will have fire up to their feet, some up to half their shins, some up to their knees, some up to their bellies, some up to their chests, and some up to their necks. Then they will be dipped into the Water of Life. The people asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the Water of Life? He said: It is the water with which the people of Paradise will bathe. Then they will sprout forth just as crops grow from water. Then the Prophets will intercede for those who said "La ilaha illallah" (There is no god but Allah) with sincerity. Then Allah Almighty will bestow further mercy upon the people of Hell and will remove from Hell every person in whose heart there is even a grain's weight of faith.

Hazrat Abu Bakrah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: On the Day of Resurrection, people will be brought to the Bridge of Sirat. People will fall from it into the Fire just as moths fall into the fire. Allah, the Exalted, will show mercy to whomever He wills. Then it will be said to the angels, the prophets, and the martyrs: Intercede. They will intercede and will bring people out of Hell. Then they will intercede again and bring more out. Then they will intercede again and bring more out. Then every person will be brought out who has even a mustard seed's weight of faith in his heart.