Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 12

(Ayah 12){ اِذَا رَاَتْهُمْ مِّنْ مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيْدٍ …:} When Hell sees those disbelievers from a far distance, they will hear from Hell a sound that is extremely angry and like the braying of a donkey. At that time, the state of Hell’s anger is described in Surah Al-Mulk (6 to 8). From this, it is proven that Hell is conscious; in addition, from many other verses and hadiths, it is established that Hell is conscious, gets angry, makes a sound like a donkey, and speaks, as He said: «{ يَوْمَ نَقُوْلُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَاْتِ وَ تَقُوْلُ هَلْ مِنْ مَّزِيْدٍ }» [ قٓ : ۳۰ ] “The Day We will say to Hell, ‘Are you filled?’ and it will say, ‘Are there any more?’” And in Sahih Bukhari, there is mention of Paradise and Hell arguing with each other, in which it is mentioned that when Allah places His foot inside Hell, it will say ‘Qat Qat’ (enough, enough). [ دیکھیے بخاري، التفسیر، باب قولہ : « و تقول ھل من مزید » : ۴۸۴۸، ۴۸۴۹ ] And also in Bukhari, there is a hadith about Hell complaining to Allah about its intense heat, and Allah granting it permission to exhale twice a year. [ دیکھیے بخاري، بدء الخلق، باب صفۃ النار وأنہا مخلوقۃ : ۳۲۶۰ ] For Hell’s consciousness, its fierceness, and rebellion, see the commentary of Surah Al-Fajr (23). Some rationalists interpret all these verses and hadiths metaphorically, but Ahl al-Sunnah consider them to be literal, because metaphor is only accepted when the literal meaning is impossible. It is not difficult for Allah to grant Hell consciousness, vision, and speech. If the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) could hear the crying sound of the lifeless Hanana (pillar), then why can’t the people of Hell hear the sound of Hell’s anger, and why can’t Hell see them from afar? And if Allah can grant the power of speech to a piece of flesh (the tongue), then why can’t He create this power in anything? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that near the Day of Judgment, in the war between Muslims and Jews, every tree and stone except the Gharqad will speak to the believer, telling him that a Jew is hiding behind it, so kill him. [ دیکھیے مسلم، الفتن و أشراط الساعۃ، باب لا تقوم الساعۃ حتی… : ۲۹۲۲ ] And Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَالَّذِيْ نَفْسِيْ بِيَدِهِ، لَا تَقُوْمُ السَّاعَةُ حَتّٰی تُكَلِّمَ السِّبَاعُ الْإِنْسَ، وَ حَتّٰی تُكَلِّمَ الرَّجُلَ عَذَبَةُ سَوْطِهِ وَ شِرَاكُ نَعْلِهِ وَ تُخْبِرُهُ فَخِذُهُ بِمَا أَحْدَثَ أَهْلُهُ بَعْدَهُ ] [ ترمذي، الفتن، باب ما جاء في کلام السباع : ۲۱۸۱، وقال الألباني صحیح ] “By the One in Whose hand is my soul! The Hour will not be established until wild animals speak to humans, and a man’s whip and the strap of his sandal will speak to him, and his thigh will inform him of what sin his family committed after him.” If the rationalists keep interpreting all these instances, then most verses and hadiths will become toys, with which they will play as they wish and derive whatever meaning they want.