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Khutbāt Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid (Compiled by: Tawḥīd Dot Com)Introduction
This article consists of a discussion regarding Hell (Jahannam) and the people of Hell. In the light of the verses of the Qur’an and the aḥādīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it will mention: the importance of seeking refuge from Hell, the wisdom behind warning against Hell, the mutual dialogue between Paradise and Hell, and certain deeds that bring a person closer to Hell. The purpose is that we fear the punishment of Hell, adopt obedience to Allah, and rectify ourselves, so that Allah تعالى protects us from the Fire. Āmīn.Jahannam and the People of Jahannam — In the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah
① Seeking Refuge From Hell
In the Qur’an, Allah تعالى has stated among the qualities of His righteous servants that they always seek refuge from the punishment of Hell:﴿وَالَّذِیْنَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَہَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَہَا کَانَ غَرَامًا. إِنَّہَا سَآئَ تْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَّمُقَامًا﴾
Reference: al-Furqān 25:65–66
Translation: “And (the righteous servants of Allah) are those who say: Our Lord! Keep the punishment of Hell far away from us; indeed, its punishment is ever clinging. Surely, it is an evil abode and a place to stay.”
Likewise, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach the Companions رضي الله عنهم the supplication for seeking refuge from Hell with such care as a sūrah of the Qur’an is taught. ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه said:
(( اَللّٰہُمَّ إِنِّیْ أَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَہَنَّمَ،وَأَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنْ فِتْنَۃِ الْمَسِیْحِ الدَّجَّالِ،وَأَعُوْذُ بِکَ مِنْ فِتْنَۃِ الْمَحْیَا وَالْمَمَاتِ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 590
Translation: “O Allah! I seek Your refuge from the punishment of Hell; I seek Your refuge from the punishment of the grave; I seek Your refuge from the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjāl); and I seek Your refuge from the trials of life and death.”
Anas رضي الله عنه stated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would frequently supplicate with:
﴿رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِی الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَۃً وَّفِی الْآخِرَۃِ حَسَنَۃً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6389
Translation: “Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”
And from Anas رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( مَنْ سَأَلَ اللّٰہَ الْجَنَّۃَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ، قَالَتِ الْجَنَّۃُ : اَللّٰہُمَّ أَدْخِلْہُ الْجَنَّۃَ ، وَمَنِ اسْتَجَارَ مِنَ النَّارِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ،قَالَتِ النَّارُ : اَللّٰہُمَّ أَجِرْہُ مِنَ النَّارِ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 6275
Translation: “Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: O Allah! Admit him into Paradise. And whoever seeks refuge from the Fire three times, Hell says: O Allah! Grant him refuge from the Fire.”
These evidences show that seeking refuge from Hell is not merely a voluntary act; rather, it is a prominent quality of the believers and a consistent teaching of the Noble Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, we should also adopt this habit.
② Warning Against Hell
The purpose of mentioning Hell in the Qur’an and Sunnah is that a servant emerges from heedlessness, avoids sins, and remains steadfast upon the straight path. Allah تعالى says:﴿ یَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوْہُہُمْ فِیْ النَّارِ یَقُوْلُوْنَ یَا لَیْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللّٰہَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُوْلاَ ﴾
Reference: al-Aḥzāb 33:66
Translation: “The Day their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger!”
That regret will not benefit there; therefore, the path of salvation is only that obedience be adopted in this world.
Allah تعالى further says:
﴿ یَوْمَ یُسْحَبُوْنَ فِیْ النَّارِ عَلیٰ وُجُوْہِہِمْ ذُوْقُوْا مَسَّ سَقَرَ﴾
Reference: al-Qamar 54:48
Translation: “The Day they will be dragged upon their faces into the Fire (it will be said): Taste the touch of Saqar!”
ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned Hell, then turned his face away out of fear, then said:
(( اِتَّقُوْا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَۃٍ ، فَمَنْ لَّمْ یَجِدْ فَبِکَلِمَۃٍ طَیِّبَۃٍ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6563
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1016
Translation: “Protect yourselves from the Fire, even if by giving half a date in charity; and whoever does not find even that, then (let him do so) with a good word.”
Likewise, when this verse was revealed:
﴿وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِیْرَتَکَ الْأَقْرَبِیْنَ﴾
Translation: “And warn your closest relatives.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gathered Quraysh and called every person—elite and common—clearly: save yourselves from the Fire. He even said to his daughter, Sayyidah Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها:
( یَا فَاطِمَۃُ! أَنْقِذِیْ نَفْسَکِ مِنَ النَّارِ،فَإِنِّیْ لَا أَمْلِکُ لَکُمْ مِنَ اللّٰہِ شَیْئًا )
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2753
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4771
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 204
Translation: “O Fāṭimah! Save yourself from the Fire, for I do not possess anything for you against Allah.”
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ described the awe of Hell on the Day of Resurrection as follows:
(( یُؤْتٰی بِالنَّارِ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ،لَہَا سَبْعُوْنَ أَلْفَ زِمَامٍ،مَعَ کُلِّ زِمَامٍ سَبْعُوْنَ أَلْفَ مَلَکٍ یَجُرُّوْنَہَا))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2842
Translation: “Hell will be brought on the Day of Resurrection; it will have seventy thousand reins, and with every rein there will be seventy thousand angels pulling it.”
③ The Dispute Between Paradise and Hell
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that a dispute occurred between Paradise and Hell. Paradise said that the weak and poor will enter it, and Hell said that the oppressive and arrogant will enter it. Then Allah تعالى made Hell a means of His punishment and Paradise a means of His mercy, and stated that filling both is necessary.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7449
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2846
From this ḥadīth, it becomes clearly indicated that we must especially avoid two things:
◈ Oppression (ẓulm)
◈ Arrogance (kibr)
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( اِتَّقُوْا الظُّلْمَ ، فَإِنَّ الظُّلْمَ ظُلُمَاتٌ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ aṣ-Ṣaghīr: 101
Translation: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will be darknesses on the Day of Resurrection.”
And he ﷺ said:
(( لَا یَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّۃَ مَنْ کَانَ فِیْ قَلْبِہٖ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّۃٍ مِنْ کِبْرٍ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 91
Translation: “He will not enter Paradise who has in his heart the weight of an atom of arrogance.”
④ The Group Destined for Hell
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that on the Day of Resurrection, first Ādam عليه السلام will be called; his offspring will be presented, then it will be commanded: separate the group destined for Hell from your offspring. Allah تعالى will say: extract ninety-nine out of every hundred. The Companions رضي الله عنهم became frightened, asking who would remain then. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that my Ummah compared to previous nations will be like a single white hair on a black ox.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6529
Translation (summary of meaning): the number of the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ will be lesser compared to other nations, yet for believers there is hope and glad tidings—on the condition that the servant remains firm upon guidance.
⑤ With Whom Will the Fire of Hell Be Kindled First?
A major reason to fear the punishment of Hell is that some people apparently perform great righteous deeds, but due to lack of sincerity, those deeds become destruction for them rather than salvation. Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:“On the Day of Resurrection, the first person whose case will be judged will be a martyr… Allah will remind him of His blessings… then ask: What did you do? He will say: I fought in Your path until I was martyred. Allah will say: You have lied; you fought so that you might be called brave… then he will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.
Then a scholar/reciter will be brought… he will say: I acquired knowledge, taught people, and recited the Qur’an… Allah will say: You have lied; you did it so that you might be called a scholar and a reciter… then he too will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.
Then a wealthy person will be brought… he will say: I spent for Your pleasure… Allah will say: You have lied; you spent so that you might be called generous… then he too will be dragged on his face and thrown into Hell.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1905
Then Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said that the Prophet ﷺ struck my knee and said:
(( یَا أَبَا ہُرَیْرَۃَ !أُولٰئِکَ الثَّلاثَۃُ أَوَّلُ خَلْقِ اللّٰہِ تُسَعَّرُ بِہِمُ النَّارَ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ))
Reference: at-Tirmidhī: 2382
Translation: “O Abū Hurayrah! These three are the first of Allah’s creation by whom the Fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection.”
From here it becomes clear that showing off (riyā’) nullifies even righteous deeds. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أخَافُ عَلَیْکُمُ الشِّرْکُ الْأصْغَرُ… قَالَ: الرِّیَائُ… ))
Reference: Aḥmad: 5/429
Reference: Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id: 1/102
Reference: as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 951
Translation: “Indeed, the thing I fear most for you is minor shirk… (they asked) what is minor shirk? He said: showing off… Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: Go to those for whom you used to show off in the world and see whether you find any reward with them.”
In this connection, another narration with a severe warning mentions: seek refuge from the “well of grief,” then he ﷺ said:
(( وَادٍ فِیْ جَہَنَّمَ یَتَعَوَّذُ مِنْہُ جَہَنَّمُ کُلَّ یَوْمِ أَرْبَعَمِائَۃِ مَرَّۃ ))
Translation: “It is a valley in Hell from which Hell itself seeks refuge four hundred times every day.”
Then he ﷺ said:
(( أُعِدَّ لِلْقُرَّائِ الْمُرَائِیْنَ بِأَعْمَالِہِمْ… ))
Reference: at-Tirmidhī: 2383
Reference: Ibn Mājah: 256
Translation: “It has been prepared for those reciters who show off through their deeds… and the most disliked reciters with Allah are those who come and go to (oppressive) rulers.”
⑥ The Heat and Intensity of Hell
Allah تعالى has described the intensity of Hell’s fire in various ways:﴿ فَأَنْذَرْتُکُمْ نَارًا تَلَظّٰی﴾
Reference: al-Layl 92:14
Translation: “So I have warned you of a blazing fire.”
﴿سَیَصْلٰی نَارًا ذَاتَ لَہَبٍ﴾
Reference: al-Masad 111:3
Translation: “He will soon enter a fire of blazing flame.”
﴿ إِنَّہَا تَرْمِیْ بِشَرَرٍ کَالْقَصْرِ﴾
Reference: al-Mursalāt 77:32
Translation: “It will throw sparks like great castles.”
And He said:
﴿کَلاَّ إِنَّہَا لَظیٰ. نَزَّاعَۃً لِّلشَّوٰی. تَدْعُوْ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلّٰی. وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعٰی﴾
Reference: al-Maʿārij 70:15–18
Translation: “No! Indeed, it will be a blazing flame, stripping away the skin. It will call the one who turned away and went back, and who amassed and hoarded.”
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ explained the difference between the fire of this world and the fire of Hell as follows:
(( نَارُکُمْ ہٰذِہِ… جُزْئٌ مِنْ سَبْعِیْنَ جُزْئًا مِنْ نَّارِ جَہَنَّمَ… ))
Then he ﷺ said:
(( فَإِنَّہَا فُضِّلَتْ عَلَیْہَا بِتِسْعَۃٍ وَّسِتِّیْنَ جُزْئًا کُلُّہَا مِثْلُ حَرِّہَا ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3265
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2843
Translation: “This fire of yours is one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell… and the fire of Hell has been made superior to it by sixty-nine parts—each part is like its heat.”
⑦ The Depth of Hell
The vastness and depth of Hell are so terrifying that the mind is astonished. Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said that one day we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Suddenly, the sound of something falling was heard. He ﷺ said:“Do you know what sound that was?”
We said: Allah and His Messenger know best.
He ﷺ said:
(( ہٰذَا حَجَرٌ رُمِیَ بِہٖ فِی النَّارِ مُنْذُ سَبْعِیْنَ خَرِیْفًا ، فَہُوَ یَہْوِیْ فِی النَّارِ الْآنَ،حَتَّی انْتَہٰی إِلٰی قَعْرِہَا ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2844
Translation: “That was the sound of a stone that was thrown into the Fire seventy years ago; it has been falling in the Fire until now, until it has just reached its bottom.”
Likewise, it is narrated:
(( لَوْ أَنَّ حَجَرًا مِثْلَ سَبْعِ خَلِفَاتٍ أُلْقِیَ عَنْ شَفِیْرِ جَہَنَّمَ،ہَوٰی فِیْہَا سَبْعِیْنَ خَرِیْفًا،لاَ یَبْلُغُ قَعْرَہَا ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 5248
Reference: as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2865
Translation: “If a stone as heavy as seven large she-camels were thrown from the edge of Hell, it would keep falling for seventy years and still would not reach its bottom.”
These aḥādīth clarify the dreadful depth of Hell.
⑧ Hell’s Neck, Eyes, and Tongue
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:(( تَخْرُجُ عُنُقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ،لَہَا عَیْنَانِ تُبْصِرَانِ،وَأُذُنَانِ تَسْمَعَانِ ،وَلِسَانٌ یَنْطِقُ،یَقُوْلُ: إِنِّیْ وُکِّلْتُ بِثَلَاثَۃٍ:بِکُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِیْدٍ،وَبِکُلِّ مَنْ دَعَا مَعَ اللّٰہِ إِلٰہًا آخَرَ، وَبِالْمُصَوِّرِیْنَ ))
Reference: Aḥmad
Reference: at-Tirmidhī: 2574
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 8051
Translation: “On the Day of Resurrection, a neck will emerge from the Fire; it will have two eyes with which it sees, two ears with which it hears, and a tongue with which it speaks. It will say: I have been assigned to three: every tyrannical, obstinate one; everyone who called upon another deity along with Allah; and the image-makers.”
This ḥadīth makes clear that oppression, shirk, and making pictures of living beings are matters of severe warning.
⑨ The Color of Hell
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:(( أُوْقِدَ عَلَی النَّارِ أَلْفَ سَنَۃٍ حَتَّی احْمَرَّتْ،ثُمَّ أُوْقِدَ عَلَیْہَا أَلْفَ سَنَۃٍ حَتَّی ابْیَضَّتْ،ثُمَّ أُوْقِدَ عَلَیْہَا أَلْفَ سَنَۃٍ حَتَّی اسْوَدَّتْ،فَہِیَ سَوْدَائُ مُظْلِمَۃٌ))
Reference: at-Tirmidhī: 2591
Reference: Ibn Mājah: 4320
Translation: “The Fire was kindled for a thousand years until it became red; then it was kindled for a thousand years until it became white; then it was kindled for a thousand years until it became black; thus it is black and dark.”
⑩ The Thickness of a Disbeliever’s Body in Hell
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:(( إِنَّ غِلَظَ جِلْدِ الْکَافِرِ اثْنَانِ وَأَرْبَعُوْنَ ذِرَاعًا،وَإِنَّ ضِرْسَہُ مِثْلُ أُحُدٍ، وَإِنَّ مَجْلِسَہُ مِنْ جَہَنَّمَ کَمَا بَیْنَ مَکَّۃَ وَالْمَدِیْنَۃِ ))
Reference: at-Tirmidhī: 2577
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 2114
Translation: “Indeed, the thickness of the disbeliever’s skin will be forty-two cubits; his molar will be like (Mount) Uḥud; and his seat in Hell will be like the distance between Makkah and Madīnah.”
And he ﷺ said:
(( مَابَیْنَ مَنْکِبَیِ الْکَافِرِ فِیْ النَّارِ مَسِیْرَۃُ ثَلَاثَۃِ أَیَّامٍ لِلرَّاکِبِ الْمُسْرِعِ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6551
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2852
Translation: “Between the two shoulders of the disbeliever in the Fire will be a distance of three days’ travel for a swift rider.”
⑪ The Food of the People of Hell
The people of Hell will be given the tree of Zaqqūm and dry thorns as food.﴿ إِنَّ شَجَرَۃَ الزَّقُّوْمِ. طَعَامُ الْأثِیْمِ. کَالْمُہْلِ یَغْلِیْ فِیْ الْبُطُوْنِ. کَغَلْیِ الْحَمِیْمِ ﴾
Reference: ad-Dukhān 44:43–46
Translation: “Indeed, the tree of Zaqqūm is the food of the sinful; like molten metal it will boil in the bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.”
And He said:
﴿ فَلَیْسَ لَہُ الْیَوْمَ ہَاہُنَا حَمِیْمٌ. وَّلاَ طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مِنْ غِسْلِیْنٍ﴾
Reference: al-Ḥāqqah 69:35–36
Translation: “So today he will have here no close friend, and no food except from ghislīn (filth/pus).”
And:
﴿ لَیْسَ لَہُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مِنْ ضَرِیْعٍ. لاَّ یُسْمِنُ وَلاَ یُغْنِیْ مِنْ جُوْعٍ﴾
Reference: al-Ghāshiyah 88:6–7
Translation: “They will have no food except from dry thorny plant (ḍarīʿ), which neither nourishes nor relieves hunger.”
⑫ The Drink of the People of Hell
Allah تعالى says:﴿ وَیُسْقٰی مِنْ مَّآئٍ صَدِیْدٍ. یَتَجَرَّعُہُ وَلاَ یَکَادُ یُسِیْغُہُ﴾
Reference: Ibrāhīm 14:16–17
Translation: “And he will be given to drink from purulent fluid; he will sip it in gulps and can hardly swallow it.”
And He said:
﴿ یُغَاثُوْا بِمَآئٍ کَالْمُہْلِ یَشْوِیْ الْوُجُوْہَ﴾
Reference: al-Kahf 18:29
Translation: “They will be given water like molten metal, scorching the faces.”
And:
﴿ یُصَبُّ مِنْ فَوْقِ رُؤُوْسِہِمُ الْحَمِیْمُ. یُصْہَرُ بِہٖ مَا فِیْ بُطُوْنِہِمْ وَالْجُلُوْدُ ﴾
Reference: al-Ḥajj 22:19–20
Translation: “Scalding water will be poured over their heads; by it what is within their bellies and their skins will be melted.”
⑬ The Person With the Least Punishment in Hell
Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:(( إِنَّ أَہْوَنَ أَہْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا مَنْ لَہُ نَعْلَانِ وَشِرَاکَانِ مِنْ نَّارٍ،یَغْلِیْ مِنْہُمَا دِمَاغُہُ کَمَا یَغْلِیْ الْمِرْجَلُ،مَا یَرٰی أَنَّ أَحَدًا أَشَدُّ مِنْہُ عَذَابًا،وَإِنَّہُ لَأَہْوَنُہُمْ عَذَابًا))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 213
Translation: “Indeed, the one with the least punishment among the people of the Fire will be a man who will have two sandals and two straps of fire, from which his brain will boil as a pot boils. He will think that none is more severely punished than him, while he is the least punished among them.”
Reflect: when the least punishment is this, what will be the condition of the others?
⑭ Different Levels of the Punishment of Hell
Samurah ibn Jundub رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:(( مِنْہُمْ مَّنْ تَأْخُذُہُ النَّارُ إِلٰی کَعْبَیْہِ،وَمِنْہُمْ مَّنْ تَأْخُذُہُ النَّارُ إِلٰی رُکْبَتَیْہِ،وَمِنْہُمْ مَّنْ تَأْخُذُہُ النَّارُ إِلٰی حُجْزَتِہٖ،وَمِنْہُمْ مَّنْ تَأْخُذُہُ النَّارُ إِلٰی عُنُقِہٖ ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2845
Translation: “Among them are those whom the Fire will seize up to their ankles; among them are those whom it will seize up to their knees; among them are those whom it will seize up to their waist; and among them are those whom it will seize up to their necks.”
This difference will be due to the difference in deeds.
⑮ The Screaming and Crying of the People of Hell
Allah تعالى says:﴿وَالَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْا لَہُمْ نَارُ جَہَنَّمَ لاَ یُقْضٰی عَلَیْہِمْ فَیَمُوْتُوْا وَلاَیُخَفَّفُ عَنْہُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِہَا…﴾
Reference: Fāṭir 35:36–37
Translation: “And those who disbelieve—for them is the Fire of Hell. It will not be decreed for them that they should die, nor will its punishment be lightened for them…”
They will neither die nor will the punishment be reduced; rather, they will cry out: “Our Lord! Take us out; we will do righteous deeds.” But they will be answered: “Were you not given respite in the world?”
And Allah تعالى says:
﴿فَأَمَّا الَّذِیْنَ شَقُوْا فَفِیْ النَّارِ لَہُمْ فِیْہَا زَفِیْرٌ وَّشَہِیْقٌ﴾
Reference: Hūd 11:106
Translation: “As for those who were wretched, they will be in the Fire; for them therein will be groaning and wailing.”
And from ʿAbdullāh ibn Qays رضي الله عنه it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The people of Hell will weep so much that if boats were to be sailed in their tears, they could be sailed.”
Reference: as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah: 1679
⑯ Hell Will Remain Forever
Allah تعالى says:﴿أَلَمْ یَعْلَمُوْا أَنَّہُ مَنْ یُّحَادِدِ اللّٰہَ وَرَسُوْلَہُ فَأَنَّ لَہُ نَارَ جَہَنَّمَ خَالِدًا فِیْہَا﴾
Reference: at-Tawbah 9:63
Translation: “Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger—then for him is the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever?”
And He said:
﴿إِنَّہُ مَنْ یَّأْتِ رَبَّہُ مُجْرِمًا فَإِنَّ لَہُ جَہَنَّمَ لاَ یَمُوْتُ فِیْہَا وَلاَ یَحْیٰی﴾
Reference: Ṭā-Hā 20:74
Translation: “Indeed, whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal—then for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live.”
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
When the people of Paradise enter Paradise and the people of Hell enter Hell, death will be slaughtered and it will be announced:
“O people of Paradise! No death ever again. O people of Hell! No death ever again.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6548
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2850
⑰ The Punishment of One Who Does Not Practice What He Preaches
Usāmah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:“A man will be thrown into Hell; his intestines will come out and he will revolve around them like a donkey turns a millstone. The people will ask him: Did you not command us to do good and forbid us from evil? He will say: I used to command you, but I did not do it myself.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3267
Likewise, on the night of Miʿrāj, such speakers were seen whose lips were being cut with scissors of fire because they used to tell others but did not act themselves.
⑱ Punishment of Certain Specific Sins
◈ One who commits suicideThe Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that whoever kills himself in a certain way will continue being punished in Hell in that same way.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5778
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 109
◈ Image-makers
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( کُلُّ مُصَوِّرٍ فِی النَّارِ… ))
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2110
Translation: “Every image-maker will be in the Fire… For every image, a soul will be created that will punish him.”
⑲ Even a World Full of Gold Will Not Save
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that on the Day of Resurrection, the disbeliever will be asked: if you had the earth full of gold, would you wish to be saved in exchange for it? He will say yes. Then it will be said: something far easier than that was asked of you in the world (i.e., faith), but you refused.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6538
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2805
Conclusion
Respected brothers!The mention of Hell is not to make us despair; rather, it is to steady us, awaken us, and bring us toward repentance.
Allah تعالى has promised:
﴿إِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِیْعًا﴾
Reference: az-Zumar 39:53
Translation: “Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.”
So come:
✔ Avoid shirk
✔ Be steadfast upon the obligatory duties
✔ Avoid the prohibited (ḥarām)
✔ Hold firmly to repentance
✔ Rectify your family
May Allah تعالى protect us from the punishment of Hell, grant us Jannat al-Firdaws, and grant us an end upon faith.
Āmīn yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn
