Characteristics of the Hellfire
Hell is an entity huge, vast and immensely deep
Those who will enter Hell are innumerable, yet one of them will be so huge that his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud, and the distance between his shoulders will be equivalent to three days walking.
Nevertheless, Hell will accommodate the huge number of Kuffar and evildoers who have existed throughout history, in spite of their huge size, and there will still be room for more, as Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“On the day when We will say to Hell: “Are you filled?” it will say” Are there any more to come?” (50:30)
The Fire of Hell is like a mill to which are brought thousands upon thousands of tons of train, which it grinds tirelessly until it is all done, then waits for more
In the hadith that describes the debate between Paradise and Hell, it says that Allah (swt) said to Hell,
“You are My Punishment; I will punish in you whomsoever I will”
Both Paradise and Hell will be filled, but Hell will not be filled until Allah (swt) places His foot in it and it will say “Enough, enough!”
Then it will be filled and its different parts will come closer to one another.
Another indication of its vast depth is the fact that a stone thrown from the top of Hell takes a very long time to reach the bottom. Muslim reports that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:
We were with the Messenger of Allah (saws) and we heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet (saws) said,
“Do you know what that was?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best”
He said. “That was a stone that was thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it was falling through hell until now”. (Muslim)
Also the Prophet (Saws) said:
“If there was a huge stone as big as 7 khalifat stones and it was thrown from the edge of Hell it would fly through it for 70 years before it reached the bottom” (Sahih al-Jami)
Another proof of Hells hugeness is The great number of Angels who will bring Hell forth on the day of Resurrection:
The Prophet (saws) said
“Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of 70,000 ropes each of which will be held by 70,000 angels” (Muslim)
Another indication of the vastness of Hell is the fact that two great creations like the sun and moon will be rolled up and thrown inside it
Prophet (saws) said: “The sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell on the Day of Resurrection”
(Bayhaqi also reported this in “al-Ba’th wal-Nushur”, as did al Bazzar, al-Ismaili and al-Khattabi, with an isnad that is sahih according to the conditions of al-Bukhari, who reported in al-Sahih al-Mukhtasar, with the wording “The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell of the day of Resurrection”.)
The Levels of Hell
There are variations in the degrees of heat in Hell and in the levels of punishment which Allah (Swt) has prepared for its inhabitants:
As Allah (swt) says:
“Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths [grade] of the Fire” (4:145)
It is said that both Paradise and Hell have different levels; the lower the level in Hell, the greater the intensity of the heat.
The hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment and so they will be in the lowest level of Hell.
It was reported from some of the Salaf
The sinners amongst the monotheists who enter Hell would be in the first level, the Jews would be in the 2nd level, the Christians in the 3rd level, the Sabians in the 4th level, the Magians in the 5th level, the polytheist Arabs in the 6th level and the hypocrites in the 7th level.
Some books give name to these levels ((There is NO evidence for ANY of this!))
Hell has gates
Allah (swt) has told us that Hell has 7 gates He (swt) said:
“And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It [Hell] has seven gates, for each of these gates is a [special] class [of sinners] assigned” (15:43-44)
Ibn Kathir commenting on this ayah said:
“This means that each gate has been allotted its share of the followers of Iblis(Satan) who will enter it, and they will not be able to avoid it. Each will enter a gate according to his deeds, and will be assigned a to a level of Hell according to his deeds.”
When the disbelievers come to Hell, its gates will be opened and they will enter it to remain there forever”
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened [suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners]. And its keepers will say, “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves – reciting to you the Verses of your Rabb and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours” They will say “Yes” but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers”. (39:71)
The Unbelievers will be told upon admittance:
“Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And [indeed] what an evil abode of the arrogant!” (39:72)
These gates will be shut upon the evildoers, and they will have no hope of ever escaping from them after that, as Allah (swt) says, “But those who reject Our Signs, they are the [unhappy] Companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over [all round]”. (90:19-20)
Allah (swt) also says:
“Woe to every [kind of] scandalmonger and backbiter, who piles up wealth and lays it by. Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you that which breaks to pieces? The Fire of [the wrath of] Allah, kindled [to a blaze], which mounts [right] to the heart. It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched”. (104:1-9)
Allah (swt) states that the gates of Hell will be locked behind them. Ibn Abbas said, “In columns outstretched” means that the gates will be stretched out. ‘Atiyah said, “It is a pillar of iron”
Muqatil said, “The gates will be closed firmly behind them and locked with a bolt of iron, so that the pain and heat will be intensified. The expression “stretched forth” applies to the “pillar” meaning that the bolts with which the gates are locked will be very strong, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one” (Ibn Rajab)
Stones and the rebellious disbelievers are the fuel of Hell as Allah (swt) says:
“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones!” 66:6” then fear the Fire [hell] whose fuel is men and stones prepared for the disbelievers” (2:24)
Another fuel for the Fire will be the gods, which were worshipped instead of Allah
“Certainly! You [disbelievers] and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah (swt) [Surely] you will enter it. Had these [idols etc] been aliha [gods] they would not have entered there [Hell] and all of them will abide therein” (21:98-99)
The heat will be so intense!
“And those on the left hand – who will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke, [that shadow] neither cool, nor [even] good” (56:41044)
This ayah includes all of the things that people avail themselves of in this world when it is too hot; these three things are: water, air, and shade. But the ayah states that these three things will be of no help whatsoever to the people of Hell.
There will be a smoke that is suffocating
“Depart you to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns, [which yields] no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze”. Indeed! It [Hell] throws about sparks [huge] as forts, as if there were [a string of] yellow camels [marching swiftly]”. (77:30-33)
This Ayah states that the smoke that rises from Hell is so great that it is divided into 3 columns. It gives shade, but it is not cooling and it offers no protection from the Raging Fire. The sparks that fly from this Fire are like huge castles, and they are likened to yellow or black camels.
Allah (swt) explained how strong this Fire is, and how it affects the tormented:
“Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone Darkening and changing the color of man!” (74:26-29)
The Fire consumes all destroying everything and leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin, reaching to the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and exposing what is innermost.
This fire never dies down, no matter how much time passes:
“So taste you [the results of you evil actions]; no increase shall We give you except in torment”. (78:30)”
“…whenever it abates We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire” (17:97)
The disbelievers will not taste the luxury of respite and the torment will not be lessened for them no matter how long it lasts:
“Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped”. (2:86)
The Fire is rekindled everyday as is stated in the hadith reported by Muslim from Amr ibn Absah (ra) who said: The Prophet (saws) said
Pray salat as-subh (the early morning prayer) then stop praying when the sun is rising until it is fully up, for it rises between the horns of Shaytan and the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at that time.
Then pray for the prayer is witnessed (by angels) until the shadow becomes the length of a lance. Then cease prayer, for that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward pray..”
“when it becomes very hot, wait until it cools down to pray, because the intense heat is a breeze from Hell.”
Hell can also Hear and Speak
“When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring” (25:12)
“A man will be dragged towards Hell which will shrink into itself. Allah (swt) will say: “What is the matter with you?” It will say, “He is seeking refuge with you from me” He will say, “Release My slave”.
“Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him”. (Ibn Kathir quoted this report in an-Nihayah 2/21, and said that its isnad is sahih).
Also the Prophet said:
On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear and a tongue to speak. It will say, “I have been appointed to take care of three types of people: Every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allah (swt) and those who made pictures” (at-Tirmidhi)
Hell is an entity huge, vast and immensely deep
Those who will enter Hell are innumerable, yet one of them will be so huge that his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud, and the distance between his shoulders will be equivalent to three days walking.
Nevertheless, Hell will accommodate the huge number of Kuffar and evildoers who have existed throughout history, in spite of their huge size, and there will still be room for more, as Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“On the day when We will say to Hell: “Are you filled?” it will say” Are there any more to come?” (50:30)
The Fire of Hell is like a mill to which are brought thousands upon thousands of tons of train, which it grinds tirelessly until it is all done, then waits for more
In the hadith that describes the debate between Paradise and Hell, it says that Allah (swt) said to Hell,
“You are My Punishment; I will punish in you whomsoever I will”
Both Paradise and Hell will be filled, but Hell will not be filled until Allah (swt) places His foot in it and it will say “Enough, enough!”
Then it will be filled and its different parts will come closer to one another.
Another indication of its vast depth is the fact that a stone thrown from the top of Hell takes a very long time to reach the bottom. Muslim reports that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:
We were with the Messenger of Allah (saws) and we heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet (saws) said,
“Do you know what that was?” We said, “Allah and His Messenger know best”
He said. “That was a stone that was thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it was falling through hell until now”. (Muslim)
Also the Prophet (Saws) said:
“If there was a huge stone as big as 7 khalifat stones and it was thrown from the edge of Hell it would fly through it for 70 years before it reached the bottom” (Sahih al-Jami)
Another proof of Hells hugeness is The great number of Angels who will bring Hell forth on the day of Resurrection:
The Prophet (saws) said
“Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of 70,000 ropes each of which will be held by 70,000 angels” (Muslim)
Another indication of the vastness of Hell is the fact that two great creations like the sun and moon will be rolled up and thrown inside it
Prophet (saws) said: “The sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell on the Day of Resurrection”
(Bayhaqi also reported this in “al-Ba’th wal-Nushur”, as did al Bazzar, al-Ismaili and al-Khattabi, with an isnad that is sahih according to the conditions of al-Bukhari, who reported in al-Sahih al-Mukhtasar, with the wording “The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell of the day of Resurrection”.)
The Levels of Hell
There are variations in the degrees of heat in Hell and in the levels of punishment which Allah (Swt) has prepared for its inhabitants:
As Allah (swt) says:
“Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths [grade] of the Fire” (4:145)
It is said that both Paradise and Hell have different levels; the lower the level in Hell, the greater the intensity of the heat.
The hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment and so they will be in the lowest level of Hell.
It was reported from some of the Salaf
The sinners amongst the monotheists who enter Hell would be in the first level, the Jews would be in the 2nd level, the Christians in the 3rd level, the Sabians in the 4th level, the Magians in the 5th level, the polytheist Arabs in the 6th level and the hypocrites in the 7th level.
Some books give name to these levels ((There is NO evidence for ANY of this!))
Hell has gates
Allah (swt) has told us that Hell has 7 gates He (swt) said:
“And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It [Hell] has seven gates, for each of these gates is a [special] class [of sinners] assigned” (15:43-44)
Ibn Kathir commenting on this ayah said:
“This means that each gate has been allotted its share of the followers of Iblis(Satan) who will enter it, and they will not be able to avoid it. Each will enter a gate according to his deeds, and will be assigned a to a level of Hell according to his deeds.”
When the disbelievers come to Hell, its gates will be opened and they will enter it to remain there forever”
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened [suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners]. And its keepers will say, “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves – reciting to you the Verses of your Rabb and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours” They will say “Yes” but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers”. (39:71)
The Unbelievers will be told upon admittance:
“Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And [indeed] what an evil abode of the arrogant!” (39:72)
These gates will be shut upon the evildoers, and they will have no hope of ever escaping from them after that, as Allah (swt) says, “But those who reject Our Signs, they are the [unhappy] Companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over [all round]”. (90:19-20)
Allah (swt) also says:
“Woe to every [kind of] scandalmonger and backbiter, who piles up wealth and lays it by. Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you that which breaks to pieces? The Fire of [the wrath of] Allah, kindled [to a blaze], which mounts [right] to the heart. It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched”. (104:1-9)
Allah (swt) states that the gates of Hell will be locked behind them. Ibn Abbas said, “In columns outstretched” means that the gates will be stretched out. ‘Atiyah said, “It is a pillar of iron”
Muqatil said, “The gates will be closed firmly behind them and locked with a bolt of iron, so that the pain and heat will be intensified. The expression “stretched forth” applies to the “pillar” meaning that the bolts with which the gates are locked will be very strong, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one” (Ibn Rajab)
Stones and the rebellious disbelievers are the fuel of Hell as Allah (swt) says:
“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones!” 66:6” then fear the Fire [hell] whose fuel is men and stones prepared for the disbelievers” (2:24)
Another fuel for the Fire will be the gods, which were worshipped instead of Allah
“Certainly! You [disbelievers] and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah (swt) [Surely] you will enter it. Had these [idols etc] been aliha [gods] they would not have entered there [Hell] and all of them will abide therein” (21:98-99)
The heat will be so intense!
“And those on the left hand – who will be those on the Left Hand? In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke, [that shadow] neither cool, nor [even] good” (56:41044)
This ayah includes all of the things that people avail themselves of in this world when it is too hot; these three things are: water, air, and shade. But the ayah states that these three things will be of no help whatsoever to the people of Hell.
There will be a smoke that is suffocating
“Depart you to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns, [which yields] no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze”. Indeed! It [Hell] throws about sparks [huge] as forts, as if there were [a string of] yellow camels [marching swiftly]”. (77:30-33)
This Ayah states that the smoke that rises from Hell is so great that it is divided into 3 columns. It gives shade, but it is not cooling and it offers no protection from the Raging Fire. The sparks that fly from this Fire are like huge castles, and they are likened to yellow or black camels.
Allah (swt) explained how strong this Fire is, and how it affects the tormented:
“Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone Darkening and changing the color of man!” (74:26-29)
The Fire consumes all destroying everything and leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin, reaching to the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and exposing what is innermost.
This fire never dies down, no matter how much time passes:
“So taste you [the results of you evil actions]; no increase shall We give you except in torment”. (78:30)”
“…whenever it abates We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire” (17:97)
The disbelievers will not taste the luxury of respite and the torment will not be lessened for them no matter how long it lasts:
“Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped”. (2:86)
The Fire is rekindled everyday as is stated in the hadith reported by Muslim from Amr ibn Absah (ra) who said: The Prophet (saws) said
Pray salat as-subh (the early morning prayer) then stop praying when the sun is rising until it is fully up, for it rises between the horns of Shaytan and the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at that time.
Then pray for the prayer is witnessed (by angels) until the shadow becomes the length of a lance. Then cease prayer, for that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward pray..”
“when it becomes very hot, wait until it cools down to pray, because the intense heat is a breeze from Hell.”
Hell can also Hear and Speak
“When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring” (25:12)
“A man will be dragged towards Hell which will shrink into itself. Allah (swt) will say: “What is the matter with you?” It will say, “He is seeking refuge with you from me” He will say, “Release My slave”.
“Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him”. (Ibn Kathir quoted this report in an-Nihayah 2/21, and said that its isnad is sahih).
Also the Prophet said:
On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear and a tongue to speak. It will say, “I have been appointed to take care of three types of people: Every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allah (swt) and those who made pictures” (at-Tirmidhi)
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