Stories have always been a great and powerful way to Learn, Understand & Motivate our E'maan (Faith). So why not learn and experience some of the Best Stories of Islam to inspire and understand the importance of our lives.
Every Friday afternoon, after the Jumma
prayers, the Imam and his eleven year old son would go out into their town
and hand out "PATH TO PARADISE" and
other Islamic literature.
This particular and fortunate Friday afternoon, as the time came for the
Imam and his son to go to the streets with their booklets, it was very
cold outside, as well as pouring rain.
The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK,
dad, I'm ready!'
His dad asked, 'Ready for what'?
'Dad, it's
time we go out and distribute these Islamic books.'
Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'
The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people
still going to hell, even though it's raining?'
Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.'
Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go please'
His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are
the booklets. Be careful son. 'Thanks, Dad!'
And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy
walked the streets of the town going door to door and
handing everybody he met in the street a pamphlet or a booklet.
After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet
and down to his VERY LAST BOOKLET.
He stopped
on a corner and looked for someone to hand a booklet to, but the
streets were totally deserted.
Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started
up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell.
He
rang the bell, but nobody answered..
He rang it
again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.
Finally, he turned to leave, but something stopped him.
Again, he
turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door
with his fist.
He waited, something holding him there on the front porch! He rang
again and this time the door slowly opened.
Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly
asked, 'What can I do for you, son?'
With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said,
'Ma'am, I'm
sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that ALLAH
REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU and I came to give you my very last
booklet which will tell you all about
ALLAH,
the real purpose of creation, and how to achieve His pleasure.'
With that, he handed her his last booklet and turned to leave.
She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And GOD Bless You!'
Next week on Friday afternoon after Jumma prayers, the Imam was
giving some lectures.
As he
concluded the lecture, he asked, 'Does anybody have questions or want
to say anything?'
Slowly, in the back row among the ladies, an elderly lady's voice was
heard over the speaker.
'No one in this gathering knows me. I've never been here before. You
see, before last Friday I
was not
a Muslim, and thought I could be.
My
husband died few years ago, leaving me totally alone in this
world.
Last Friday,
being a particularly cold and rainy day, I was contemplating suicide
as I had no hope left.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of
my home.
I
fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the
chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.
Standing
on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when
suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I
thought, I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.
I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more
insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking
loudly....
I thought to
myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes
to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the
front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.
When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for
there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had
ever seen in my life.
His
SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! The words that came from
his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead TO LEAP TO LIFE as he
exclaimed with a cherub like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that
ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU!' Then he gave
me this booklet, Path to Paradise
that I now hold in my hand.
As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed
my door and read slowly every word of this book.
Then
I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't need them
any more.
You see? I am now a Happy Vicegerent of the One True ALLAH.
Since
the address of your congregation was stamped on the back of this
booklet, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU
to ALLAH's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so
doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'
There was not a dry eye in the mosque. The shouts
of TAKBIR...ALLAH AKBAR.. Rented the air.
Imam-Dad descended from the pulpit to the front row where the little angel
was seated....
He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no jama'at has had a more glorious moment, and probably this
universe has never seen a father that was more filled with love and honor
for his son...
Except for
One. This very one... Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.
Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to
others. Heaven is for His people!
Remember, Allah’s message Can make a difference in the life of someone
close to you.
Truly, in remembering Allah (GOD) do hearts find rest (Quran, 13:28)
“Do you want hear this real story which took place here about a hundred
years ago. (In Saudi) Tayib. This is real! This is real!”
He continued:
“Bismilaahi Rahmaani Raheem. This story took place here about hundred
years ago and it was also broadcasted on the radio stations. It is about
a man call Ibn Jad’aan. He (Ibn Jad’aan) said how during Spring times
he used to go out. He would see good and healthy fat camels and their
udders filled to the extent of almost exploding. Whenever the little
offspring (i.e. the calf) came close to the mother camel, her milk would
pour forth because of the great abundance of blessings and abundance of
goodness.
So I (Ibn Jad’aan) looked at one of my she camels with
her calf and I remembered my poor neighbor who had seven young
daughters. So I said to myself, by Allah I will give this camel and her
calf as Sadaqah (charity) to my neighbour - and he recited the Ayah
where Allah said in (Surah Al-imraan: 92):
“By no means Shall you Attain piety righteousness unless you spend in Allah’s cause of which that you love”
And the most beloved from amongst my cattle, to me, is this she-camel.
So I took her along with her calf and knocked on the door of my
neighbour. I told him to accept it as a gift from me. I saw his face glooming with happiness and he was unable to utter anything in response.
So he benefited from its milk and used to load wood on its back,
awaiting for its offspring to grow up in order to sell them.
Subsequently, he gained great good from this camel.
After the
spring had passed, the dry summer came with its drought, and so the
Bedouins began looking for water and grass. We gathered our belongings
and left our places looking for water and the duhool (plural of duhul)
or ‘holes’ in the earth, situated underground leading to water traps
underneath the ground. Their openings are on top of the ground, as the
Bedouins know of very well.
I (i.e. Ibn Jad’aan) entered into one of these holes so as to bring some water to drink…
Dr Saleh continued: “and his (Ibn Jad’aan’s) three sons were waiting
for him outside the hole. However he did not return. His three sons
waited for him for one, two and three days and finally became hopeless.
They said maybe he was stung by a snake and died or he was lost under
the earth and destroyed. They (and we seek refuge in Allah from this)
waited for his destruction. Why? Due to greed in order to distribute his
inheritance. So they returned home and divided what he had left,
amongst themselves. Then they remembered that their father (Ibn Jad’aan)
gave a she-camel to their poor neighbor. They went to their neighbour
and told him that it is better that he give them back the she-camel and
take another camel in replace of it, otherwise they will take it by
force and he will be left with nothing.
The neighbor
complained that he would report them to their father. So they informed
him that he had died. He inquired as to how and where Ibn Jad’aan had
died, and why they hadn’t told him. They then explained how he entered
into one of these holes underground in the desert and did not come out.
The neighbor said: ” By Allah take me to this place and take your
she-camel and do whatever you do with it and I don’t want your camel in
return!”
They took him and when he saw the place, he went and
brought a rope, lit a candle, tied it outside the duhul (the hole) and
then stepped into it crawling on his back until he reached the places
whereby he could crawl and roll. Eventually the smell of moisture became
closer and then all of sudden he heard the sound of a man by the water
groaning and moaning. He went closer and closer towards this sound
in the darkness putting his hand out all over until his hand fell onto
the man (Ibn Jad’aan). He checked his breath and he was still breathing
after one week! He pulled him out covering his eyes so as to protect him
from the sunlight. He took with him some dates, moistened them in water
and gave it to him to drink. He then carried him on his back and
took him to his house and life gradually return to this man whilst his
sons didn’t know. He then asked him: “Tell me, by Allah, one week while
you were underground and you didn’t die?!”
“I will tell you
something strange…” Ibn Jidaan explained: “…when I went down there I got
lost and waves took me from all directions and I said to myself I’d
better stay close to this water that I have reached. So I started to
drink from it, but hunger had no mercy and water does not suffice. Then
after three days hunger intensified on me and took me from all parts.
While I was lying on my back I surrendered myself to Allah and put all
my affairs in his hands and all of the sudden I felt the warmth of milk
pouring onto my mouth. So I sat in the midst of the darkness and I saw a
pot coming closer to my mouth. I drank from it until I took from what
is sufficient and then it would go! This occurred three times in the day
but the last two days it stopped and I didn’t know what happened.”
His neighbor then informed him:
“If you know the reason you will be amazed! Your sons thought you had
died and they came to me and took away the she-camel which Allah
(Subhaanahu Wa Ta’Aala) was giving you from its milk!”
The Muslim is in the shade of his Sadaqah (Charity).
Allah stated in (Surah At-Talaaq: 2,3): “…and whoever fears Allah and
keeps his duty to him, he will make a way for him to get out (from every
difficult)” and “…and he will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And who every puts his trust in Allah, then he will suffice
him”.
His appearance was striking. He was slim and tall. His face was bright
and he had a sparse beard. It was pleasing to look at him and refreshing
to meet him. He was extremely courteous and humble and quite shy. Yet
in a tough situation he would become strikingly serious and alert,
resembling the flashing blade of a sword in his severity and sharpness.
He was described as the"Amin"or Custodian of Muhammad's community. His
full name was Aamir ibn Abdullah ibn al-Jarrah. He was known as Abu
Ubaydah. Of him Abdullah ibn Umar, one of the companions of the Prophet,
said: "Three persons in the tribe of Quraysh were most prominent, had
the best character and were the most modest. If they spoke to you, they
would not deceive you and if you spoke to them, they would not accuse
you of lying: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Uthman ibn Affan and Abu Ubaydah ibn
al-Jarrah."
Abu Ubaydah was one of the first persons to accept Islam. He
became a Muslim one day after Abu Bakr. In fact, it was through Abu
Bakr that he became a Muslim. Abu Bakr took him, Abdur Rahman ibn Auf,
Uthman ibn Maz'un and al-Arqam ibn abi al Arqam to the Prophet, upon
whom be peace, and together they declared their acceptance of the Truth.
They were thus the first pillars on which the great edifice of Islam
was built. Abu Ubaydah lived through the harsh experience, which the
Muslims went through in Makkah, from beginning to end. With the early
Muslims, he endured the insults and the violence, the pain and the
sorrow of that experience. In every trial and test he remained firm and
constant in his belief in God and His prophet.
One of the most harrowing
experiences he had to go through, however, was at the battle of Badr.
Abu Ubaydah was in the vanguard of the Muslim forces, fighting with
might and main and as someone who was not at all afraid of death. The
Quraysh cavalry were extremely wary of him and avoided coming face to
face with him. One man in particular, however, kept on pursuing Abu
Ubaydah wherever he turned and Abu Ubaydah tried his best to keep out of
his way and avoid an encounter with him. The man plunged into the
attack. Abu Ubaydah tried desperately to avoid him. Eventually the man
succeeded in blocking Abu Ubaydah's path and stood as a barrier between
him and the Quraysh. They were now face to face with each other. Abu
Ubaydah could not contain himself any longer. He struck one blow to the
man's head. The man fell to the ground and died instantly. Do not try to
guess who this man was. It was, as stated earlier, one of the most
harrowing experiences that Abu Ubaydah had to go through, how harrowing,
it is almost impossible to imagine. The man in fact was Abdullah ibn
al-Jarrah, the father of Abu Ubaydah! Abu Ubaydah obviously did not want
to kill his father but in the actual battle between faith in God and
polytheism, the choice open to him was profoundly disturbing but clear.
In a way it could be said that he did not kill his Father only killed
the polytheism in the person of his father. It is concerning this event
that God revealed the following verses of the Qur'an: "You will not
find a people believing in God and the Last Day making friends with
those who oppose God and His messenger even if these were their fathers,
their sons, their brothers or their clan. God has placed faith in their
hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Him. He will cause them
to enter gardens beneath which streams flow that they may dwell
therein. God is well pleased with them and they well pleased with Him.
They are the party of God. Is not the party of God the successful ones?"
(Surah al-Mujadilah 58:22)
The response of Abu Ubaydah at Badr when
confronted by his father was not unexpected. He had attained a strength
of faith in God, devotion to His religion and a level of concern for the
ummah of Muhammad to which many aspired. It is related by Muhammad ibn
Ja'far, a Companion of the Prophet, that a Christian delegation came to
the Prophet and said, "O Abu-l Qasim, send one of your companions with
us, one in whom you are well pleased, to judge between us on some
questions of property about which we disagree among ourselves. We have a
high regard for you Muslim people." "Come back to me this evening,"
replied the Prophet, "and I will send with you one who is strong and
trustworthy.'Umar ibn al-Khattab heard the Prophet saying this and later
said: "I went to the Zuhr (midday) Prayer early hoping to be the one
who would fit the description of the Prophet. When the Prophet had
finished the Prayer, he began looking to his right and his left and I
raised myself so that he could see me. But he continued looking among us
until he spotted Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah. He called him and said, 'Go
with them and judge among them with truth about that which they are in
disagreement." And so Abu Ubaydah got the appointment."
Abu Ubaydah was
not only trustworthy. He displayed a great deal of strength in the
discharge of his trust. This strength was shown on several occasions.
One day the Prophet despatched a group of his Sahabah to meet a Quraysh
caravan. He appointed Abu Ubaydah as amir (leader) of the group and gave
them a bag of dates and nothing else as provisions. Abu Ubaydah gave to
each man under his command only one date every day. He would suck this
date just as a child would suck at the breast of its mother. He would
then drink some water and this would suffice him for the whole day. On
the day of Uhud when the Muslims were being routed, one of the
mushrikeen started to shout, "Show me Muhammad, show me Muhammad." Abu
Ubaydah was one of a group of ten Muslims who had encircled the Prophet
to protect him against the spears of the Mushrikeen. When the battle was
over, it was found that one of the Prophet's molar teeth was broken,
his forehead was bashed in and two discs from his shield had penetrated
into his cheeks. Abu Bakr went forward with the intention of extracting
these discs but Abu Ubaydah said, "Please leave that to me." Abu Ubaydah
was afraid that he would cause the Prophet pain if he took out the
discs with his hand. He bit hard into one of the discs. It was extracted
but one of his incisor teeth fell to the ground in the process. With
his other incisor, he extracted the other disc but lost that tooth also.
Abu Bakr remarked, "Abu Ubaydah is the best of men at breaking incisor
teeth!" Abu Ubaydah continued to be fully involved in all the momentous
events during the Prophet's lifetime.
After the beloved Prophet had
passed away, the companions gathered to choose a successor at the
Saqifah or meeting place of Banu Sa'aadah. The day is known in history
as the Day of Saqifah. On this day, Umar ibn al-Khattab said to Abu
Ubaydah, "Stretch forth your hand and I will swear allegiance to you for
I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him say, 'Every ummah has an amin
(custodian) and you are the amin of this ummah.' " "I would not,"
declared Abu Ubaydah, "put myself forward in the presence of a man whom
the Prophet, upon whom be peace, commanded to lead us in Prayer and who
led us right until the Prophet's death." He then gave bay'ah (the oath
of allegiance) to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. He continued to be a close adviser
to Abu Bakr and his strong supporter in the cause of truth and
goodness. Then came the caliphate of Umar and Abu Ubaydah also gave him
his support and obedience. He did not disobey him in any matter, except
one. The incident happened when Abu Ubaydah was in Syria leading the
Muslim forces from one victory to another until the whole of Syria was
under Muslim control. The River Euphrates lay to his right and Asia
Minor to his left. It was then that a plague hit the land of Syria, the
like of which people had never experienced before. It devastated the
population. Umar despatched a messenger to Abu Ubaydah with a letter
saying: "I am in urgent need of you. If my letter reaches you at night I
strongly urge you to leave before dawn. If this letter reaches you
during the day, I strongly urge you to leave before evening and hasten
to me. When Abu Ubaydah received Umar's letter, he said, "I know why
the Amir al-Mu'mineen needs me. He wants to secure the survival of
someone who, however, is not eternal." So he wrote to Umar: "I know that
you need me. But I am in an army of Muslims and I have no desire to
save myself from what is afflicting them. I do not want to separate from
them until God wills. So, when this letter reaches you, release me from
your command and permit me to stay on." When Umar read this letter
tears filled his eyes and those who were with him asked, "Has Abu
Ubaydah died, O Amir al-Mu'mineen?" "No," said he, "But death is near to
him." Umar's intuition was not wrong. Before long, Abu Ubaydah became
afflicted with the plague. As death hung over him, he spoke to his army:
"Let me give you some advice which will cause you to be on the path of
goodness always. "Establish Prayer. Fast the month of Ramadan. Give
Sadaqah. Perform the Hajj and Umrah. Remain united and support one
another. Be sincere to your commanders and do not conceal anything from
them. Don't let the world destroy you for even if man were to live a
thousand years he would still end up with this fate that you see me in."
"Peace be upon you and the mercy of God." Abu Ubaydah then turned to
Muadh ibn Jabal and said, "O Muadh, perform the prayer with the people
(be their leader)." At this, his pure soul departed. Muadh got up and
said: "O people, you are stricken by the death of a man. By God, I don't
know whether I have seen a man who had a more righteous heart, who was
further from all evil and who was more sincere to people than he. Ask
God to shower His mercy on him and God will be merciful to you."
When Abu Musa (R.A) to Basrah as governor of the city, he called the
inhabitants to a meeting and addressed them: "The Amir al-Muminin, Umar,
has sent me to you to teach you the Book of your Lord and the Sunnah of
His Prophet and to clean your streets for you." People were taken aback
when they heard these words. They could easily understand that one of
the responsibilities of a Muslim ruler was to instruct people in their
religion. However, that one of his duties should be to clean streets was
something new and surprising to them. Who was this governor of whom the
Prophet's grandson, al-Hasan, may God be pleased with him said: "There
was no rider who came to Basrah who was better for its people than he."
His real name was Abdullah ibn Qays but he was and continues to be known
as Abu Musa al-Ashari. He left his native land, the Yemen, for Makkah
immediately after hearing that a Prophet had appeared there who was a
man of rare insight, who called people to the worship of One God and who
insisted on the highest standards of morality. At Makkah, he stayed in
the company of the Prophet and gained knowledge and guidance. He
returned to his country to propagate the word of God and spread the
mission of the noble Prophet, peace be on him. We have no further news
of him for more than a decade. Then just after the end of the Khaybar
expedition he came to the Prophet in Madinah. His arrival there
coincided with that of Jaffar ibn Abi Talib and other Muslims from
Abyssinia and the Prophet welcomed them all with joy and happiness. This
time Abu Musa did not come alone. He came with more than fifty persons
from the Yemen all of whom had accepted Islam. Among them were his two
brothers, Abu Ruhm and Abu Burdah. The Prophet referred to the whole
group as the "Asharis". In fact he sometimes referred to all Yemenis as
Asharis after Abu Musa al-Ashari. He often praised the group for their
soft and tender-hearted nature and held them up to the rest of his
companions as a high example of good behavior. He once said of them: "If
the Asharis go on an expedition or if they only have a little food
among them, they would gather all they have on one cloth and divide it
equally among themselves. They are thus from me and I am from them."
Abu
Musa soon became highly esteemed in the Muslim community. He had many
great qualities. He was a faqih endowed with intelligence and sound
judgement and was ranked as one of the leading judges in the early
Muslim community. People used to say: "The judges in this ummah are
four: Umar, Ali, Abu Musa and Zayd ibn Thabit." Abu Musa had a natural,
uncomplicated disposition. He was by nature a trusting person and
expected people to deal with him on the basis of trust and sincerity. In
the field of jihad, he was a warrior of great courage and endurance and
skill. The Prophet said of him: "The master of horsemen is Abu Musa."
"Abu Musa's insight and the soundness of his judgment did not allow him
to be deceived by an enemy in battle. In battle conditions he saw
situations with complete clarity and executed his actions with a firm
resolve. Abu Musa was in command of the Muslim army traversing the lands
of the Sasanian Empire. At Isfahan, the people came to him and offered
to pay the jizyah (in return for military protection) to make peace and
avoid fighting. However. they were not sincere in their offer and merely
wanted an opportunity to mount a treacherous attack on the Muslims. Abu
Musa however saw through their real intentions and he remained on the
alert. Thus when the Isfahanis launched their attack, the Muslim leader
was not caught off-guard, He engaged them in battle and before midday of
the following day, he had won a decisive victory. In the major
campaigns against the powerful Sasanian Empire Abu Musa's role was
outstanding.
In the great Battle of Tustar itself, he distinguished
himself as a military commander. The Persian commander, Hormuzan, had
withdrawn his numerous forces to the strongly fortified city of Tustar.
The Caliph Umar did not underestimate the strength of the enemy and he
mobilized powerful and numerous force to confront Hormuzan. Among the
Muslim forces were dedicated veterans like Ammar ibn Yasir, al-Baraa ibn
Malik and his brother Anas, Majra'a al-Bakri and Salamah ibn Rajaa.
Umar appointed Abu Musa as commander of the army. So well fortified was
Tustar that it was impossible to take it by storm. Several attempts were
made to breach the walls but these proved unsuccessful. There followed a
long and difficult siege which became even more testing and agonizing
for the Muslims when, as we saw in the story of al-Baraa ibn Malik, the
Persians began throwing down iron chains from the walls of the fortress
at the ends of which were fastened red-hot iron hooks. Muslims were
caught by these hooks and were pulled up either dead or in the agony of
death. Abu Musa realized that the increasingly unbearable impasse could
only be broken by a resort to stratagem. Fortunately, at this time a
Persian defected to the Muslim side and Abu Musa induced him to return
behind the walls of the fortified city and use whatever artful means he
could to open the city's gates from within. With the Persian he sent a
special force of hand-picked men. They succeeded well in their task,
opened the gates and made way for Abu Musa's army. Within hours the
Persians were subdued. In spite of the fact that Abu Musa was a strong
and powerful warrior, he often left the battlefield transformed into a
penitent, weeping person. At such times, he would read the Quran in a
voice that profoundly stirred the souls of all who listened to him.
Concerning his moving and melodious recitation of the Quran the Prophet,
peace be on him, had said: "Abu Musa has indeed been given one of the
flutes of the people of David."
Also, Umar, may god be pleased with him,
often summoned Abu Musa and asked him to recite from the Book of God,
saying: "Create in us a yearning for our Lord, O Abu Musa." As a mark of
his dedication to the Quran, Abu Musa was one of the few companions who
had prepared a mushaf a written collection of the revelations. Abu Musa
only participated in fighting against the armies of Mushrikin, armies
which tried to oppose the religion of God and extinguish the light of
faith. When fighting broke out among Muslims, he fled from such conflict
anti never look any part in it. Such was his stand in the conflict that
arose between Ali and Muawiyah. It is in relation to this conflict and
in particular his role as an adjudicator that the name of Abu Musa
al-Ashari is most widely known. Briefly, Abu Musa's position appeared to
be that of a 'neutral.' He saw Muslims killing each other and felt that
if the situation were to continue the very future of the Muslim ummah
would be threatened. To start off with a clean slate. the Khalifah Ali
should give up the position and Muawiyah should relinquish any claim to
be Khalifah and the Muslims should be given a free choice to elect
whoever they wanted as Khalifah. It was of course true that Imam Ali
held the position of Khalifah legitimately and that any unlawful revolt
could only have as its object the challenging and overturning of the
rule of law. However, developments had gone so far, the dispute had
become so bloody and there seemed to be no end in sight except further
bloodshed, that a new approach to a solution seemed the only hope of
avoiding further bloodshed and continuous civil war. When Imam Ali
accepted the principle of arbitration, he wanted Abdullah ibn Abbas to
represent him. But an influential section of his followers insisted on
Abu Musa. Their reason for so doing was that Abu Musa had not taken part
in the dispute from its beginning. Instead he had kept aloof from both
parties when he despaired of bringing about an understanding and a
reconciliation and putting an end to the fighting. Therefore, they felt,
he was the most suitable person to be the arbitrator. Imam Ali had no
reason to doubt the devotion of Abu Musa to Islam and his truthfulness
and sincerity. But he knew the shrewdness of the other side and their
likely resort to ruses and treachery.
He also knew that Abu Musa in
spite of his understanding and his knowledge despised deceit and
conspiracies and always wanted to deal with people on the basis of trust
and honesty, not through cunning. Ali therefore feared that Abu Musa
would be deceived by others and that arbitration would end up with the
victory of guile over honesty and that the situation would end up being
more perilous than it was. Adjudication nonetheless began with Abu Musa
representing the side of Ali and Amr ibn al-Aas representing the side of
Muawiyah. A possible version of their historic conversation has been
recorded in the book "Al-Akhbar at-Tiwal" by Abu Hanifah Ad-Daynawawi
Islam teaches that Hell is a real
place prepared by God for those who do not believe in Him, rebel against His
laws, and reject His messengers. Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of
mind or a spiritual entity. The horrors, pain, anguish, and punishment are all
real, but different in nature than their earthly counterparts. Hell is the
ultimate humiliation and loss, and nothing is worse than it:
“Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to
the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any
helpers.” (Quran 3:192)
“Know they not that whoever opposes
God and His Messenger (Muhammad SAWS), certainly for him will be the Fire of
Hell to abide therein? That is the extreme disgrace.” (Quran 9:63)
The
Names of Hell
Hell Fire has different names in
Islamic texts. Each name gives a separate description. Some of its names are:
Jaheem – fire - because of its blazing fire.
Jahannam - Hell - because of the depth of its pit.
Ladthaa - blazing fire - because of its flames.
Sa’eer - blazing flame - because it is kindled and ignited.
Saqar - because of the intensity of its heat.
Hatamah - broken pieces or debris - because it breaks and crushes
everything that is thrown into it.
Haawiyah - chasm or abyss - because the one who is thrown into it is
thrown from top to bottom
Paradise
and Hell Presently Exist and are Eternal
Hell exists at the present time and
will continue to exist forever. It will never die down, and its inhabitants
will remain in it forever. No one will come out of Hell except sinful believers
who believed in the Oneness of God in this life and believed in the specific
prophet sent to them (before the coming of Muhammad SAWS). The polytheists and
unbelievers will reside in it forever. This belief has been held from classical
times and is based on clear verses of the Quran and confirmed reports from the
Prophet of Islam SAWS. The Quran speaks of Hell in the past tense and states
that it has already been created:
“And fear the Fire which is prepared
for the disbelievers.” (Quran 3:131)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“When any of you dies, he is shown
his position (in the Hereafter) morning and evening. If he is one of the people
of Paradise, he is shown the place of the people of Paradise. If he is one of
the people of Hell, he is shown the place of people of Hell. He is told, ‘this
is your position, until God resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.” (Saheeh
Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
In another report, the Prophet SAWS
said:
“Surely, the soul of a believer is a
bird hanging on the trees of Paradise, until God returns it to his body on the
Day of Resurrection.” (Muwatta of Malik)
These texts make it clear that Hell
and Paradise exist, and that souls may enter them before the Day of
Resurrection. Speaking of Hell’s eternity, God says:
“They will long to leave the Fire,
but never will they leave there from; and theirs will be a lasting torment.”
(Quran 5:37)
“…And they will never leave of the
Fire.” (Quran 2:167)
“Surely, those who disbelieve and
did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except
the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever.” (Quran 4:168-169)
“Surely, God has cursed the
disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide
for ever.” (Quran 33:64)
“And whosoever disobeys God and His
Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein
forever.” (Quran 72:23)
The
Keepers of Hell
Mighty and stern angels stand over
Hell who never disobey God. They do precisely as ordered. God says:
“O you who believe, save yourselves
and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are
(appointed) angels, stern and severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands
they receive from God, but do (precisely what) they are commanded.” (Quran
66:6)
They are nineteen keepers of Hell as
God says:
“Soon I will cast him into Hell
Fire. And what will explain to you what is Hellfire? Nothing does it allow to
endure, and nothing does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of
man! Over it are nineteen (angels as keepers of Hell).” (Quran 74:26-30)
One should not think that the
inhabitants of Hell will be able to overcome the keepers of Hell because there
are just nineteen of them. Everyone of them has the strength to subdue all
humanity by himself. These angels are called the Guards of Hell by God in the
Quran:
“And those in the Fire will say to
the Guards of Hell, ‘Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a
day!’” (Quran 40:49)
The name of the chief angel guarding
over Hell is Malik, as mentioned in the Quran:
“Surely, the disbelievers will be in
the torment of Hell to abide therein forever. (The torment) will not be
lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep
regrets, sorrows and in despair therein. We wronged them not, but they were the
wrongdoers. And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He
will say: ‘Surely, you shall abide forever.’ Indeed We have brought the truth
to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Quran 43:74-78)
It’s
Location
There is no exact mention from the
Quran or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad SAWS which pinpoint the location of
Hell. No one knows its exact place except God. Due to some linguistic evidence
and context of certain hadeeth, some scholars have stated that Hell is in the
heavens, yet others say it is in the lower earth.
Its
Size
Hell is huge and immensely deep. We
know this through several ways.
First, innumerable people will enter
Hell, each, as described in a hadeeth, with the molar teeth as large as Uhud (a
mountain in Medina)[1]
The distance between the shoulders of its inhabitants has also been described
as being equivalent to three days of walking.[2]
Hell will house all the unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and
there will still be room for more. God says:
“On the Day when We will say to
Hell: ‘Are you filled?’ It will say, ‘Are there any more (to come)?’” (Quran
50:30)
The Fire of Hell is likened to a
mill that grinds thousands and thousands of tons of grain and then waits for
more to come.
Second, a stone thrown from the top
of Hell will take a very long time to reach the bottom. One of the companions
of the Prophet SAWS, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, describes
how they were sitting with the Prophet SAWS and heard the sound of something
falling. The Prophet SAWS inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed
their lack of knowledge, he said:
“That was a stone thrown into Hell
seventy years ago and it is yet in the way (the other side) of Hell until now.”[3]
Another report states:
“If a stone as big as seven pregnant
camels was thrown from the edge of Hell, it would fly through it for seventy
years, and yet it would not reach the bottom.”[4]
Third, a great many angels will
bring Hell on the Day of Resurrection. God speaks of it:
“And Hell will be brought near that
Day…” (Quran 89:23)
The Prophet SAWS said:
“Hell will be brought forth that Day
by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy
thousand angels.”[5]
Fourth, another report that
indicates the vast size of Hell is that the sun and moon will be rolled up in
Hell on the Day of Resurrection.[6]
Its
Levels
Hell has various levels of heat and
punishment, each is reserved according to the extent of their disbelief and
sins of those being punished. God says:
“Surely, the hypocrites will be in
the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145)
The lower the level of Hell, the
greater is the intensity of heat. Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst
punishment, so will they be in the lowest part of Hell.
God refers to the levels of Hell in
the Quran:
“For all will be (ranked) by degrees
according to what they did.” (Quran 6:132)
“Is one who seeks the good pleasure
of God then like the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His abode is
Hell – and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying grades with
God, and God is All-Seer of what they do.” (Quran 3:162-163)
The
Gates of Hell
God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in
the Quran:
“And surely, Hell is the promised
place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class of
sinners assigned.” (Quran 15:43-44)
Each gate has an allotted share of
the damned who will enter through it. Each will enter according to his deeds
and assigned a level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought to
Hell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it forever:
“And those who disbelieved will be
driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and
its keepers will say, ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves,
reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this
Day of yours?’ They will say, ‘Yes, but the word (meaning the decree) of
punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’” (Quran 39:71)
They will be told after admission:
“Enter the gates of Hell to abide
eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.” (Quran 39:72)
The gates will be shut and there
will be no hope of escape as God says:
“But those who reject Our signs,
they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over
(meaning the gates will be locked).[7]” (Quran 90:19-20)
Furthermore, God says in the Quran:
“Woe to every scorner and mocker,
who collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his wealth
will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what
can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally)
fueled, Which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed
down upon them in extended columns.” (Quran 104:1-9)
The gates of Hell are also closed
before the Day of Judgment. The Prophet of Islam SAWS spoke of them closing in
the month of Ramadan.[8]
Its
Fuel
Stones and stubborn unbelievers make
the fuel of Hell as God says:
“O you who have believed, protect
yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones...”
(Quran 66:6)
“…then fear the Fire, whose fuel is
men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” (Quran 2:24)
Another source of fuel for Hell will
be the pagan gods that were worshipped besides God:
“Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what
you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to
(enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have
come to it, but all are eternal therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)
The
Clothing of its Inhabitants
God tells us that the dress of the
people of Hell will be garments of fire tailored for them:
“…But those who disbelieved will
have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be
scalding water.” (Quran 22:19)
“And you will see the criminals that
Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper)
and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Quran 14:49-50)
The intense heat, food, and drink of
the people of Hell is described in Islamic religious sources.
Its
Heat
God says:
“And the companions of the left –
what are the companions of the left? (They will be) in scorching fire and
scalding water and a shade of black smoke, neither cool nor beneficial.” (Quran
56:41-44)
Everything people use to cool down
in this world – air, water, shade – will be useless in Hell. The air of Hell
will be hot wind and the water will be boiling. The shade will not be
comforting or cooling, the shade in Hell will be the shadow of black smoke as
mentioned in the verse:
“And shadow of black smoke.” (Quran
56:43)
In another passage, God says:
“But he whose balance (of good
deeds) will be light, will have his home in a (bottomless) pit. And what will
explain to you what this is? (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely.” (Quran 101:8-11)
God describes how the shade of
Hell’s smoke will rise above the Fire. The smoke that rises from Hell will be
divided into three columns. Its shade will neither cool nor offer any
protection from the raging Fire. The flying sparks will be like huge castles
similar to string of marching yellow camels:
“Proceed to a shadow (of smoke)
having three columns (but having) no cool shade and availing not against the
flame. Indeed, it throws sparks (as huge) as a fortress, as if they were yellow
camels (marching swiftly).” (Quran 77:30-33)
The Fire consumes everything,
leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin reaching all the way to the bones,
melting the contents of the stomach, leaping up to the hearts, and exposing the
vital organs. God speaks of the intensity and affect of the Fire:
“I will drive him into Hellfire. And
what can make you know what is Hellfire? It lets nothing remain and leaves
nothing (unburned), altering the skins.” (Quran 74:26-29)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“Fire as we know it is one
seventieth part of the Fire of Hell. Someone said, ‘O Messenger of God, it is
enough as it is!’ He said, ‘It is as if sixty-nine equal portions were added to
fire as we know it.’” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
The Fire never extinguishes:
“So taste you (the results of your
evil deeds). No increase shall We give you except in torment.” (Quran 78:30)
“…Whenever it abates, We shall
increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” (Quran 17:97)
The torment will never be reduced
and the unbelievers will not have any break:
“…Their torment shall not be
lightened nor shall they be helped.” (Quran 2:86)
The
Food of its Inhabitants
The food of the people of Hell is
described in the Quran. God says:
“No food will there be for them
except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against
hunger.” (Quran 88:6-7)
The food will neither nourish nor
taste good. It will only serve as a punishment to the people of Hell. In other
passages, God describes the tree of zaqqum, a special food of Hell. Zaqqum
is a repulsive tree, its roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, its branches
stretching all over. Its ugly fruit is like the heads of the devils. He says:
“Indeed, the tree of zaqqum
is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the
boiling of scalding water.” (Quran 44:43-46)
“Is that (Paradise) better as
hospitality or the tree of zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for
the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. And, indeed, they will eat
from it and fill with it their bellies. Then, indeed, they will have after it a
mixture of scalding water. Then, indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.”
(Quran 37:62-68)
“Then indeed you, O those astray
(who are) deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqum and filling with it your
bellies, and drinking on top of it from scalding water, and will drink as the
drinking of thirsty camels. That is their hospitality on the Day of
Recompense.” (Quran 56:51-56)
People of Hell will get so hungry
that they will eat from the obnoxious tree of zaqqum. When they will fill their
bellies with it, it will start to churn like boiling oil causing immense
suffering. At that point they will rush to drink extremely hot water. They will
drink it like thirsty camels, yet it will never quench their thirst. Rather
their internals will be torn. God says:
“…They will be given to drink
boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)
The thorny bushes and zaqqum will
choke them and stick in their throats because of their foulness:
“Surely, with us are fetters (to
bind them) and a ranging Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes and a
penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“If a drop from zaqqum were to land
in this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would rot.
So how must it be for one who must eat it?” (Tirmidhi)
Another food served to the people of
Hell will be festering pus that oozes out of their skin. It is the “juice” of
the people of Hell. God says:
“So no friend has he here this Day,
nor has he any food except filth from the washing of wounds which none do eat
but those in sin.” (Quran 69:35-37)
“This – so let them taste it – is
scalding water and (foul) purulence. And other (punishments) of its type (in
various) kinds.” (Quran 38:57-58)
Lastly, some sinners will be fed
fire from Hell as a punishment. God says:
“Indeed, those who devour the
property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire.”
(Quran 4:10)
“Indeed, they who conceal what God
has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price – those consume not
into their bellies except the Fire.” (Quran 2:174)
Its
Drink
God tells in the Quran about the
drink of people of Hell:
“They will be given to drink boiling
water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)
“…And if they call for relief, they
will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces.
Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.” (Quran 18:29)
“Before him is Hell, and he will be
given a drink of purulent water. He will gulp it but will hardly (be able to)
swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die.
And before him is a massive punishment.” (Quran 14:16-17)
The types of drink people of Hell
will get to drink are as follows:
·Extremely
hot water as God says:
“They will go around between it and
scalding water, heated (to the utmost degree).” (Quran 55:44)
“They will be given drink from a
boiling spring.” (Quran 88:5)
·Flowing
pus from the flesh and skin of an unbeliever. The Prophet SAWS said:
“Anyone who drinks intoxicants will
be made to drink the mud of khabal. They asked, ‘O Messenger of God,
what is the mud of khabal?’ He said, ‘The sweat of the people of Hell’
or the ‘juice of the people of Hell.’” (Saheeh Muslim)
·A
drink like boiling oil described by the Prophet SAWS as:
“It is like boiling oil, when it is
brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it.” (Musnad
Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
The intensity of the fire of Hell
will be such that people will be willing to give up their dearest possessions
to escape it:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and
die while they are disbelievers – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth
in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek to) ransom himself with
it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no
helpers.” (Quran 3:91)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“One of the people of Hell who found
most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of
Resurrection and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked,
‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any
pleasure?’ He will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord.”[1]
Few moments in Hell and the person
will forget all the good times they had. The Prophet of Islam SAWS informs us:
“On the Day of Resurrection, God
will ask the one whose punishment in the Fire is lightest, ‘If you had
whatsoever you wanted on earth, would you give it to save yourself?’ He will
say, ‘Yes.’ God will say, ‘I wanted less than that from you when you were still
in the loins of Adam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me,
but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me.’”[2]
The horror and intensity of the Fire
is enough to make a man lose his mind. He would be willing to give up
everything he holds dear to saved from it, but he never will be. God says:
“The criminal will wish that he
could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife
and his brother, and his nearest kindred who shelter him, and all – all that is
on earth – so it could save him. No! Indeed, it is the Flame (of Hell),
plucking out (his being) tight to the skull!” (Quran 70:11-16)
The punishments of Hell will vary in
degree. The torment of some levels of Hell will be greater than others. People
will be put in a level according to their deeds. The Prophet of Islam SAWS
said:
“There are some whom the Fire will
reach their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and
yet others up to their necks.”[3]
He spoke of the lightest punishment
in Hell:
“The person who will receive the
least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day Resurrection will be a
man, a smoldering ember will be placed under the arch of his foot. His brains
will boil because of it.”[4]
This person will think no one else
is being punished more severely than himself, even though he will be the one
receiving the lightest punishment.[5]
Many verses of the Quran speak of
various levels of punishment for the people of Hell:
“The hypocrites will be in the
lowest depths of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145)
“and on the Day that Judgment will
be established (it will be said to the angels): Cast the people of Pharaoh into
the severest penalty!” (Quran 40:46)
The Fire kindled by God will burn
the skin of the people of Hell. The skin is the largest organ of the body and
the site of sensation where the pain of burning is felt. God will replace the
burnt skin with a new one to be burnt again, and this will keep on repeating:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our
verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted
through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment.
Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 4:56)
Another punishment of Hell is
melting. When super-heated water will be poured on their heads, it will melt
away the internals:
“…poured upon their heads will be
scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and (their) skins.”
(Quran 22:19-20)
Prophet Muhammad SAWS said:
“Super-heated water will be poured
onto their heads and will dissolve through it until it cuts up their innards,
expelling them; until it comes out of their feet, and everything is melted.
Then they will be restored as they were.”[6]
One of the ways God will humiliate
the sinful in Hell is by gathering them on Judgment Day on their faces, blind,
deaf, and dumb.
“and We will gather them on the Day
of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is
Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.” (Quran 17:97)
“And brings an evil deed — such will
be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said), ‘Are you
recompensed for anything but what you used to do?’” (Quran 27:90)
“The Fire will burn their faces and
they will grin therein, their lips displaced.” (Quran 23:104)
“The Day their faces will be turned
over in the Fire, they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed God and obeyed the
Messenger.’” (Quran 33:66)
Another painful punishment of
unbelievers will be getting dragged on their faces into Hell. God says:
“Indeed, the criminals are in error
and madness. The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces (it will be
said), ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’” (Quran 54:47-48)
They will be dragged on their faces
while they are tied in chains and fettered:
“Those who deny the Book (the Quran)
and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know, when the
shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged in boiling
water; then in the Fire they will be filled (with flame).” (Quran 40:70-72)
“On the Day (some) faces will turn
white and (some) faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black.
(to them it will be said), ‘Did you reject faith after your belief? Then taste
the punishment for what you used to reject.’” (Quran 3:106)
Their faces will be such as if the
night has covered them:
“But they who have earned (blame
for) evil doings – the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and
humiliation will cover them. They will have from God no protector. It will be
as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they). Those
are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Quran
10:27)
The Fire will surround the
unbeliever on all sides just as sins surrounded him like a sheet wound around
his body:
“Theirs will be a bed of Fire and
over them coverings (of Fire)…” (Quran 7:41)
“On the Day when the torment (of
Hell) will cover them from above them and from underneath their feet.” (Quran
29:55)
“…and surely Hell will surround the
unbelievers…” (Quran 9:49)
The Fire of Hell will leap up to the
hearts. The Fire will penetrate their super-sized bodies and reach the
innermost depths:
“No! He will surely be thrown into
the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of
God, (eternally) fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts.” (Quran 104:4-7)
The Fire will split the entrails as
mentioned by the Prophet SAWS:
“A man will be brought on the Day of
Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out
into the Fire and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in
a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, ‘O so-and-so,
what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do
wrong?’ He will say, ‘I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it and I
used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it myself.’ Then he will walk
around and around like a donkey in a treadmill.”[1]
God has described the chains, yokes,
and fetters of Hell. They will be tied up with chains and dragged with yokes on
their necks:
“for the rejecters We have prepared
iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire.” (Quran 76:4)
“With Us are fetters (to bind them),
and a Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous.”
(Quran 73:12-13)
“We will put yokes on the necks of
the unbelievers. It would only be requital for their evil deeds.” (Quran 34:33)
“when yokes will be put round their
necks and the chains, they will be dragged along.” (Quran 40:71)
“(The stern command will say): seize
him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in
a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Quran 69:30-32)
The pagan gods and all other deities
that were worshipped besides God who people thought will be their intercessors
with God and bringing them closer to Him will be thrown into Hell with them.
This will be to humiliate and demonstrate that these false gods have no power,
“Indeed, you (disbelievers), and
that which you worship other than God,[2] are but fuel for Hell. Verily, you
will enter it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not
have entered there, but all will eternally abide therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)
When the unbeliever will see Hell,
he will be filled with remorse, but it will not be of any benefit:
“And they will feel regret when they
see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be
wronged.” (Quran 10:54)
The unbeliever will pray for his
death when they sense its heat,
“And when they are thrown into a
narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for
destruction. (They will be told), ‘Do not cry this Day for one destruction but
cry for much destruction.’” (Quran 25:13-14)
Their screams will get louder and
they will call onto God hoping He will take them out of Hell:
“And they will cry out therein, ‘Our
Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness – other than what we were doing!’”
(Quran 35:37)
They will realize theirs sins and
the error of stubborn disbelief:
“And they will say, ‘If only we had
been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the
Blaze.’ And they will admit their sin, so (it is) alienation for the companions
of the Blaze.” (Quran 67:10-11)
Their prayers will be rejected:
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our
wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from
it, and if we were to return (to evil), we would indeed be wrongdoers.’ He will
say, ‘Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.’” (Quran 23:106-108)
After that, they will call the
keepers of Hell asking them to intercede to God on their behalf for reduction
in torment:
“And those in the Fire will say to
the keepers of Hell, ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the
punishment.’ They will say, ‘Did there not come to you your messengers with
clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They will reply, ‘Then supplicate
(yourselves), but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in
error.’” (Quran 40:49-50)
Their will even plead for their own
destruction to relieve themselves of the pain:
“And they will call, ‘O Malik, let
your Lord put an end to us!’ He will say, ‘Indeed, you will remain.’” (Quran
43:77)
They will be told the punishment
will never be reduced, it is eternal:
“Then be patient or impatient – it
is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed for what you used to
do.’” (Quran 52:16)
They will weep for a long time:
“So let them laugh a little and then
weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.” (Quran 9:82)
They will weep until no tears are
left, then that they will weep blood, which will leave its traces as described
by the Prophet SAWS:
“The people of Hell will be made to
weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left. Then they will weep
blood until they have, as it were, channels in their faces, if ships were put
in them, they would float.”[3]
As you have seen, the descriptions
of Hell in the Islamic scripture are clear and graphic, as are the descriptions
of the people who deserve their fate therein. Such is the clarity that any
person who believes in Judgment Day and the eternal destinies of the Hereafter
must be motivated to at least try not to be of the people thrown inside. The
best, and really only, way of avoiding this fate is to seriously search into
the true religion God has mandated for humanity. A person should never follow a
religion merely because it was that which he was “born into”, nor should they
take religion to be a new age fashion. Rather, they should look into the truth
about this world and the life to come, and be sure that they have prepared for
that judgment from which there is no return, by living a life and system of
belief revealed and unchanged from the One High Above.
[2]Ibn Katheer, in his tafsir,
explains that pious people and prophets from before, who were taken for gods by
later generations without their consent, are not included as ‘fuel for the
fire’. Only the people who‘ liked to be worshipped’ by their worshippers
will be thrown therein, along ‘with the ones who worshipped him’ and
other non-animate idols. Of people like Jesus, the Quran says: “Those for
whom good has preceded from Us will be far removed there-from …” (Quran 21:101)
