Hell In Islam - Graphical Descriptions
Part 2 of 2
The Food of Hell
“No food will there be for them except bitter dhari (a thorny plant), which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger.”
[Surah al-Ghashiyah, 88: 6-7]
“Verily, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinful. Like molten brass it will boil in their insides like the boiling of scalding water.”
[ad-Dukhan, 44: 43-46]
“Is that (Paradise) the better hospitality or the tree of Zaqqum? For We have truly made it as a torment for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottoms of Hellfire; the shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils. Truly they will eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture of boiling water.”
[as-Saffat, 37: 62-67).
“Then will you truly –O you who have gone astray an denied – you will surely eat of the trees of Zaqqum. Then will you fill your stomachs with it and drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink like diseased camels, raging with thirst. Such will be their hospitality on the Day of Requital.”
[al-Qaqi’ah, 56: 51-56]
“With Us are yokes (to bind them) and fire (to burn them) and food that chokes and a grievous punishment.”
[al-Muzzammil, 73: 12-13]
“So he has no friend here this Day, nor does he have any food except what comes from the washing of wounds, which none will eat except the sinners.”
[al Haqqah, 69: 35-37]
“Thus, All this. But indeed for the oppressors will be an evil place of final return. It is Hellfire – they will burn therein, and how evil is that bed, Thus, then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 55-58]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited the following verse: ‘Fear Allah with the fear due to Him, and do not die except as Muslims.’ Then he said, ‘If a drop of Zaqqum would have fallen into a house in this world, it would have spoiled all the provisions of the people of this world. Then how will it be with one whose food it has become?’”
[at-Tirmidhi, Surah ali'-Imran, 3: 102]
“Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans are only eating fire into their bellies. They will soon be driven into a blazing fire.”
[an-Nisa, 4: 10]
“Truly, those who conceal what Allah has revealed from the scripture and exchange it for a small price – they are not taking into their stomachs except fire. Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Judgment, and He will not purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.”
[al-Baqarah, 2: 174]
The Drinks of Hell
Hameem (Boiling Water):
“Here is a parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised. In it are rivers of water, incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, delicious to those who drink; and rivers of honey, pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord [Can those in such bliss] be compared to such as will dwell forever in the Fire and be given boiling water to drink that will cut up their bowels?”
[Muhammad, 47: 15]
“This is the Hell which the criminals deny. They will go back and forth between it and boiling hot water.”
[ar-Rahman, 55: 43-44]
“Thus. Then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 57-58]
“Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming Event? Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated, laboring hard, weary. They will be driven into a blazing fire. They will be given drink from a boiling spring.”
[al-Ghashiyah, 88: 1-5]
“To Him will be your return all of you. The promise of Allah is true. It is He who begins the process of creation and repeats it that HE may reward those who believe and work righteousness with justice. But those who reject Him will have a drink of boiling fluids and a painful punishment because of their rejection.”
[Yunus, 10: 4]
“Then will you truly – O you who have gone astray and denied – you will surely eat of the trees of Zaqqum. Then will you fill your stomachs with it and drink boiling water on top of it, and you will drink like diseased camels raging with thirst. Such will be their hospitality on the Day of Requital.”
[al Waqi’ah, 56: 51-56]
“Truly they will eat from it and fill their bellies with it. Then on top of that they will be given a mixture of boiling water. Then their return will be to Hellfire.”
[as Saffat, 37: 66-68]
Ghassaq (a Fluid of pus & blood which has oozed from their skins)
“Thus, then will they taste it – a boiling fluid and a filthy fluid of pus and blood and other penalties of a similar kind to match them.”
[Sad, 38: 57-58]
“In front of him is Hell, and he is given pus to drink. He will gulp it but will hardly be able to swallow it, and death will come to him from every place, yet, he will not die. And in front of him will be a heavy punishment.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 16-17]
Water Like Molten Brass:
“Say, The Truth is from your Lord, so let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject it.’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls surround them. If they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink. How evil the resting place.”
[al Kahf, 18: 29]
The Garments of Hell
Garments from Fire:
“These two opponents dispute with each other about their Lord. But those who disbelieve will have garments of fire cut out for them. Over their heads will be poured boiling water.”
[al Hajj, 22: 19]
Garments from Black Pitch:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes- their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with fire.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 49-50]
Beds and Bedcovers of Hell
“They will have from Hellfire a bed and over them from it coverings. Thus do We reward the unjust.”
[al-Araf, 7: 41]
“It may be that your Lord may show mercy unto you, but if you revert to your sins. We will revert to Our punishments. And We have made Hell a mat for the disbelievers.”
[al Isra', 17: 8]
Yokes, Chains and Maces
“Do you not see those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah – how they are turned away from truth? Those who reject the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – soon they will know. When the yokes will be round their necks and the chains. They will be dragged in the boiling water. Then in the Fire they will be burned.”
[Ghafir, 40: 69-72]
“They will conceal their regret when they see the penalty. And We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?”
[Saba, 34: 33]
“For the disbelievers We have prepared chains, yokes and a blazing fire.”
[al Insan, 76: 4]
“With Us are yokes to bind them and fire to burn them.”
[al Muzzammil, 73: 12]
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes.”
[Ibrahim, 14: 49]
“It will be commanded, ‘Seize him and bind him. Then drive him into the Hellfire. Then in a chain whose length is seventy cubits bind him.’ For indeed, he would not believe in Allah, Most Great, and would not encourage the feeding of the poor. So he has no friend here this Day.”
[al Haqqah, 69: 30-35]
“And for them are maces of iron to punish them. Every time they wish to get out from it and from anguish, they will be returned to it, and it will be said, ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!’”
[al Hajj, 22: 21-22]
Variance in Degree of Penalties
“Indeed the hypocrites are in the lowest depths of the Fire; you will find no helper for them.”
[an Nisa, 4: 145]
“The Fire – they will be exposed to it morning and evening, and on the Day, that judgment will be established [it will be said], ‘Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 46]
“Those who disbelieved and hindered [mankind] from the path of Allah – We will increase them in punishment over [their] punishment, for they used to spread corruption.”
[an Nahl, 16: 88]
Samurah bin Jundub (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There will be some to whose ankles the fire will reach, some to whose knees the fire will reach, some to whose waists the fire will reach, and some to whose collarbones the fire will reach.”
[Muslim]
Nu’man bin Basheer (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Verily, of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be one who will have a pair of sandals and s traps of fire. His brain will boil from them as a kettle boils. He does not see that anyone is suffering a punishment more severe than him, while he is the one with the easiest punishment.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Of the inmates of the Fire, the one with the easiest punishment will be Abu Talib; he will be wearing a pair of shoes which will cause his brain to boil.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Examples of Punishments
“No, but stain has covered their hearts from that which they have earned. Verily, they will be concealed [and prevented] from their Lord that Day. Then they will enter Hellfire. Then it will be said to them, ‘This is [the reality] which you used to deny.’”
[al Mutaffifeen, 83: 14-17]
Skins Will be Roasted:
“Those who have disbelieved in Our signs – We will burn them in fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We will exchange them for other skins so that they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”
[Surah an-Nisa, 4: 56]
Skins and Intestines will be Scalded:
“These two opponents dispute [with each other] about their Lord. But those who disbelieve will have garments of fire cut out for them. Over their heads will be poured boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bellies as well as [their] skins.”
[al-Hajj, 22: 19-20]
Faces will be Burned:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in chains and yokes – their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with fire.”
[Surah Ibrahim, 14: 49-50]
“But those who scales [of good] are light, those are the ones who have lost their souls; [they will abide] in Hell eternally. The fire will burn, their faces, and they will [appear to] grin therein, their lips displaced.”
[al Mu’minun, 23: 103-104]
“If only the unbelievers knew [about] when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor from their backs, and [that] they will not be helped. No, but it will come to them suddenly and confound them. And they will not be able to avert it, nor will they be given respite.”
[al Anbiya, 21: 39-40]
“The Day that their faces will be turned from side to side in the fire, they will say, ‘We wish that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.’”
[al-Ahzab, 33: 66]
“Is, then, one who will confront with his face the evil of the punishment on the Day of Judgment [like one protected from it]? It will be said to the wrong-doers, ‘Taste what you used to earn.’”
[az-Zumar, 39: 24]
Sinners will be Dragged:
“Truly, the criminals are in error and madness. The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, [they will hear], ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’”
[al Qamar, 54: 47-48]
“Do you not see those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah – how they are turned away [from truth]? Those who reject the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – soon they will know. When the yokes [will be] round their necks and the chains. They will be dragged in the boiling water. Then in the Fire they will be burned.”
[Surah Ghafir, 40: 69-72]
Faces will Be Darkened:
“Do not be like those who are divided among themselves and fall into disputes after receiving clear proofs, for those will have a great punishment on the Day when some faces will be white and some faces will be black. As for those who faces are black, [it will be said], ‘Did you reject faith after accepting it? Taste, then, the punishment for what you used to reject.’”
[ali'-Imran, 3: 105-106]
“For those who do good is good – and extra! No darkness or shame will cover their faces. They are companions of the Garden. They will abide in it forever. But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil; humiliation will cover their faces. They will have no defender from [the wrath of] Allah. Their faces will be covered with pieces of the darkness of night. They are the companions of the Fire. They will abide in it forever.”
[Yunus, 10: 26-27]
Fire will Surround Them from All Directions:
“On the Day that the punishment will cover them from above them and below them, layers. With this Allah warns His servants, ‘O my servants, then fear Me!’”
[az-Zumar, 39: 16]
“Say, ‘The Truth is from your Lord, so let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject [it].’ Indeed We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls surround them. If they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink. How evil the resting place.”
[al Kahf, 18: 29]
Fire will Mount Right up to the Hearts:
“[It is] the fire of Allah kindled [to a blaze], which mounts right to the hearts. It will be a vault over them in outstretched columns.”
[al Humazah, 104: 6-9]
Intestines will come out of Bellies:
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) stated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw ‘Amr bin ‘Amir al Khuya’I dragging his intestines in the Fire; he was the first who dedicated animals to false deities.”
[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“I saw ‘Amr bin Luhayy bin Qam’a bin Khindif, brother of Bani Ka’b, dragging his intestines in the Fire.”
[Muslim]
Abu Zayd Usamah bin Zayd bin Harithah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“On the Day of Judgment a man will be brought and thrown into Hell. As a result of this, his intestines will come out of his belly, and he will circumambulate, holding his intestines like a donkey running a mill. His companions in Hell will say to him, ‘O so and so, what is this? Did you not ask people to do good and avoid evil?’ He will say, ‘That is true. However, I told others to do good but did not do it myself, and I forbade them to do evil, but did it myself.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]
No Defense:
“Upon you, [O jinn and mankind], will be sent a flame of fire [to burn] and [molten] brass. You will have no defense!”
[ar-Rahman, 55: 35]
Weeping, Sighing and Sobbing of Its Inhabitants:
“Those who are wretched will be in the Fire. In it there will be for them the sound of exhaling and inhaling. They will dwell in it for all the time that the heavens and earth endure, except for what your Lord wills. For your Lord is the sure accomplisher of what He intends.”
[Hud, 11: 106-107]
“Verily, you [unbelievers] and what you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hellfire. You will surely come to it. If those had [truly] been gods, they would not have come to it. But all will abide therein eternally. There, for them will be heaving, deep signs, and they will not hear there [anything else].”
[al Anbiya, 21: 98-100]
“Therein they will cry out [for assistance], ‘Our Lord, remove us [and ] we will work righteousness – other than what we used to do.’ But did We not give you long enough life that whoever would be reminded therein could be reminded, and the warner had come to you? So taste [the result of your deeds]. There is no helper for the wrongdoers.”
[Fatir, 35: 37]
Regret, Grief and Self-Recrimination:
“They will conceal their regret when they see the penalty. And We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?”
[Saba, 34: 33]
“For those who reject their Lord is the penalty of Hell, and evil is such a destination. When they are cast therein, they will hear the terrible drawing in of its breath even as it blazes forth. It is almost bursting with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keepers will ask, ‘Did no warner come to you?’ They will say, ‘Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has revealed nothing. You are but in great delusion.’ And they will say, ‘Had we listened or used our intelligence, we would not now be among the companions of the Blazing Fire.’ So they will confess their sin, but far will be forgiveness from the companions of the Blazing Fire.”
[al Mulk, 67: 6-11]
“If only you could see when the criminals hang their heads before their Lord, [saying], ‘Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so sent us back [to the world]; we will work righteousness, for we are indeed certain [now].’ If We had willed, We could certainly have brought every soul its guidance, but the Word will be realized: ‘I will fill Hell with jinn and men all together. Taste, then- for you forgot the meeting of this, your Day, We, [too], will forget you. And the taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do.’”
[as Sajdah, 32: 12-14]
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from this; if ever we return [to evil], then we will indeed be wrongdoers.’ He will say, ‘Remain humiliated therein, and do not speak to Me!’”
[al Mu'minun, 23: 106-108]
“For We had certainly sent unto them a Book which We had detailed with knowledge, a guide and a mercy to a people who believe. Are they waiting for it to be realized? On the Day it is realized, those who disregarded it before will say, ‘Indeed, the messengers of our Lord came with the truth. Are there no intercessors [now] to intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back to do other than we used to do?’ They will have lost their souls, and lost from them is [all] that which they used to invent.”
[al-A’raf, 7: 52-53]
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, you have made us lifeless twice and You have given us life twice. Now we have confessed our sins, so is there any way to get out?’ [The answer will be], ‘That is because when Allah was invoked alone you rejected [this], but if partners were associated with Him, you believed. The ruling [judgment] is with Allah, the Exalted, Most Great.’”
[Ghafir, 40: 11-12]
“How clearly they will see and hear the Day that they will come to Us. But the unjust today are in manifest error. But warn them of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be determined; yet, they are unmindful, and they do not believe.”
[Maryam, 19: 38-39]
Abu Sa’eed (radiAllahu anhu) reported: “Allah Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘Death will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a white-colored ram. [Abu Kurayb added: “Then it will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell.”] It will be said to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Do you recognize this?” They will stretch forth their necks and look towards it, saying, ‘Yes, it is death.” Then it will be said to the inhabitants of the Hellfire, ‘Do you recognize this?” And they will stretch forth their necks, look, and say, ‘Yes it is death.” Then the command will be given for slaughtering the ram, and it will be said, ‘O inhabitants of Paradise, [there is now] eternity and no death.” And then it will be said to the inhabitants of Hellfire, “O inhabitants of Hell, [there is now] eternity and no death.”’ Allah’s Messenger (SAW) then recited the following verse, pointing with his hand to this material world: ‘But warn them of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be determined; yet, they are unmindful, and they do not believe.’”
[Muslim, surah Maryam, 19: 39]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) related that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“None will enter Paradise except that he will be shown the place that he would have occupied in Hellfire if he had been evil – so that he will be more thankful; each one of those who enter Hellfire will be shown the place that he would have occupied in Paradise if he had been good – so that he will increase in regret.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Conclusion
As you will have gathered by now, we have been talking about Jahannam (Hell).
It is most important that we study the Holy Quraan and Seerah - Lifestyle of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam to know how to lead our lives in this temporary material world, to be successful in the Hereafter, and to be able to safeguard ourselves from Jahannam!
'Oh Allah! Save us all from Jahannam - Ameen!'
'Truly Hell is a place of ambush.
For the transgressors a place of dwelling.
They will abide therein for ages.
Nothing cool shall they taste therein, Nor any drink.
Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges.
An exact recompense (according to their crimes).
For that they used not to look for any account.
But they (impudently) treated Our signs as false.
And all things have We preserved on record.
So taste ye (the fruits of your deeds);
For no increase shall We grant you;
Except in Chastisement.'
(Surah An-Nabaa: 21-30)
