Description of Hell

1-The Location of Hell.
The scholars differ as to where Hell is located at present. Some say that it is in the lower earth, others say that it is in the heavens, and yet others refrain from discussing the matter at all. This last group is correct, because there are no sound and clear reports that define the location of Hell. 

Hell is huge and vast and immensely deep, as is proven by several things; 

(i) Those who will enter Hell are innumerable. Hell will accommodate the huge number of Kuffar (unbelievers) 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 be said; “ Are there any more [to come]?”” (50; 30) 

 In the Hadeeth 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 whomever I will.’ Both Paradise and Hell will be filled, but Hell will not be filled until Allah places His foot in it. In another version it says; Until, Allah, the Glory and All-High, will put His leg and it will say ‘Enough, enough!’ Then it will be filled, and its different parts will come closer to one another. Allah will not wrong any of His creation.” [Bukhari and Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra)].

 

(ii) Another indication of its vast depth is the fact that a stone thrown from the top of Hell takes very long time to reach the bottom. Muslim reports that Abu Hurairah (ra) said; “ We were with the Messenger of Allah (saw), and we heard the sound of something falling.The Prophet Muhammad (saw) 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 is yet in the way in (to reach the other side of the) Hell until now.’”

 

(iii) Great number of angels will bring Hell forth on the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger of Allah (saw) described how Hell will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, concerning which Allah (swt) said; 

“ And Hell will be brought near that Day ” [89;23]

 

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said ; “ Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousands ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousands angels.” [Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdallah ibn Mas’ood]

 

(iv) Another indication of the vastness of Hell is the fact that two great creations like the sun and the moon till be two rolled-up bulls in Hell. Abu Hurairah (ra) told us that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said; “ The sun and the moon will be like two rolled-up bulls in Hell on the Day of Resurrection.”  This Hadeeth is sound according to the conditions of Bukhari.  

There are variations in the degrees of heat in Hell, and in the levels of punishment which Allah (swt) has prepared for it inhabitants. There is no just one level, 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. 

 

Allah, The All-Glorious, refers to levels of Paradise and Hell in the Qur’an; 

 

“ For all there will be degrees [or ranks] according to what they did…” (6;132)

 

“ Is then one who follows [seeks] the good Pleasure of Allah like the one who draws on himself the Wrath f Allah! His abode is Hell – and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying grades with Allah, and Allah is All-Seer of what they do.” (3; 162-163).

4- The Gates of Hell.
Allah (swt), has told us that Hell has seven gates, as 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 Katheer, commenting on this ayah, said; ‘ This means that each gate has been allotted its share of the followers of Iblees (Satan) who will enter it, and they will not be able to avoid it. May Allah protect us from it. Each will enter a gate according to his deeds, and will be assigned a level of Hell according to his deeds.’

 

When the disbelievers will be brought to Hell, it gates will be opened, and they will enter, to remain forever therein,  Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an “ 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 Lord, 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]

After they are admitted, they will be told; “ ….Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And [indeed] what an evil abode of the arrogant!.”  [39;72]

 

The gates of Hell may be opened and close before the Day of Judgement. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) told us that the gates of Hell are locked during the month of Ramadhan. Aby Hurairah (ra) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said; “ When the first night of Ramadhan comes, the Shayateen and devils are chained up. The gates of Hell are closed, and not one of them is opened.The gates of Paradise are opened, and not one of them is closed.” [Tirmidhi]

 

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] 

 

What is mean by the people who will be fuel for the Fire is the disbelievers and polytheists. As for the type of stone that will fuel the Fire, Allah (swt) knows best what it really is. Some of the pious predecessors (salaf) thought that this stone is brimstone or sulphur. ‘Abdallah ibn Mas’ood said; “ It is a stone of sulphur, which Allah created in the first heaven, the day He created the heavens and he earth, and prepared it for the disbelievers.” (Reported by a group)

 

Allah (swt) says “ 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] pleasant.” (56; 41-44)

 

This verse includes all the things that people avail themselves of this world when it is too hot; these three things are; water, air and shade. But the verse states that these things will be of no help whatsoever to the people of Hell. The air of Hell is As-Samoom, which is an intensely hot wind; its water is Al-Hameem, boiling water; its shade is Al-Yahmoom, which is a part of the smoke of Hell.

 

Just as this verse emphasizes the horrifying position of those on the Left Hand, wo are the people of Hell, another verse emphasizes the horror of Hell itself. Allah (swt) says ; “ But he whose balance [of good deeds] will be [found] light, will have his home in a [bottomless] pit. And what will explain to you what this is? [It is] a Fire blazing fiercely!”  (101; 8-11)

 

Shade usually makes one feel cool and comfortable, and people love to feel it, but this shade (in Hell) will neither cool nor pleasant; it is the shadow of black smoke. Derived from the verse in the Qur’an “ And shadow of black smoke.” ( 56;  43)

 

Allah The Exalted, explained how strong this Fire is , and how it affects  the torment; “Soon will I cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you exactly what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to tolerate, and naught does it leave done! 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, mounting to the hearts and exposing what is innermost and vitals. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said “ Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell.” Someone said, “ O Messenger of Allah, it is enough as it is!” He (saw) said, “ It (the Fire of Hell) is as if sixty-nine equal portions were added to fire we know it.” [Al- Bukhari]

 

Bukhari and Muslim report from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “ When it becomes very hot, wait until it cools down to pray, because the intense heat is a breeze from Hell.”

7- Hell speaks and Sees.

Whoever reads the descriptions of Hell in the Qur’an and the hadeeths will discover that it is a creation that can see, speak and complain. The Qur’an tells us that Hell will be able to see its people from afar when they are coming towards it, and it will start to utter terrifying cries that will indicate how much anger and hatred it feels towards these evildoers; 

Allah says in the Qur’an “ When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring.” [ 25; 12 ]

 

Ibn Jareer reports that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “ A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will shrink into itself. Allah will say; ‘ What is the matter with you?’ It will say, ‘ He is seeking refuge with you from me.’ Allah will say, ‘ Release My Slave .’ Another man will be dragged towards Hell, and he will say, ‘O’ my Lord, I did not expect this of You.’ Allah will say, ‘ What did you expect?’ He will say, ‘ That Your mercy would extend to me too.’ Allah will say, ‘ Release My slave.’ Another man will be dragged towards Hell, and it will send out a blast of air like a mule snorting (sniffing) at a camel, then it will take in a blast of air, and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him.” 

Ibn Katheer said that the isnaad of this report is Saheeh. (Sound)

 

Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that  the Prophet Muhammad (saw) 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 deity other than Allah, and those who made pictures.’” (Tirmidhi stated that this hadeeth was Saheeh)  

 

Bukhari and Muslim report that ibn ‘Umar said; “ I saw in a dream that two angels came to me. Each of them was holding a whip of iron in his hand. Then I met (another) angel who was also holding a whip of iron in his hand. They said, ‘ Do not worry, you are a good man, we just wish that you prayed more at night.’ They took me to the edge of Hell, which looked like a well with horns; between every two horns stood an angel holding a whip of iron. I saw men hanging upside down, held with chains, and I recognized some men of Quraysh. Then they led me away, towards the right. I told Hafsah (ra) about my dream, and she told the Messenger of Allah (saw), who said, ‘Abdullah is a righteous man.’” 

 

We know that our Prophet Muhammad (saw) saw Hell, just as he saw Paradise during his lifetime. Bukhari and Muslim report from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said concerning Salaat al-Khusoof (the eclipse prayer); “ I saw Paradise, and I reached out to take a bunch of its fruits. If I had managed to do so, you would have eaten from it until the end of the world. And I saw Hell, I never saw anything more terrifying. I saw the most of its inhabitants are women.” 

 

Muslim reports from Jaabir (ra) that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “ Paradise and Hell were shown to me. Paradise was brought close to me that I tried to take fruit from it, but I could not reach it. Hell was shown to me, and was brought so close to me that I stepped back for fear that it would touch me. I saw a Himyari woman who was tall and black, being punished  on account of a cat that she owned; she had tied it up, not giving it anything to eat or drink, nor let it go to eat of the vermin of the earth. I also saw Abu Thumaamah ‘Umar ibn Maalik being dragged by his trachea through Hell.’” 

 

After people die they are shown, in Barzakh (the period between death and Judgement), their position in Paradise (if they are believers) or Hell (if they are disbelievers).

 

 

Bukhari reports that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said; “ Hell complained to its Lord, saying, ‘O’ my Lord, some parts of me have consumed others.’ He thus allowed it to exhale twice, once in winter and once in summer. That is why you find extreme heat (in the summer) and extreme cold (in the winter).’”

 

Bukhari also narrated from Abu Sa’eed (ra) that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “ Delay your prayers until it cools down, for the intensity of heat is from the exhaled air of Hell.” 

 

Here we have come to an end of the Descriptions of Hell, We seek refuge in Allah against what Allah has preserved for the evil-doers in the Hell-Fire.

May Allah raise us among the Pious.

Ameen!

Written by Br. Ayaz Housee - 2003