1. HELL & ITS TORMENT

Question :

Can you list in details the Hell and its torment?

Answer :

We exactly can’t imagine the type, severity and number of punishment in Hell but list some of them which are either mentioned in Quran or Hadiths.

Muslim, Abu Dawud and Imaam Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger (saw) said,

"When Allah (swt) created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibreel to Paradise, saying "Go and look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants". So he went and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants.... then He sent him to Hellfire saying, "Go and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants" So he looked at it and saw that it was in layers, one above the other...."

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Ibn 'Abbas the same incident, "I saw Paradise and I tried to take a bunch of its fruit. If I had managed to do so, you would have eaten from it until the end of time. And I saw the Fire of Hell, and I have never seen anything so horrific or terrifying. I saw that the majority of its inhabitants are women."

Muslim also reports from Anas that the Prophet (Saw) said, "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you had seen what I saw, you would laugh little and cry much." They said, "What did you see, O Messenger of Allah?", He said, "I saw Paradise and Hell".

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim also report from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "When anyone of you dies, he will be shown his position morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise then he will be one of the people of Paradise, and if he is one of the people of Hell, then he will be one of the people of Hell, and he will be told, "This is your position, until Allah (swt) resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection".

Hell will be brought as The Prophet (saw) said,  "Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels." (Muslim from 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ud)

HELL  DESCRIPTION

(1) Those who will enter Hell are innumerable, yet one of them will be so huge that his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud, and the distance between his shoulders will be equivalent to three days walking.

(2) Another indication of its vast depth is the fact that a stone thrown from the top of Hell takes a very long time to reach the bottom. Muslim reports that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said:  "We were with the Messenger of Allah (saw) and we heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet (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 was falling through Hell until now". (Muslim)

The Levels of Hell

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. Many aayaat confirm the different levels of punishment that will be given to the people of Hell: As Allah says:  "Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths [grade] of the Fire...." (An-Nisa 4:145)

"Those who reject Allah and hinder [men] from the Path of Allah, for them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief [or corruption]". (An Nahl 16:88)

Al-Qurtubi said, "This topic indicates that the kufr of the person who simply disbelieves is not like the kufr of a person who oppresses, disbelieves, rebels and disobeys. There is no doubt that the kuffaar will suffer different levels of punishment in hell, as is known from Qur'an and Sunnah. We know for certain that the punishment of those who oppressed and killed the Prophets and Muslims, and spread corruption and disbelief on earth, will not be the same as the punishment of those who simply disbelieved, but treated the Prophets and Muslims well. Do you not see Abu Taalib, how the Prophet (Saw) will bring him up to a shallow level of Hell, because he helped him, protected him and treated him well? The hadith narrated by Muslim from Samurah may be interpreted as referring to the kuffaar, as there is a hadith about Abu Taalib, or it may be interpreted as referring to those monotheists who will be punished". (at-Tadhkirah, p. 409)

Ibn Rajab said, "Know that the different levels of punishment suffered by the people of Hell will be according to the levels of their deeds for which they entered Hell". Then he quotes the evidence for that, such as the words of Ibn 'Abbaas, "The punishment of those who were extreme in their disbelief and spread corruption on earth, calling others to kufr, will not be like the punishment of those who did not do such things".

Then Ibn Rajab says, "Similarly, the punishments of the monotheists in Hell will be at different levels, according to their deeds. The punishment of those who were guilty of major sins (kabaa'ir) will not be like that of those who were guilty of minor sins (saghaa'ir). The punishment may be reduced for some of them because of other good deeds, or for whatever reason Allah (swt) wills. Hence some of them may die in the Fire". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p. 142-143)

The Gates of Hell

Allah has told us that Hell has seven gates, as He (swt) said: "And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all" (43) It [Hell] has seven gates, for each of these gates is a [special] class [of sinners] assigned". (Al-Hijr 15:43-44)

Abu Hurayrah said the Prophet (saw) said: "When the first night of Ramadhan comes, the Shayaateen and evil jinns 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."

Their number of Hell Keepers is nineteen as Allah (swt) says:  "And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire, and We have fixed their numbers [19] only as a trial for the disbelievers.." (Al-Muddathir 74:31)

This number was a challenge to the kuffaar who thought that they would easily overcome such a small number, but they did not realise that one of these angels has the strength to confront the whole of mankind on his own. For this reason, Allah (swt) said in the next aayah:

Fuel of Hell

"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones!...." (At Tahreem 66:6)

Another fuel for the Fire will be the gods, which were worshipped instead of Allah (swt): "Certainly! You [disbelievers] and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are [but] fuel for Hell! [Surely] you will enter it (98) Had these [idols etc] been aaliha [gods] they would not have entered there [Hell] and all of them will abide therein." (Al-Anbiya 21:98-99)

The air of Hell is al-Sumoom, 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

The Qur'an tells us that this shade is the smoke of Hell which rises above the Fire: "Depart you to a shadow [of smoke ascending] in three columns (30), [which yields] no shade of coolness and is of no use against the Fierce Blaze" (31). Indeed! It [Hell] throws about sparks [huge] as forts (32), as if there were [a string of] yellow camels [marching swiftly]." (Al-Mursalat 77:30-33)

The Fire consumes all, destroying everything and leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin, reaching to the bone, melting the contents of the stomach and exposing what is innermost.

The Prophet (saw) told us: "Fire as we know it is one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell." Someone said, "O Messenger of Allah (saw), it is enough as it is!" He said, "It [the fire of Hell] is as if sixty nine equal portions were added to the fire as we know it." (Al-Bukhaari)

This Fire never dies down, no matter how much time passes: "So taste you [the results of your evil actions]; no increase shall We give you, except in torment".(An-Naba 78:30)

"...whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire". (Al-Isra 17:97)

Hell can Speak and See

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: "When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring". (Al-Furqan 25:12)

Ibn Jareer reports that Ibn 'Abbaas said:  "A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will shrink into itself. Allah (swt) will say: "What is the matter with you?" It will say, "He is seeking refuge with you from me". He will say, "Release My slave". Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him". (Ibn Katheer quoted this report in an-Nihaayah, 2/21, and said that its isnaad is saheeh).

Imaam Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (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 some deity other than Allah (swt) and those who made pictures"

The people of Hell and their evil deeds

1. The People Who Will Abide Therein Forever

The people of Hell who will abide therein forever, never leaving it and never dying, are the disbelievers and polytheists. Allah (swt) says: "But those who reject Allah, for them will be the Fire of Hell. No term shall be determined for them, so they should die, nor shall its penalty be lightened for them". (Fatir 35:36)

The people of Hell who will abide therein forever, never leaving it and never dying, are the disbelievers and polytheists. Allah (swt) says: "Verily those who reject faith and die rejecting - on them is Allah's Curse and the Curse of the Angels and of all mankind (161) They will abide therein: their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their lot." (Al-Baqarah 2:161-162)

Because they will abide therein forever, Allah (swt) described the torment of Hell as a lasting torment, one that will never end, one that is eternal: "Their wish will be to get out of the Fire, but never will they get out therefrom: their Penalty will be one that endures". (Al-Maidah 5:37)

Death will be slaughtered, as is stated in the hadith narration from Ibn 'Umar by al-Bukhaari and in Muslim from Abu Sa'eed who said: "The Messenger of Allah of Allah (saw) said: "Death will be brought like a horned ram, and will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell". It will be said, "O people of Paradise, do you know what this is?" They will raise their heads and look, and will say, "Yes, this is death". It will be said, "O people of Hell, do you know what this is?" They will raise their heads and look, and will say, "Yes, this is death". Then the command will be given for death to be slaughtered. Then it will be said, "O people of Paradise, it is eternal, there is no death. O people of Hell, it is eternal, there is no death". Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) recited: "And warn them of the Day of Grief and regrets when the case has been decided, while [now] they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not". (Maryam 19:39)

2. Hell will be the Dwelling Place of the Kuffar and Mushrikeen

Because the disbelievers and polytheists will remain in Hell forever, it is considered to be their abode or dwelling place, just as Paradise is the abode of the believers:"....Their abode will be the Fire; and evil is the home of the wrongdoers" (Aale-Imran 3:151)

"Their abode is the Fire, because of the [evil] they earned". (Younus 10:8)

3. Those Who Call Others to Hell

Those who follow misguided beliefs and ideologies that contradict the laws of Allah (Swt) and those who believe in their false causes, these are the ones who call others to Hell: "And We made them [but] leaders inviting to the Fire; and on the Day of Judgement no help shall they find".  (Al-Qasas 28:41)

One of them is Shaytaan: "He [Shaytaan} only invites his adherents that they may become Companions of the blazing Fire" (Fatir 35:6)

Those who call others to the Fire in this world will lead their people and their followers to the Fire in the Hereafter. An example is Pharaoh: "He will go before his people on the Day of Judgement, and lead them into the Fire." (Hud 11:98)

Allah (swt) forbade believing men to marry mushrik women, just as He forbade believing women to marry mushrik men: "And do not marry unbelieving (literally, polytheist) women until they believe. A slave woman who believes is better than a [free] unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry [your girls] to unbelievers until they believer; a male slave who believes is better than a [free] unbeliever, even though he allures you. Those [unbelievers] do [but] beckon you to the Fire, but Allah invites by His Grace to the Garden [of Bliss] and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind that they may receive admonition" (Al-Baqarah 2:221)

4. The Worst Evil Deeds of Those Who Will Remain Forever in Hell

 (1) Kufr and Shirk: Allah (swt) tells us that it will be said to those who disbelieved, when they are in the Fire, that Allah's hatred of them will be greater than their own hatred towards themselves because of their disbelief. Then He explains that their eternal fate in Hell is because of their kufr and shirk: "The unbelievers will be addressed: "Greater was the aversion of Allah to you than [is] your aversion to yourselves, seeing that you were called to the Faith but you used to refuse(10) They will say, "Our Rabb! Twice have You made us without life, and twice have You given us life! Now have we recognised our sins: is there any way out [of this]?" (11) [The answer will be]: "This is because, when Allah was invoked as the Only [object of worship] you did reject Faith, but when partners were joined to Him, you believed! The Command is only with Allah, All-High, All-Great!" (Al-Ghafir40:10-12)

Allah (swt) tells us that the keeper of Hell will ask the kuffaar as they are approaching Hell: "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear signs?...." (Al-Ghafira 40:50)

The response will be that they deserved Hell because they disbelieved in the Messengers and their Message: "They will say, "Yes indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we rejected him" and said: "Allah never sent down any [Message] you are in nothing but a great error!" (Al-Mulk 67:9)

Concerning those who disbelieve the Qur'an and associate partners with Allah (swt), Allah (swt) says: "Those who reject the Book and the [Revelations] with which We sent Our Messengers: but soon shall they know (70) When the yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along (71). In the boiling fetid fluid, then in the Fire shall they be burned (72). Then shall it be said to them, "Where are the deities to which you gave part-worship (73) In derogation to Allah? They will reply: "They have left us in the lurch. Nay, we invoked not, of old, anything [that had real existence]." Thus does Allah leave the unbelievers to stray. (74) That was because you were want to rejoice on the earth in things other than the Truth, and that you were want to be ignorant (75). Enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein and evil is [this] abode of the arrogant". (Al-Ghafir 40:70-76)

(2) Failing to fulfill the legislated duties, as well as denying the Day of Judgement. Allah (swt) tells us that the people of Paradise will ask the people of Hell: "What led you into Hellfire?" (Al-Muddathir 74:42)

They will reply: "What led you into Helfire? (42) They will say: 'We were not those who used to offer the Salaah (prayers), (43) Nor we used to feed Al-Miskeen (the poor); (44) And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers. (45) And we used to belie the Day of Recompense (46) Until there came to us (the death) that is certain' (47) So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them" (Al-Muddathir 74:42-47)

(3) Obeying the misguided leaders of kufr

When the kuffaar are thrown into Hell they will be filled with regret for having disobeyed Allah and His Messenger and having followed their masters and leaders: "Verily Allah has cursed the unbelievers and has prepared for them a blazing Fire (64) To dwell therein; no protector will they find, nor helper (65) The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger" (66). And they would say, "Our Rabb! We obeyed our chiefs and our great ones and they misled us as from the [Right] Path" (67) Our Rabb, give them double penalty and curse them with a very great curse!" (Al-Ahzab 33:64-68)
(4) Hypocrisy

Allah promised Hell to the hypocrites, a promise that He has taken upon Himself to never break: "The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire; no helper will you find for them". (An-Nisa 4:145)

(5) Arrogance:

This is a quality shared by most of the people of Hell. Allah (swt) says: "But those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance - they are the Companions (dwellers) of the Fire, to dwell therein [forever]" (Al-Araf 7:36)

Evil deeds that lead one to Hell

* associating partners in worship with Allah (swt)
* disbelieving in His Messenger
* kufr (ingratitude, disbelief)
* hasad (malicious envy)
* lying
* treachery
* oppression and wrongdoing (dhulm)
* promiscuity
* backstabbing
* cutting off the ties of kinship
* cowardice at the time of jihaad
* miserliness
* inconsistency between what is in one's heart and the face one shows   to people
* despairing of the mercy of Allah (swt)
* feeling secure from the plan of Allah (swt)
* panicking blindly at the time of crisis
* pride and extravagance at the time of plenty
* abandoning one's duties towards Allah (swt)
* transgressing His limits
* violating His sanctity
* fearing a created being instead of the Creator
* showing off
* going against the Qur'an and Sunnah in word or deed
* obeying a created being in some act of disobedience to the Creator
* blindly supporting falsehood
* mocking the signs of Allah (swt)
* rejecting the truth
* withholding knowledge and testimony that should be revealed
* witchcraft and magic
* disobeying one's parents
* killing any soul forbidden by Allah (swt) except for reasons of justice
* consuming the wealth of the orphan
* riba (usury)
* desertion from the battlefield
* slandering the reputation of innocent, chaste, believing women"

The Disbelievers Among the Jinn Will Be In Hell

The disbelievers among the jinn will enter Hell just like the disbelievers among mankind, for the jinn are held responsible for their actions just as human beings are: "And I have only created jinns and men that they may worship Me [alone]" (Ad-Daryat 51:56)

Allah's promise that Hell will be filled with the disbelievers among the jinn and mankind will be fulfilled: "..And the word of your Rabb shall be fulfilled: "Surely I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together" (Hud 11:119)

"And the Sentence among the previous generations of jinns and men that had passed away is proved against then…..." (Fussilat 41:25)

Those Who Will Not Remain in Hell Forever

Definition: Those who will enter Hell and be brought forth at a later time are the monotheists who did not associate anything with Allah (swt) but they committed many sins that far outweigh their good deeds. They will enter Hell for a period known only to Allah (swt), then they will be brought forth through the intercession of those who intercede, and Allah (swt) will bring forth, through His Mercy, people who never did any good at all.

The sins for which Allah (swt) has promised Hell

Here we will mention some of the sins which the Qur'an and Hadeeth state will earn the punishment of Hell:

(i) Following groups and sects that go against the Sunnah

"The Messenger of Allah (swt) stood up among us and said: "There were some among the People of the Book before you who divided into seventy-two sects. This nation will divide into seventy-three sects, seventy-two of whom will be in Hellfire, and only one in Paradise. (This group) is al-Jamaa'ah"

(ii) Refusing to Migrate for the Sake of Allah
Muslims are not permitted to remain in Daar al-Kufr if there are Muslim countries to which they could migrate (NB: or if it becomes waajib on them to make hijrah) especially when staying in Daar al-Kufr exposes them to trials and temptations. Allah (swt) will not accept any excuse from those who refused to migrate (except those who are weak and oppressed and had no means of migrating and could find no way of moving to Islamic lands).

"When the angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what [plight] were you?" They reply, "Weak and oppressed were we in the earth". They [the angels] say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away from evil?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil refuge [or destination]!(97) Except those who are really weak and oppressed - men, women and children, who have no means in their power, nor [a guide post] to direct their way". (An-Nisa 4:97-98)

(iii) Judging Unjustly

"Verily Allah commands the justice [and] the doing of good...." (An-Nahl 16:90)

He has made it obligatory for rulers and judges to be just and never to be unfair. Allah (swt) threatens Hell to those who do not judge with justice. Buraydah ibn al-Husayb narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "There are three types of judges: one will be in Paradise and the other two in Hell. The one who will be in Paradise is the one who knows the truth and judges according to it. As for the one who knows the truth but is unjust in his judgement, he will be in Hell, as will the one who judges between people without understanding or knowledge".  (Abu Dawood)

(iv) Lying about [falsely attributing words to] the Messenger of Allah (saw)

al-Bukhaari reported that Salaman ibn al-Akwa' said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: "Whoever attributes to me words that I did not say, let him take his place in Hell".

(v) Pride

One of the major sins, al-Kabaa'ir, is pride. Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said that Allah (swt) said, "Pride is My cloak and greatness is My robe. Whoever competes with Me in respect of either of them, I shall admit him to Hellfire". (according to another report, "I will make him taste Hellfire") - Muslim.

Ibn Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "No one who has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will enter Paradise". A man said, "But what if a man likes his clothes and shoes to look good?" He said, "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride is rejecting the truth and looking down on people". (Muslim).

(vi) Killing a person for no legitimate reason

Allah says: "If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein [forever] and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful Penalty is prepared for him". (An-Nisa 4:93)

It is not permitted for a Muslim to kill another except in three cases, as explained in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud (ra) who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "It is not permitted to shed the blood of any Muslim person who testifies that there is no god but Allah (swt) and that I am His Prophet, except in three cases: a soul for a soul (i.e. in the case of murder), the married man who commits adultery, and the one who forsakes his religion and abandons the jamaa'ah". (Tafseer Ibn Katheer,

Abu Bakrah said: "The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "If two Muslims face one another with swords, both the slayer and the slain will be in Hell". I asked, or it was asked, "O Messenger of Allah (it is clear about) the slayer, but what about the slain?" He said, "He was trying hard to kill his counterpart". (Muslim)

(vii) Consuming Ribaa

One of the sins that will condemn a person to Hell is consuming ribaa. Allah (swt) says of those who indulge in this sin after they have come to know that He has forbidden it: "..but those who repeat the offence (ribaa) are Companions (dwellers) of the Fire - they will abide therein [forever]" (Al-Baqarah 2:275)

(viii) Consuming people's wealth or property unjustly

The one who consumes the wealth of people unjustly also consumes the property of orphans unjustly. Allah (swt) made specific mention of the property of orphans because of their weak position and the ease which their property may be consumed, and the particular ugliness of this sin: As Allah says: "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities; but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good will. Nor kill [or destroy] yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you All-Merciful (29) If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire, and easy is it for Allah" (An-Nisa 4:29-30)

"Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire! (An-Nisa 4:10)

(ix) Those Who Make Images of Animate Beings

The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection are those who make images and seek to imitate the creation of Allah (swt).

Ibn 'Abbaas said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, "Every maker of images will be in the Fire, and for every image he made Allah (swt) will create for him a soul [i.e. so that the punishment will be multiplied accordingly] and Allah (swt) will punish him in Hell." (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

'Aaishah reported that the Prophet (saw) said, concerning a pillow that had pictures on it, "The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: "Give life to that which you have created". (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

(x) Inclining to Those Who Do Wrong

One of the reasons why people will enter Hell is inclining towards and supporting those who do wrong, the enemies of Allah (swt); "And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will seize you, and you have no protectors other than Allah, nor shall you be helped". (Hud 11:113)

Another type of person who will enter Hell is the corrupt woman who makes a display of herself and tempts men - perhaps this phenomenon has never been quite so widespread as it is now - and never obeys Allah (swt). Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "There are two types of people of Hell that I have never seen; people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they strike the people, and women who are dressed but appear naked, walking with an enticing gait, with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will never enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be discerned from such and such a distance". (Muslim)

(xii) Those Who Torture Living Beings
Islam commands to be loving and caring for unharming animals.
Muslim reports in his Saheeh from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "I was shown Hell and I saw a woman of Banu Israa'eel who was being punished because of a cat that she had owned. She tied it up and did not feed it, or let it eat of the vermin of the earth, until it died of hunger." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/688)

(xiii) Insincerity in Seeking Knowledge
Al-Haafidh Al-Mundhiri mentions many hadiths that warn the person who seeks knowledge for a cause other than the sake of Allah (swt). Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Whoever seeks knowledge that should be sought only for the sake of Allah (swt) but seeks it purely for some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection".

(xiv) Those Who Drink From Vessels of Gold and Silver

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said "The one who drinks from a vessel/utensil of god and silver is pouring the fire of Hell into his stomach".

According to a report narrated by Muslim, the wording is "The one who eats and drinks from vessels of gold and silver.." (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/462)

Hudhayfah (ra) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, "Do not wear silk or brocade, do not drink from vessels of gold and silver, and do not eat from such platters, for these belong to them [the kuffaar] in this world, and to you in the Hereafter" (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

(xv) The One Who Cuts Down Trees that Offer Shade To People

Al-Bayhaqi reported, with a saheeh isnad from 'Aaishah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Those who cut down shade trees will be thrown on their heads in Hell."(Al-Bayhaqi in Saheeh al-Jaami' 2/88, al-Albaani said it is saheeh)

(xvi) Those Who Commit Suicide

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever kills himself with iron (a sharp instrument) then his iron will be in his hand, and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever kills himself with poison, then he will be drinking that poison forever in the Fire of Hell. Whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, he will be throwing himself down forever in the Fire of Hell". (At-Tawkheef min an-Naar, p. 148)

Al-Bukhaari reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in Hell, and the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in Hell". (Saheeh al-Jaami' 5/114)

The Vast Number of People in Hell

 Many texts indicate the large numbers of the children of Aadam will enter Hell, and the few who will enter Paradise. Allah (swt) says:

An indication of the large numbers of kuffaar and mushrikeen who rejected the call of the Messengers is the fact that the Prophets will come on the Day of Resurrection, some with a small group (of less than ten), others with one or two and some with no followers at all. Muslim reports from Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet (saw) aid:

"I was shown the nations and I saw a Prophet accompanied by a small group, another accompanied by one or tow men, and another with no companions at all.." (Saheeh Muslim, 1/198, no.220)

Many texts indicate that nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand of the children of Aadam will enter Hell, and only one (in a thousand) will enter Paradise.

Bukhaari narrates from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (saw) said: Allah will say, "O Aadam!" Aadam will reply, "I respond to Your call, I am obedient to Your commands, and all good is in Your hands." Then Allah (swt) will say to Aadam, "Send forth the people of the Fire". Aadam will say, "How many are the people of the Fire?!" Allah (swt) will say, "Out of every thousand, take nine hundred and ninety-nine". At that time, children's hair will turn grey and every pregnant female will spontaneously abort and you will see the people looking as if they are drunk, although they are not, but Allah's punishment will be most severe". This speech distressed his Companions and the said, "O Messenger of Allah (saw), who amongst us will be that man (one in a thousand)?" He said, "Be of good cheer: the thousand will be from Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) and the one will be from among you". Then he said, "By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I hope that you will be one third of the people of Paradise." We praised and glorified Allah (swt) and then he said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, I hope that you will be half of the people of paradise, as you are among the nations like a white hair on the hide of a black bull or a round hairless spot on the foreleg of a donkey". (Al-Bukhari).

It might be asked: how can we reconcile between these hadith and the report from Abu Hurayrah in Saheeh al-Bukhaari, in which the Prophet (saw) said that Allah (swt) said to Aadam ('alayhis-salaam) - "Send forth [into Hell] ninety-nine out of every hundred [of your descendants]". It is obvious that these reports do not contradict the other Saheeh reports that we have quoted above, because these figures are referring to different groups. The hadith that mention a ratio of nine hundred and ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to all the progeny of Aadam, whilst the hadith of al-Bukhaari that mentions a ratio of ninety-nine may be interpreted as referring to the progeny of Aadam excluding Ya'juj and Ma'juj. This reconciliation is more likely to be correct - as Ibn Hajar suggests - because Ya'juj and Ma'juj are mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa'eed whereas they are not mentioned in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah.

It may be said that the first hadith refers to all of creation, so the ratio of people admitted to Hell when all nations are taken into account is 999 in every thousand. The latter hadith of al-Bukhaari explains the ratio of people who will enter Hell from this ummah alone. Ibn Hajar (said) "This interpretation is supported by the words of the Sahabah in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (ra): "If ninety-nine out of every hundred are taken from us, what will be left of us?" This division of people could happen twice: once involving all the nations, when one in a thousand will enter Paradise, and a second time involving this ummah alone, when ten out of every thousand will enter Paradise". (Fath al-Baari, 11/390).

 The Wisdom Behind There Being So Many People In Hell

 The reason why there will be so many people in Hell is not that the truth failed to reach them all, wherever or whenever they lived. Allah does not blame anyone whom His call did not reach: "…..And there never was a people, without a Warner having lived among them [in the past]". (Fatir 35:24)

The reason behind it is the fact that those who responded to the Messengers were few in number, while those who disbelieved were great. Furthermore, many of those who responded were not pure and sincere in faith.

The main reason why so many follow their desires is that the love of such things is deeply rooted in the human psyche:

"Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and children; heaved-up hoards of gold and silver [wealth]; horses branded [for blood and excellence]; and [wealth of] cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life.." (Aal-Imran 3:14)

At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and An-Nasaa'ee report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the messenger of Allah (saw) said, "When Allah (swt) created Hell, He told Jibreel, "Go and look at it." Jibreel went and looked at it, and when he came back he said, "By Your Glory, I fear that no-one who hears of it will enter it". So He surrounded it with desires, and said, "Go and look at it." Jibreel went and looked at it, and when he came back, he said, "By Your Glory, I fear that there will be no-one left who does not enter it".

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (saw) said, "Hell is veiled in desires and Paradise is veiled in hardships".

Most of Those Who Enter Hell Will be Women

Most of the sinners amongst the monotheists who enter Hell will be women, as is reported in as-Saheehayn, via Ibn 'Abbaas: in the khutbah given during a solar eclipse, the Prophet (saw) said, "I saw Hell and I saw that most of its inhabitants were women".

Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that the Prophet (saw) said, "O women give in charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell." They asked, "Why is that so, O Messenger of Allah (saw)?" He said, "Because you curse too much and are ungrateful for good treatment".

The Huge Size of the People of Hell

 When the People of Hell enter the Fire they will be huge in size, in a form that none can comprehend, except the One Who Created them. According to a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "The distance between the shoulders of the Kaafir in Hell will be like three day's travelling for a fast rider" (Muslim, 4/290)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "The molar of the kaafir or the eye-tooth of the kaafir, will be like Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will be like a journey of three (days)". (Muslim, 4/2189, at-Tirmidhi, al-Haakim, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "The kaafir's skin will be forty-two cubits thick and his molar will be like Uhud and the space he occupies will be as wide as the distance between Makkah and Madinah." (At-Tirmidhi) (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/103, sahih hasan)

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "The molar of the kaafir on the Day of Resurrection will be like Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will be seventy cubits. His upper arm will be like al-Bayda', his thigh will be like Warqaan and the space he occupies will be like the distance between me and ar-Rabdhah" (al-Haakim and Ahmad - Silsilah al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, 4/94. al-Baydaa` could be the name of a mountain or it may refer to the well-known city in Morocco)

The Food, Drink and Clothing of the People of Hell

The food of the people of Hell is ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, and their drink is al-Hameem, al-Ghasleen and al-Ghassaaq. Allah (swt) says:

"No food will there be for them but a bitter Daree obnoxious thorny plant (6) which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger". (Al-Ghashia 88:6-7)

Ad-Daree is a thorny plant know as ash-Shubruq that grows in the Hijaaz. Ibn 'Abbaas said, "It is a low-growing thorny plant; when it grows tall it is called daree". This food of the people of Hell will be of no benefit whatsoever to them, and they will not enjoy it in the least; this is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer.

Allah (swt) says: "Verily the tree of Zaqqum (43) will be the food of the sinful (44), like molten brass, it will boil in their insides,(45) like the boiling of scalding water." (44:43-46).

The Tree of Zaqqum is described in another aayah: "Is that [Paradise] the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum [a horrible tree in Hell]? (62) For We have truly made it [as] a trial for the wrongdoers (63) For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire (64) The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils; (65)Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith (66) Then on top of that they will be given to drink a mixture made of boiling water (67) Then, shall their return by to the blazing Fire of Hell". (As-Saffat 37:62-68)

What we may understand from these aayaat is that although this tree is so vile and obnoxious, the people of Hell will become so hungry that they will have no choice but to eat from it until they are full. When they have filled their bellies, this food will start to churn like boiling oil, which will cause a great deal of suffering to them. At that point they will rush to drink al-Hameem, which is an extremely hot water, and they will drink it like camels that drink and drink but their thirst is never quenched because of some disease. Then it will tear their innards: "..[they] will be given to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels [to pieces]" (Mohammad 47:15)

This is the hospitality that will be offered to them on that awesome Day. When the people of Hell eat this vile food of ad-Daree and az-Zaqqum, they will choke because of its foulness:

"Verily with Us are fetters [to bind them] and a raging Fire [to burn them], (12) And a food that chokes and a Penalty grievous". (Al-Muzzammil 73:12-13)

The Prophet (saw) portrayed for us the ugly and terrifying nature of az-Zaqqum: "If one drop from az-Zaqqum were to land on this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would be destroyed. So how must it be for the one who must eat it?" (At-Tirmidhi)

Another kind of food that will be eaten by the people of Hell is al-Ghasleen. Allah (swt) says: "So no friend has he here this Day, (35) Nor has he any food except corruption [or filth] from the washing of wounds [al-Ghasleen], (36) which none do eat butthose in sin". (Al-Haaqa 69:35-37)

"Yea, such! - Then shall they taste it - a boiling fluid and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold [ghassaaq] (57) And other penalties of a similar kind - to match them!" (Sad 38:57-58)

Al-Ghasleen and al-Ghassaaq mean the same thing, which is the festering pus that oozes out of the skin of the people of Hell. It was suggested that it refers to the offensive discharge that flows from the private parts of adulterous women, and the decaying skin and flesh of the kuffaar. al-Qurtubee said, "It is the juice of the people of Hell" [Yaqhadhat uli al-I'tibaar, p. 86]

These aayaat mention four kinds of drink that the people of Hell have to endure:

(1) Al-Hameem: An extremely hot water.

This was explained as being ultra-hot water. And Allah (swt) says: They will be given to drink from a boiling hot spring."   (Al-Ghashia 88:5)

(2) Al-Ghassaaq: as discussed above.

Allah tells us that al-Ghasleen is just one of many similarly obnoxious punishments. The drink of the people of Hell will also be al-Hameem. Allah (swt) says: "...and if they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (Al-Kahf 18:29)

(3) As-Sadeed (pus): what flows from the flesh and skin of the Kaafir. Muslim reports from Jaabir that the Prophet (saw) said, "Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabaal". They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is the mud of khabaal?" He said, "The sweat of the people of Hell", or "the juice of the people of Hell".

(4) Al-Muhl: according to the hadith of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri narrated by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi the Prophet (saw) said: "It is like boiling oil, and when it is brought near a person's face, the skin of the face falls off into it". Ibn 'Abbaas said, "It is like very thick oil".

Some of the sinners will be fed the burning coals of Hell as an appropriate punishment: "Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat us a Fire into their own bellies, and they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire!" (An-Nisa 4:10)

"Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit - swallow into themselves naught but Fire.." (Al-Baarah 2:174)

Dress of peole of Hell

As for the dress of the people of Hell, Allah (swt) has told us that garments of fire will be tailor-made for them, as it says in the Qur'an:

"..But for those who deny [their Rabb] for them will be cut out a garment of Fire; over their heads will be poured out boiling water" (Al-Hajj 22:19)

Allah (swt) says, "And you will see the sinners that Day bound together in fetters. (49) Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with Fire".(Ibraheem 14:49-50)

This pitch or tar is melted copper. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari, the Prophet (saw) said, "The woman who wails for the dead, if she does not repent before she dies, she will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection, wearing a shirt of tar and a shield of scabs."

The Intensity of the Suffering of the People of Hell

 The Fire is an intense punishment, in which there are different types of torment, to escape which people would give the dearest possessions that they own: "As for those who reject Faith, and die rejecting - never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is [in store] a penalty grievous and they will find no helpers". (Aale-Imran 3:91)

"As to those who reject faith - if they had everything on earth and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the Penalty of the Day of Judgement, it would never be accepted of them. Theirs would be a grievous Penalty." (Al-Maida 5:36)

Muslim reports from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "One of the people of Hell who found the 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 Aadam, have you ever seen anything good? Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?" He will say, "No, by Allah (swt), O Rabb" (Muslim).

Just a few short moments will make the kuffaar forget all the good times and pleasure that they had enjoyed. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will say to one whose punishment in the Fire is the lightest, "If you had whatever you wanted on earth, would you give it up to save yourself?" He will say, "Yes". Allah (swt) will say, "I wanted less than that from you: when you were still in the loins of Aadam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me"". (Al-Bukhaari)

The horror and intensity of the Fire will make a man lose his mind, and he would give up everything he holds dear to escape it, but he will never be able to: "..the sinner's desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by [sacrificing] his children (11) his wife and his brother (12) his kindred who sheltered him (13) and all, all that is on earth, so that it could deliver him (14) By no means! For it would be the Fire of Hell! (15) Plucking out [his being] right to the skull". (Al-Ma’araj 70:11-16)

This horrendous ongoing punishment will make the life of these evildoers one of continual sorrow and pain.

Pictures of Their Punishments

 (1) The Punishment of the People of Hell Will Vary in Degree
As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror is greater than in others, so the people of Hell will be given different levels of punishment. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim and Ahmad from Samurah, the Prophet (saw) said, concerning the people of Hell:"There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to their collarbones". According to another report, "up to their necks" (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has told us about those who will receive the lightest punishment in Hell. Al-Bukhaari reports from al-Nu'maan ibn Basheer who said:

Narrated by al-Bukhaari from an-Nu'maan ibn Basheer, the Prophet (saw) said, "The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed two smouldering embers, because of which his brains will boil like water boils in a mirjal [copper vessel] or qumqum [narrow-necked vessel]." (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

According to a report narrated from an-Nu'man ibn Basheer by Muslim, the Prophet (Saw) said: The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection is a man who will be given shoes and laces of fire, because of which his brains will boil like water in a mirjal (copper vessel). He will not think that anyone could be more severely punished than himself, yet he will be the one with the lightest punishment". (Sahih Muslim)

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim both narrate from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, when his uncle Abu Taalib was mentioned: "Maybe my intercession will help him on the Day of Resurrection, so that he may be put in a shallow part of Hell, with fire reaching to his ankles and causing his brain to boil". (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

(2) Roasting of the Skin

The Fire of the Almighty will burn the skin of the kuffaar. The skin is the site of sensation, where the pain of burning is felt, and for this reason, Allah (swt) will replace the burnt skin with a new one, to be burnt anew, and this will be repeated endlessly:

"Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty. For Allah is Exalted in Power, All-Wise" (An-Nisa 4:56)
(3) Melting

One of the kinds of torment will be the pouring of al-Hameem over their heads. Al-Hameem is ultra-heated water; because of its extreme heat, it will melt their innards and everything inside: "… then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. (19) With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as [their] skins". (Al-Hajj 22:19-20)

At-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: "Al-Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until it reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out of his feet, and everything is melted, then he will be restored as he was." He (at-Tirmidhi) said, "It is a sahih ghareeb hasan hadith".

(4) Scorching (the face).

The noblest and most dignified part of a person is the face, hence the Prophet (saw) forbade us to strike the face. One of the ways in which Allah (swt) will humiliate the people of Hell is by gathering them on their faces, blind, deaf and dumb, on the Day of Resurrection: "….. We shall gather them together prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf; their abode will be Hell; everytime it shows abatement, We shall increase for them the Fierceness of the Fire". (Al-Isra 17:97)

Then they will be thrown on their faces in the Fire: "And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire; "Do you receive a reward other than that which you have earned by your deeds?" (An-Naml 27:90)

The Fire will burn and cover their faces forever, with no barrier between them and it: "If only the unbelievers knew [the time] when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and [when] no help can reach them!" (Al-Anbia 21:39)

"The Fire will burn their faces and they will therein grin, with their lips displaced" (Al-Mumenoon 23:104)

Look at this horrific scene that makes one shudder : "The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger."  (Al-Ahzab 33:66)
(5) Dragging

Another of the painful torments that the Kuffaar will suffer is being dragged on their faces into Hell: "Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad (47) The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces [they will hear]: "Taste the touch of Hell." (54:47-48)

Their pain at being dragged will be increased by the fact that they will be tied up in chains and fetters: "...Those who reject the Book and the [Revelations] with which We sent Our Messengers; but soon shall they know, (70) When they yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along. (71)In the boiling fetid fluid, then in the Fire shall they be burned." (Al-Ghafir 40:70-72)

Qataadah said, "They will be dragged once in the Fire, and once in al-Hameem." (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.147)

(6) Blackening of the faces.

Allah (swt) will blacken the faces of the people of Hell in the Hereafter: "On the Day when some faces will be [lit up with] white and some faces will be [in the gloom of] black; to those who faces will be black [it will be said]: "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the Penalty for rejecting Faith". (Aale-Imran 3:106)

This is intense blackness, as if the darkness of night had covered their faces : "But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil, and ignominy will cover their faces. No defender will they have from [the wrath of] Allah. Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the darkness of night. They are Companions [or dwellers] of the Fire, they will abide therein [for aye!] (Younus 10:27)

(7) The Fire Will Surround the Kuffaar

The people of Hell are the Kuffaar whose sins and disobedience surround them, leaving no hasanah for them. Allah (swt) said, in response to the Jews who claimed that the Fire would only touch them for a certain length of time: "Nay, those who seek gain in evil and are girt round by their sins - they are companions [or dwellers] of the Fire; therein shall they abide [forever]" (Al-Baqarah 2:81)

Sins and evil deeds surround the Kuffaar like a bracelet around the wrist, so their punishment should fit their crimes. Hence the Fire will surround the Kuffaar on all sides, as Allah (swt) says: "There will be a bed of Hell [Fire] and over them coverings [of Hellfire]...." (Al-Araf 7:41)

"On the Day when the torment [Hellfire] shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet...." (Al-Ankaboot 29:55)

Some of the Salaf interpreted the "Bed" (al-Mihaad) as meaning a mattress and the "cover" (al-Ghawaash) as being a blanket (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/168)

The "surrounding" may be interpreted in another way, which is that Hell will have a wall to surround the kuffaar so that they will never be able to get out or escape form it, as Allah (swt) says: "..Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose [smoke and flames] like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in; If they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!" (Al-Kahf 18:29)

(8) The Fire Will Leap Up Over Their Hearts

We have already explained that the physical bodies of the people of Hell will be made huge in size. In spite of that, the Fire will penetrate their bodies until it reaches their innermost depths: "Soon will I cast him into Hellfire! (26) And what will explain to you what Hellfire is? (27) Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone (28) Darkening and changing the colour of man!" (Al-Mudathir 74:26-29)

Some of the Salaf said concerning the phrase, "naught does it leave alone" that it meant, "it eats bones and flesh and brains and does not leave anything untouched" (Ibn Rajab)

Allah (swt) says: "By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. (4) And what will explain to you what that which Breaks to Pieces is? (5) [It is] the Fire of the [wrath of] Allah, kindled [to a blaze], (6) that which mourns [right] to the hearts". (Al-Humaza 104:4-7)

Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurtubee said, "The Fire eats into him until it reaches his heart, then his body will be created anew. It was reported that when Thaabit al-Bananeported that when Thaabit al-Bananee read this aayah, he said, "The Fire will burn them until it reaches their hearts, while they are still alive; this is how great their suffering is!" Then he wept." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)

(9) Their entrails will be spilled out in the Fire

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (saw) said: "A man will be brought forth 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 evil?" 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." Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill" (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

As per one of the people whose entrails will be spilled out in Hell is 'Amr ibn Lahay who was the first to change the religion of the Arabs.

(10) The Chains, Fetters and Hammers of the People of Hell

Allah (swt) has promised that the people of Hell will have chains fetters and hammers in the Fire:

"For the Rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes and a blazing Fire". (Al-Insan 76:4)

"With Us are fetters [to bind them] and a Fire [to burn them] And a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous". (Al-Muzzamil 73:12-13)

The yokes will be placed around their necks: "...We shall put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be a requital for their ill [or evil] deeds". (Saba 34:33)

"When yokes [shall be] round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along." (Al-Ghafir 40:71)

The chains are another kind of punishment, with which the wrongdoers will be tied up, just as criminals are chained up in this world. See how the Qur'an describes them:"The stern command will say, "Seize him and bind him (30) And burn him in the blazing Fire, (31) Ffurther, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits". (Al-Haqqa 69:30-32)

Allah (swt) has promised the people of Hell hooked rods of iron which are like hammers with which the evildoers will be beaten when they try to escape from the Fire, and they will be thrown ever deeper into Hell: "And for them are hooked rods of iron [to punish them] (21) Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and [it will be] said to them: "taste the torment of burning!" (Al-Hajj 22:21-22)

(11) They will be accompanied by their objects of worship and their devils in Hell

The Kuffaar and Mushrikeen used to glorify the false deities that they worshipped instead of Allah (swt). On the Day of Resurrection, Allah (swt) will cause those deities that they used to worship instead of Him to enter the Fire, as a source of humiliation and shame for them, so that they will know that they were misled and that they worshipped something that has no power either to benefit them or to harm them:

"Verily, you [disbelievers] and the [false] gods that you worship besides Allah are [but] fuel for Hell! To it will you [surely] come! (98) If these had been gods, they would not have got there! But each one will abide therein." (Al-Anbia 21:98-99)

Ibn Rajab says, "Because the Kuffaar worship their gods instead of Allah (swt) and believe that they will intercede for them with Allah (swt) and will bring them closer to Him, they will be punished by having these gods in Hell with them as a source of humiliation and shame, and to make them feel deep sorrow and regret. Because when a punishment is accompanied by the thing that was the reason for the punishment, the pain and sorrow becomes more intense." (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.105)

For this reason the sun and moon will be thrown into Hell, and will be fuel for it, to punish those wrongdoers who used to worship them instead of Allah. As the hadith says,"The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell". (al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Imaan, and al-Bazzar, al-Isma'eelee and al-Khattabee, see Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 1/32)

al-Qurtubee says, "They will be placed in Hell, because they were worshipped instead of Allah (swt). It is not a punishment for them, because they are inanimate, but that will be done in order to increase the sorrow and shame of the Kaafireen. This is what was said by some of the scholars." (al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, p.392)

For the same reason, the Kuffaar and their devils will be gathered together, so as to make the punishment more intense: "And if anyone withdraws himself from the remembrance of [Allah] All-Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one to be an intimate companion to him (36) Such evil ones really hinder them from the Path, but they think that they are being guided aright! (37)At length, when [such a one] comes to Us, he says, [to his evil companion], "Would that between me and you were the distance of east and west". Ah, evil is the companion indeed (38) When you have done wrong, it will avail you nothing, that Day that you shall be partners in punishment". (Az-Zukhruf 43:36-39)

(12) Their sorrow, regret and supplications

When the Kuffaar see Hell, they will be filled with intense regret, at a time when regret will be of no avail: "...they would declare [their] repentance when they see the penalty but the judgement between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done unto them." (Younus 10:54)

When the Kuffaar looks at the record of his deeds, and sees his kufr and shirk, for which he deserves eternal Hell, he will pray for oblivion and death: "But whosoever is given his Record behind his back, (10) He will invoke (for his) destruction (11)And he shall enter a blazing Fire". (Al-Inshiqaq 84:10-12)

They will repeat their prayer for oblivion when they are thrown into the Fire and its heat touches them: "And when they are cast, bound together, into a constricted place therein, they will plead for destruction there and then! (13) This Day plead not for a single destruction: plead for destruction oft-repeated". (Al-Furqan 25:13-14)

Their screams will grow louder and more desperate and they will call on their Rabb, hoping that He (swt) will take them out of the Fire: "Therein will they cry aloud [for assistance]: "Our Rabb! Bring us out, we shall work righteousness, not the [deeds] we used to do." (Fatir 35:37)

At that time, they will come to realize the error and foolishness of their kufr: "They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence we would not [now] be among the companions of the blazing Fire". (Al-Mulk 67:10)

"They will say, "Our Rabb! Twice have You made us without life and twice have you given us life! Now we have recognized our sins: Is there any way out [of this]?" (Al-Ghafir 40:11)

But their prayer will be harshly refused, and they will be answered as animals deserve to be answered: "If only you could see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Rabb [saying], "Our Rabb! We have seen and we have heard; now then send us back [to the world], we will work righteousness for we do indeed [now] believe" (12) If We had so willed, surely We could certainly have brought every soul its true guidance, but the Word from Me will come true: I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together (13) Taste you then - for you forgot the Meeting of this Day of yours, and We too will forget you - taste the penalty of eternity for your [evil] deeds!" (As-Sajda 32:12-14)

”After that the people of Hell will call upon the keepers of Hell: "Pray to your Rabb to lighten us the penalty for a day [at least]!(49) They will say, "Did there not come to you your Messengers with clear signs?" They will say, "Yes". They will reply, "Then pray [as you like]! But the prayer of those without faith is nothing but [futile wandering] in [mazes of] error". (Al-Ghafir 40:49-50)

Everything they ask for will be refused. There will be no coming out of the Fire, no reduction in the torment, and no oblivion. Rather it is ongoing, eternal punishment, and at that time they will be told: "...and whether you are patient of it, or impatient of it, it is all the same. You are only being requited for what you used to do." (At-Tur 52:16)

Then their wailing will increase, and they will weep for a long time: "...Say "The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they could understand! (81) Let them laugh a little: much will they weep: a recompense for the [evil] that they do". (At-Tauba 9:81-82)

They will weep until no tears are left, then they will weep blood, and their tears will leave traces on their faces like the channels cut into rock by water. In al-Mustadrak by al-Haakim there is a report from 'Abdullaah ibn Qays that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "The people of Hell will weep so much that if ships were placed in their tears, they would float, and they will weep blood - meaning, instead of tears"

Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "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".

Those evildoers lost their own souls and their families when they preferred kufr to eemaan. Listen to the wailing and cries when they are punished: "The Day when their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger!" (66) And they would say, "Our Rabb, verily we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (right) Path. (67) Our Rabb, give them double penalty and curse them with a very great curse!" (Al-Ahzab 33:66-68)

"As for those who are wretched, they will be in the fire, sighing in a high and low tone (106) They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and earth endure, except as your Rabb wills.." (Hud 11:106-107)

How to Save Oneself From the Fire

As it is kufr that will condemn a person to eternal Hell, the way to be saved from Hell is through eemaan and righteous deeds. So the Muslims must pray to Allah with faith to save them from the Fire:

"Those who say, "Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, forgive us then, our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire". (Aale-Imran 3:16)

"...Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created [all] this, glory to You! Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. (191) Our Rabb! Any whom You admit to the Fire, truly You cover with shame, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers.(192) Our Rabb! We have heard the call of one calling [us] to faith: "Believe in your Rabb," and we have believed. Our Rabb! Forgive us our sins and blot out from us our inequities, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous [al-Abraar]. (193) Our Rabb! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement, for You never break Your Promise". (Aale-Imran 3:191-194)

Fasting is also a source of protection from the Fire, as In Shu'ab al-Imaan, al-Bayhaqi reports from 'Uthmaan ibn Abil-Aas that the Prophet (saw) said, "Fasting is a shield from the punishment of Allah (swt)" It was reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah and its isnaad is saheeh (Sahih al-Jaami' 3/264).

If fasting is accomplished at the time of jihaad against the enemy, then that is a great victory, as it was reported from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Whoever fasts for one day when he is engaged in jihaad for the sake of Allah, Allah will remove him [lit. his face] seventy years distance from the Fire".(Bukhari & Muslim)

Other means of salvation from the Fire are fear of Allah and jihaad for His sake: "But for him who fears the standing before his Rabb, there will be two gardens [ie in Paradise]" (Ar-Rahman 55:46)

Al-Bukhaari reports from Abu 'Abs that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "No two feet that get dusty for the sake of Allah (swt) will never meet in the Fire of Hell".

We may also be shielded from the Fire by seeking protection with Allah from it: And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing (64) "Those who say, "our Rabb! Avert from us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed an affliction grievous (65) " Evil indeed is it as an abode and as a place to rest in". (Al-Furqan 25:64-66)

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that when the Prophet (saw) was discussing the angels who seek out gatherings of dhikr he said, "Allah (swt) asks them and He knows best, "What are they seeking protection from?" They tell Him, "From the Fire". He asks, "And have they seen it." They say, "No, by Allah, O Rabb, They have not seen it." He says, "How would it be if they had seen it?" They say, "They would be even more afraid and anxious to escape it". He (swt) says, "Bear witness that I have forgiven them"".

2. HELL PUNISHMENT BRIEF

Question :

In brief, which people will enter Hell, and what is in Hell, and how will be people in Hell?

Answer :

One who is given his deed record behind his back and in left hand, will enter the Hell.

HELL & ITS PEOPLE IN BRIEF

1.   As per Quranic references there seem to be seven different levels in Hell one below the other. Following names of Hell are given in Quran: Jahanam, Ladhaa, Hutamah, Sa'eer, Saqar, Jaheem, Hawiyah.

2.   The gates of Hell number are seven, one below the other.

3.   Even the most fierce fire of this world is 70 times colder than Hell fire. A human living there, if he is put in earthly fire, he will sleep.

4.    Hell, having 70 thousand ropes will be pulled by 70 thousand angles on the Day of Judgment.

5.    Hell had been lit for one thousand years until its flames became red. Again it was heated for another thousand years till its colour became white. Still again it was burnt for further thousand years and its white colour flames turned to pitch black.

6.    Stones and the rebellious disbelievers are the fuel of Hell

7.    Whenever its fire abates, it will be increased in fierceness.

8.    Hell will be having “Valleys (one named Wail)”, “Mountains (one named Saud”, “Ditches”, “Wells”, and “Canals”.

9.    Hell air will be Fierce Blast of Fire (Samoom), and its shade will be black smoke “Yahmoom”

10.  The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell. It is because these were also being worshipped. Idols and all other type of deities will also be put in Hell so as to tease and for shame and disappointment to all those who worship them.

11.  Stones of Hell are so heavy that if it is placed on earthly mountains, it will crush it.

12.  Hell is so deep that if a stone were to be dropped into it, it would travel for 70 years before reaching the bottom.

13.  Dress : It will be “cut out garment of Fire or tar”.

14.  Hell is infested with venomous snakes (equal to camel) and scorpions (size of donkeys) and if they were to bite a person then he/she will suffer pain for 40 years.

15.  On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch forth from Hell having two eyes , two ears, and a tongue. It will say, "I have been appointed to take care of three types of people: every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allah (swt) and those who made pictures”.

16.  Hell will be raging and calling to people of Hell when it sees them.

17.  Gurz  (by which they will be punished) are so heavy that no human and jinn can lift it.

18.  The dwellers of Hell would be bound in chains, 70 cubits in Iength and yokes at their necks.

19.  The Unbelievers skin will be 70 cubits thick and his molar will be like Uhud and the space he occupies will be as wide as the distance between Makkah and Madinah.

20.  There will be nineteen angles guardians of Hell, who will be very sturn to inhabitants of Hell.

21.  For drinking, the denizen of Hell would be provided with hot, boiling pus mixed with blood, matter, urine and tears etc of the dwellers of Hell. If a bucket of this foul liquid were to be spilled onto this earth, the entire world would be upset and disrupted by its most foul stink.

THE DRINK IN HELL ARE

*   Al-Hameem (Boiling water like melted brass)

*   Al-Ghasleen (pus of wounds mixed with blood, matter, urine and tears etc of the dwellers of Hell.) If a bucket of this foul liquid were to be spilled onto this earth, the entire world would be upset and disrupted by its most foul stink.

*   Al-Ghasleen and Al-Ghassaaq mean the same thing, which is the festering pus that oozes out of the skin of the people of Hell

*   As-Sadeed (pus): what flows from the flesh and skin of the Kaafir, or the sweat of the people of Hell", or "the juice of the people of Hell".

*   Al-Muhl: It is like very thick boiling oil, and when it is brought near a person's face, the skin of the face falls off into it.

22.  Zaqqum (tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils) will be the food. It is like molten brass, and will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water. It is so bitter that even if a single molecule of it be spilled on the earth, it would make all the foodstuff of the world bitter and unpalatable.

23.  Some sinners would be made to climb “SAUD” which is a mountain of fire in Hell, and then dropped from its peak and this process would continue forever and ever.

24.  Some of the sinners will be fed by the burning coals of Hell.

25.  Skins, once get roasted in fire, will be replaced with fresh skins.

26.  Tied by chains (70 cubits) and yoke on necks, they will be dragged through the Fire and thrown on their faces.

27.  Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the darkness of night.

28.  They shall have coverings of Fire above them, and coverings of Fire beneath them.

29.  People will be gethered prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf in Hell, Allah will increase fierceness of the fire when it abates.

30.  Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until it reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out of his feet, and everything is melted, then he will be restored as he was.

31.  The inmates of Hell would be lashed with heavy clubs of iron. If one such club were to be placed upon this earth, the combined strength of all the human beings, as well as all the jinns, would fail to lift it; and if a mountain is struck with one of these clubs, it will cause the whole mountain to disintegrate.

32.  The dwellers of Hell would be burnt daily for 70 thousand times. Every time, after the skin and flesh is burnt, they would be restored to life so that they can continuously taste this punishment.

33.  Beside physical torture, the dwellers of Hell would also be subject to mental harassment through the taunting by the guardian of Hell who will remind them their sins on earth and give remark; “Now taste the fire, etc”.

34.  The sinners and disbelievers would be humiliated to such an extent that besides their revolting ugliness and pitch black faces, their upper lips would be touching their foreheads and their lower lips dangling around the naval.

35.  The tongues of Hell inmates would be so long and protruding from their mouth that others would trample and step on them.

36.  The dwellers of Hell would display their rage and fury on those who led them astray.

37.  The dwellers of Hell would weep so much and shed so much tears and then blood that furrows would be formed on their cheeks and ship can float in that.

38.  The extreme punishment naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man!"

39.  There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to their collarbones.

40.  One least punishment of Hell will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed a smouldering ember, and his brains will boil because of it.

41.  Other least punishment to a man will also be shoes and laces of fire, because of which his brains will boil like water in a mirjal (copper vessel). He will not think that anyone could be more severely punished than himself, yet he will be the one with the lightest punishment.

42.  The inhabitants of Hell would appeal to the guardians of Hell to intercede on their behalf in the court of Allah, but their pleas would be rejected. They will supplicate to Allah but their prayers would not be granted.

43. They will request that if they are returned to earth again, they will be living an obedient life. However it will be rejected.

44. The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.

45.  Shaitan (the Devil) and other shiateen Jinns will also be in Hell.

46.  Unbelievers will abide forever in Hell, Continuously lamenting and braying like asses. No more death possible.

3. WOMEN IN HELL

Question:

Why are there more women in hell than men?

Answer: Praise be to Allah.  

It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that women will form the majority of the people of Hell. It was narrated from ‘Imraan ibn Husayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the majority of its people are women.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3241; Muslim, 2737)

With regard to the reason for that, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about it and he explained the reason. 

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1052) 

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out to the Musalla on the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’  He replied, ‘You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religious commitment than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is deficient in our intelligence and religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not the testimony of two women equal to the testimony of one man?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Is it not true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 304) 

It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah said: “I attended Eid prayers with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He started with the prayer before the khutbah, with no adhaan or iqaamah. Then he stood up, leaning on Bilaal, speaking of fear of Allah (taqwa) and urging us to obey Him. He preached to the people and reminded them. Then he went over to the women and preached to them and reminded them. Then he said, ‘Give in charity, for you are the majority of the fuel of Hell. A woman with dark cheeks stood up in the midst of the women and said, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Because you complain too much and are ungrateful to your husbands.’ Then they started to give their jewellery in charity, throwing their earrings and rings into Bilaal’s cloak.” (Narrated by Muslim, 885) 

Our believing sisters who learn of this hadeeth should behave like those Sahaabiyaat who, when they learned of this, did good deeds which would be the means, by Allah’s leave, of keeping them far away from being included in that majority of the inhabitants of Hell. 

So our advice to the sisters is to strive to adhere to the rituals and obligatory duties of Islam, especially prayer, and to keep away from that which Allah has forbidden, especially shirk in its many forms which are widespread among women, such as seeking one's needs from someone other than Allah, going to practitioners of witchcraft and fortune-tellers, etc.

 We ask Allah to keep us and all our brothers and sisters far away from the Fire and the words and deeds that bring one close to it.

4. WILL INHABITANTS OF PARADISE SEE OTHER WOMEN

Question :

If a Muslim is one of the people of Paradise, will he be able to see the females companions of others? How are women of paradise?

Answer: Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

In Paradise, there will be no evil looks or sickness of the heart such that men in Paradise will seek women other than his own womenfolk. And women will not seek men whom they knew in this world. Paradise is the place where Allah honours people and there is no evil there, and no haraam desires or wishes.  

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ((PBUH)) said: “The first group to enter Paradise will look like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or defecate therein. Their vessels and combs will be of gold and silver, their incense burners will be of aloeswood and their sweat will be musk. Each of them will have two wives, the marrow of whose calves will be visible from beneath the flesh because of their beauty. There will be no dissent or enmity among them and their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify Allah morning and evening.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3073) and Muslim (2834). 

According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “they will not envy one another.” 

Secondly:

One of the blessings of Paradise for men is that Allah will bestow upon them wives whose love and gaze will be only for them, and he will not see anyone who is better than them, and he will not desire anyone else. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And beside them will be Qaasiraat‑at‑Tarf [chaste females (wives), restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands)]” [Al-Saaffaat 37:48]. 

Imam al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Allah, may He be exalted, says: With these sincere slaves of Allah in Paradise will be qaasiraat al-tarf (chaste females restraining their glances), who will be wives who lower their gaze and refrain from looking at anyone other than their husbands, and will not desire anyone but them, and they will not look at anyone but them. Tafseer al-Tabari (21/41). 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “And beside them will be Qaasiraat‑at‑Tarf [chaste females (wives), restraining their glances” means: With the people of the abode of bliss in their places will be al-hoor al-‘iyn, perfect in appearance and restraining their glances. Either they will restrain their glances by looking at no one but their husbands, because they will be chaste and have no desire  for anyone else, and because their husbands will be so handsome and perfect that they will not seek or desire anyone else in Paradise, or because they will be so beautiful that their husbands will look only at them. This is indicative of their perfect beauty which will make their husbands restrain their glances and look only at them. Restraining the glance also indicates that his love will be restricted only to her. Both meanings are possible and both are valid. All of this indicates that the men and women in Paradise will be beautiful and will love one another, a love that does not desire anyone else. They will all be extremely chaste and there will be no envy or hatred there, because the causes of that will not exist. 

Tafseer al-Sa’di (p. 702)

The apparent meaning of the verses “And beside them will be Qaasiraat‑at‑Tarf [chaste females (wives), restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands)]” [Al-Saaffaat 37:48] and

“And beside them will be Qaasiraat‑at‑Tarf [chaste females (wives) restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands)], (and) of equal ages”[Sa’ad 38:52]  is both al-hoor al-‘iyn and the women of this world who enter Paradise. What is meant by ‘iyn is wide-eyed and what is meant by “of equal ages” is of the same age.

Thirdly:

No woman will be unmarried in Paradise. Every woman will have a husband, and there will be no single people in Paradise.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “…there will be no one in Paradise who is unmarried.” (Muslim 2834).

Fourthly:

With regard to this specific issue, it seems from the texts that women will live with their husbands and children in their own realms in Paradise, and a woman will be content with her husband and have no need to see other people, as stated above. There is no text to suggest that she will see non-mahrams there, or that the righteous men will see righteous, worshipping believing women in Paradise. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allah preserve him) said:

There is no way to know matters of the unseen except by information from the infallible one (i.e., the Prophet (PBUH), because matters of the unseen cannot be known by reasoning and thinking. Information about Paradise is one of the matters of the unseen that are hidden, and we must adhere to what has been stated in the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah. We must believe in Paradise and what Allah has told us of the various delights therein, whilst remembering that its realities are known only to Allah. There is nothing in the texts to say that a man will meet the wives of others, and there is nothing to confirm or deny the seeing asked about here. But what is indicated by the Qur'an is that the believers will meet and sit facing one another on thrones, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).(13) And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.(14) (They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones. (15) Reclining thereon, face to face” [Al-Waaqi’ah 56:13-16] 

“And We shall remove from their hearts any deep feeling of bitterness (that they may have). (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones”  [Al-Hijr 15:47] 

We should not indulge in discussion of matters of the unseen without knowledge, rather if such a question comes up, we should answer by saying Allah knows best, and the questioner should be told not to indulge in such topics, because there is no benefit in that. 

“And follow not (O man, i.e., say not, or do not, or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allah)” [Al-Isra’ 17:36] 

“They (angels) said: Glory is to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise” [Al-Baqarah 2:32] 

We ask Allah to guide us to the Straight Path and to make us all people of Paradise. May Allah send blessings and peace upon His slave and Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and companions. 

And Allah knows best.

5. PEOPLE OF HEAVEN OR HELL

Question :

Can we differentiate people of Paradise from people of Fire in present world?

Answer :

In this world we can not clearly differentiate among such peoples, because we don’t know what will be his end (will die or died as believer and died with Allah’s forgiveness or not). However following two hadiths give answer to the question.

Narrated Imran bin Husain:

A man said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the people of Paradise be known (differentiated) from the people of the Fire; The Prophet replied, "Yes." The man said, "Why do people (try to) do (good) deeds?" The Prophet said, "Everyone will do the deeds for which he has been created to do or he will do those deeds which will be made easy for him to do." (i.e. everybody will find easy to do such deeds as will lead him to his destined place for which he has been created). Volume 8, Book 77, Number 595:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

We witnessed along with Allah's Apostle the Khaibar (campaign). Allah's Apostle told his companions about a man who claimed to be a Muslim, "This man is from battle started, the man fought very bravely and received a great number of wounds and got crippled. On that, a man from among the companions of the Prophet came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you know what the man you described as of the people of the Fire has done? He has fought very bravely for Allah's Cause and he has received many wounds."

The Prophet said, "But he is indeed one of the people of the Fire." Some of the Muslims were about to have some doubt about that statement. So while the man was in that state, the pain caused by the wounds troubled him so much that he put his hand into his quiver and took out an arrow and committed suicide with it. Off went some men from among the Muslims to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Allah has made your statement true. So-and-so has committed suicide." Allah's Apostle said, "O Bilal! Get up and announce in public: None will enter Paradise but a believer, and Allah may support this religion (Islam) with a wicked man." Volume 8, Book 77, Number 603:

6. REFERRING PEOPLE DESTINED FOR HELL OR HEAVEN

Question :

I have heard in certain lectures given by the shaikhs here in America who consider themselves Salafee, say things like this: My mother is a kafira and I KNOW she is going to hell.

Saying that they know for sure that a certain person is going to hell. 
Is this permissible in Islam? Can we say that a certain person is going to Jahannam because of their religion?

Answer :  Praise be to Allah.

According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, the basic principle is that the issue of who will go to Paradise and who will go to Hell is the matter of ‘aqeedah based on what is said in the Quran and Sunnah, and there is no room for reasoning or ijtihaad in this matter.

If the Quran or Sunnah says that a specific person will be in Paradise or Hell, we bear witness to that. At the same time we hope that those who do good will go to Paradise and fear that those who do bad will go to Hell, but Allah knows best how people will end up.

The issue of saying who will go to Paradise or Hell may be divided into two categories:

General statements, which have to do with people’s qualities, such as saying, “Whoever associates anything with Allah in an act of major shirk is a kaafir who is beyond the pale of Islam, and will be in Hell.”

Similarly we say that whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of receiving reward will be forgiven his previous and future sins, and that an acceptable Hajj has no other reward but Paradise. There are many such statements in the Quran and saheeh Sunnah.

If a person asks, “Will the one who calls on anything other than Allah and seeks the help of anyone but Allah be in Paradise or Hell?” we would say that he is a kaafir who will be in Hell, if he is shown clear evidence that he is wrong but he stills persists and dies believing that.

If it were said, Whoever does Hajj then does not commit any obscene or immoral act, and dies after his Hajj, for example, what will his fate be? We would say that he is in Paradise. Or the person whose last words in this life are Laa ilaaha ill-Allah will be in Paradise, and so on.

All of this has to do with people’s qualities and does not apply to any specific, named person. Also nobody knows, how will be end of ones life. May be one gets Allah’s forgiveness before death and goes to heaven or may be another one starts doing deeds, which make him liable for hell (suppose any shirk or killing innocent people)

Specific statements referring to people by name, stating that a particular person will be in Paradise or in Hell. This is not permissible except in cases where Allah or His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) have informed us of it.

Whoever Allah or His Messenger have mentioned by name and stated that they will be in Paradise are definitely among the people of Paradise, such as the ten who were given the good news of Paradise (al-‘asharah al-mubashsharah), foremost among whom are the four Khulafa’, Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan and ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with them.

Those whom the Quran and Sunnah mentioned by name and state that they will be in Hell are definitely among the people of Hell, such as Abu Lahab and his wife, Abu Taalib, ‘Amr ibn Lahiy, and others.

We ask Allah to make us among the people of Paradise by His Grace and Mercy. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.