Heaven And Hell (2/4)
Ahmad Farid
The Hideous Appearance of the People of the Fire
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "The space between the two shoulders of a kafir (in the Fire) will be the same as the distance covered by a fast rider in three days."[1]
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "The molar tooth of a kafir (in the Fire) — or the canine teeth of a kafir (in the Fire) — will be the size of Uhud and the thickness of his skin a three night's journey."[2]
The Punishment of the People of the Fire
Anas Ibn Malik, related that the Prophet said, "One of the people of Hell who used to lead a life of ease and plenty amongst the people in this world will be dipped just once into the Fire on the Day of Rising and then it will be said to him, 'O son of Adam, did you ever find any comfort or obtain any benefit (in the world)?' He will reply, 'By Allah, no, my Lord.' Then one of the people of Paradise who had a most difficult life in this world will be dipped just once into the Garden and then it will be said to him, 'O son of Adam, did you ever experience any hardship or suffer any distress (in the world)?' And he will reply, 'By Allah, no, my Lord, I never experienced any hardship or suffered any distress.”[3]
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "If there is anyone to whom Allah has given wealth but he does not pay zakat on it, then on the Day of Rising his wealth will appear to him in the form of a smooth-headed poisonous snake with two venomous fangs in its mouth which will wrap itself round his neck and bite him on his cheeks saying, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’” Then the Prophet recited this Divine verse:
“Those who are tight-fisted with the bounty Allah has given them should not suppose that that is better for them. No indeed, it is worse for them! What they were tight-fisted with will be hung around their necks on the Day of Rising.” (Surah Al-‘Imran 3: 180)"[4]
An-Nu'man Ibn Bashir related that the Prophet said, "The person who is punished the least from among the people of the Fire on the Day of Rising will be a man who has two smouldering embers placed under the soles of his feet which will make his brain boil like water boiling in a mirjal (a copper pot) or a qumqum (a narrow-necked pot)."[5]
The Anguish of the People of the Fire
The anguish of the people of the Fire includes the following:
Firstly, the angels will reproach them as they are driven into their abode in the Fire of Hell. Allah says:
“Each time a group is flung into it its custodians will question them: 'Did no warner come to you?' They will say, 'Yes indeed, a warner did come to us but we denied him and said, "Allah has sent nothing down. You are just greatly misguided. ‘They will say, 'If only we had really listened and used our intellect, we would not have been Companions of the Blaze.'” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67: 8-10)
Secondly, the people of the Fire will curse and insult each other. Allah says:
“Each time a nation enters, it will curse its sister nation, until, when they are all gathered together in it, the last of them will say to the first, 'Our Lord, those are the ones who misguided us, so give them a double punishment in the Fire.'” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7: 38)
And leaders will disown those who followed them in the life of this world, and those who were easily led will say:
“'If only we could have another chance, we would disown them just as they have disowned us.' In that way Allah will show them their actions as a cause of anguish and remorse for them. They will never emerge from the Fire.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 167)
Thirdly, the people of the Fire will see the muminun, whom they used to mock, entering the Garden and avoiding Allah's punishment and anger. Allah says:
“They will say, 'How is it that we do not see some men whom we used to count among the worst of people?' Did we turn them into figures of fun? Did our eyes disdain to look at them?' All this is certainly true - the bickering of the people of the Fire.” (Surah Saad, 38: 62-64)
Fourthly, the people of the Fire will not be permitted to talk to Allah - this will be the worst punishment to be inflicted on them.
Allah says: “He will say, 'Slink away into it and do not speak to Me.'” (Surah Al-Mu'minun, 23: 108)
Ibn 'Umar related that the Prophet said, "When the people of the Garden have entered the Garden and the people of the Fire have entered the Fire, Death will be brought forward and placed between the Fire and the Garden - and then it will be made to die and it will be announced: 'O people of the Garden, no more death! O people of the Fire, no more death!' So the people of the Garden will have joy added to the joy they already have, and the people of the Fire will have sorrow added to the sorrow they already have."[6]
Ibn 'Umar related that the Prophet said, "The people of the Garden will enter the Garden, and the people of the Fire will enter the Fire - and then a caller will arise and announce to them, 'O people of the Fire! There will be no death anymore! O people of the Garden! There will be no death any more - only Eternity.'"
Paradise and its Rewards
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "There will be a caller (in Paradise) who will announce: 'Truly! You will always have good health and never fall ill; you will live forever and never die; you will always be young and never grow old; and you will always be rich and never grow poor; for the words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, are:
“…It will be proclaimed to them: 'This is your Garden which you have inherited for what you did.'” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7: 43)[7]
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "Allah has said, 'I have prepared for My righteous slaves things which have never been seen by any eye, nor heard by any ear, nor imagined by any human being.' If you wish, you can recite this verse from the Noble Qur'an:
“No self knows the delight that is hidden away for it in recompense for what it used to do." (Surah As-Sajdah, 32: 17)[8]
Ibn Abbas said, "There is nothing in the life of this world which is exactly the same as what is in Paradise - except the names - but honey in this life is not like the honey of Paradise, the wine is not same, and the grapes here are not the same as grapes there."
No matter how much we read about the grace, well-being and abundance of the Garden we cannot imagine how wonderful and marvellous it is. Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "There is a tree in Paradise in whose shade a rider can travel for a hundred years. If you wish, you can recite, “and wide-spreading shade” (Surah Al-Waqi'ah, 56: 30). And even a place in Paradise as small as a bow is better than everything on which the sun rises and sets."[9]
The Gates of Paradise
Sahl Ibn Sad related that the Prophet said, "Paradise has eight gates, one of which is called Ar-Rayyan, through which none will enter except those who used to fast."[10]
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said, "Whoever gives two kinds of sadaqa in the Way of Allah will be summoned from all of the gates of Paradise — and Paradise has eight gates. Whoever is from amongst the people who used to do the prayer will be summoned from the Gate of Prayer; and whoever is from amongst the people who used to fight jihad will be summoned from the Gate of Jihad; and whoever is from amongst those who used to fast will be summoned from the Gate of Fasting; and whoever is from amongst those who used to give sadaqa, will be summoned from the Gate of Sadaqa." Abu Bakr said, “Whoever is summoned from any of these gates will not feel any distress or need. Will there be anyone who will be summoned from all of these gates?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, and I hope you will be one of them."[11]
[1] Al-Bukhari, 11/ 415; Muslim, 17/186.
[2] Muslim, 17/186; At-Tirmidhi, 10/47-48.
[3] Muslim, 17/149; Ibn Majah, 4321.
[4] Al-Bukhari, Kitab az-Zakat, 683.
[5] Al-Bukhari, 11/ 417; Muslim, 3/85-86; At-Tirmidhi, 2744.
[6] Al-Bukhari, 11/415; Muslim, 17/186.
[7] Muslim, 17 / 175; At-Tirmidhi, 12/124-125.
[8] Al-Bukhari, 6/318; Muslim, 17/166; Ibn Majah, 4328.
[9] Al-Bukhari, 6/320; Muslim, 13/26; At-Tirmidhi, 7/ 155.
[10] Al-Bukhari, 6/328; Muslim, 8/32.
[11] Al-Bukhari, 7/ 19; Muslim, 7/115-116; Malik, 2 / 469; An-Nasa'i', 6/22-23.