The Situation of Unbelievers in the Hellfire
Description: How the Hellfire will receive the unbelievers.
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.
Hell will receive the faithless with its fury and roar:
“…and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour, a Blaze. When it [Hellfire] sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.” (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:11-12)
When they near it, they will anticipate their shackles and their destiny as fuel:
“Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.” (Surah Al-Insan, 76:4)
“Indeed, with Us are shackles and burning fire.” (Surah Al-Muzzammil, 73:12)
Angels will rush at Allāh’s command to seize and shackle him:
“Seize him and shackle him.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:30)
“…and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved.” (Surah Saba’, 34:33)
Bound in chains…
“…a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:32)
…he will be dragged along:
“When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along.” (Surah Al-Ghaffir, 40:71)
While they are being tied down, chained, and dragged to be thrown into Hell, they will hear its rage:
“And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage....” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:6-8)
Since they will be driven from the great plain of gathering, naked and hungry, they will beg the inhabitants of Paradise for water:
“And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise: ‘Pour upon us some water, or from whatever Allāh has provided you.’ They will say: ‘Indeed Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.’” (Surah Al-‘Araf, 7:50)
At the same time the faithful in Paradise will be received with honor, made comfortable, and served with delicious banquets, the disbeliever will dine in Hell:
“Then indeed, you, the stray, the deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqūm and filling your bellies with it.” (Surah Al-Waqiah, 56:51-53)
Zaqqum: a tree whose roots are in the bottom of Hell and which branches into its other levels; its fruit resembles the heads of the devils:
“Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqūm? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruits as if it was heads of the devils. And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:62-66)
The wicked will have other food to eat as well, some that chokes,[Surah Al-Jinn,72:13] and some like dry, thorny bushes.[Surah Al-Ghasiyah, 88:6-7]
“Nor any food except from the (foul) discharge of wounds; none will eat it except the sinners.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:36-37)
And to wash down their melancholy meals, an extremely cold mix of their own purse, blood, sweat and wound discharge[Surah An-Naba, 78:24-25] as well as boiling, scolding water which dissolves their intestines:
“…and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines.” (Surah Muhammad, 47:15)
The clothing of the denizens of Hell will be made of fire and pitch:
“...but those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire.” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:19)
“Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:50)
Their sandals, [Sahih Muslim] bed, and canopies will likewise be made of fire; [Surah Al-Araf, 7:41] a punishment encapsulating the entire body, from heedless head to transgressing toe:
“Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan, 44:48)
“On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said: ‘Taste what you used to do.’” (Quran Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:55)
Their punishment in Hell will vary according to their disbelief and other sins.
“By no means! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what the Crusher is? It is the fire of Allāh, [eternally] fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it [Hellfire] will be closed down upon them. In extended columns.” (Surah Al-Fil, 104:5-9)
Every time the skin will burn through, it will be replenished with new skin:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:56)
Worst of all, the punishment will keep increasing:
“So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment.” (Surah An-Naba, 78:30)
The psychological effect of this punishing chastisement will be tremendous. A chastisement so severe that its sufferers will cry out for it to be multiplied on those who led them astray:
“They will say: ‘Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us – increase for him double punishment in the Fire.’” (Surah Sad, 38:61)
The daring will make their first attempt to break out, but:
“And for them are maces of iron. Every time they want to get out of it from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said]: ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!’” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:21-22)
After failing several times, they will seek assistance from Iblis, the Great Satan himself.
“And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded: ‘Indeed, Allāh had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allāh] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.’” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:22)
Giving up on Satan, they will turn to the angels guarding Hell to get their torment reduced, even if just for a day:
“And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell: ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us [even] one day from the punishment.’” (Surah Al-Ghafir, 40:49)
Awaiting the response for as long as Allāh wills, the guards will come back and ask:
“‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They (Hell’s keepers) will reply: ‘Then supplicate yourselves, but the supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but (an exercise in) futility.’” (Surah Al-Ghafir, 40:50)
Losing hope in the reduction of punishment, they will seek death. This time they will turn to the Hell’s Chief Keeper, the angel, Malik, pleading to him for forty years:
“And they will call: ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!...’” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:77)
His curt rebuttal after a thousand years will be:
“…Indeed, you will remain.” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:77)
Eventually, they will return to He Whom they refused to turn to in this world, asking for one last chance:
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers.’” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:106-107)
Allāh’s respond will be thus:
“Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:108)
The pain from this response will be worse than their fiery torment. For the disbeliever will know his stay in Hell will be for an eternity, his omission from Paradise absolute and final:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong – never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is easy.” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:168-169)
The greatest deprivation and sorrow for an unbeliever will be spiritual: he will be veiled from Allāh and will be deprived of seeing Him:
“No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:15)
Just like they refused to “see” Him in this life, they will be separated from Allāh in the next life. The faithful will jeer at them.
“So Today, those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?” (Surah Al-Mutaffifin, 83:34-36)
Their total despair and grief will culminate when death is brought in the form of a ram and slaughtered in front of them, so they know no refuge will ever be found in a final dissolution.
“And warn them, (O Muhammad), of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and yet they are heedless, and they do not believe!” (Surah Maryam, 19:39)
“…and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour, a Blaze. When it [Hellfire] sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.” (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:11-12)
When they near it, they will anticipate their shackles and their destiny as fuel:
“Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.” (Surah Al-Insan, 76:4)
“Indeed, with Us are shackles and burning fire.” (Surah Al-Muzzammil, 73:12)
Angels will rush at Allāh’s command to seize and shackle him:
“Seize him and shackle him.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:30)
“…and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved.” (Surah Saba’, 34:33)
Bound in chains…
“…a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:32)
…he will be dragged along:
“When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along.” (Surah Al-Ghaffir, 40:71)
While they are being tied down, chained, and dragged to be thrown into Hell, they will hear its rage:
“And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage....” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:6-8)
Since they will be driven from the great plain of gathering, naked and hungry, they will beg the inhabitants of Paradise for water:
“And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise: ‘Pour upon us some water, or from whatever Allāh has provided you.’ They will say: ‘Indeed Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.’” (Surah Al-‘Araf, 7:50)
At the same time the faithful in Paradise will be received with honor, made comfortable, and served with delicious banquets, the disbeliever will dine in Hell:
“Then indeed, you, the stray, the deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqūm and filling your bellies with it.” (Surah Al-Waqiah, 56:51-53)
Zaqqum: a tree whose roots are in the bottom of Hell and which branches into its other levels; its fruit resembles the heads of the devils:
“Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqūm? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruits as if it was heads of the devils. And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:62-66)
The wicked will have other food to eat as well, some that chokes,[Surah Al-Jinn,72:13] and some like dry, thorny bushes.[Surah Al-Ghasiyah, 88:6-7]
“Nor any food except from the (foul) discharge of wounds; none will eat it except the sinners.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:36-37)
And to wash down their melancholy meals, an extremely cold mix of their own purse, blood, sweat and wound discharge[Surah An-Naba, 78:24-25] as well as boiling, scolding water which dissolves their intestines:
“…and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines.” (Surah Muhammad, 47:15)
The clothing of the denizens of Hell will be made of fire and pitch:
“...but those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire.” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:19)
“Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:50)
Their sandals, [Sahih Muslim] bed, and canopies will likewise be made of fire; [Surah Al-Araf, 7:41] a punishment encapsulating the entire body, from heedless head to transgressing toe:
“Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan, 44:48)
“On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said: ‘Taste what you used to do.’” (Quran Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:55)
Their punishment in Hell will vary according to their disbelief and other sins.
“By no means! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what the Crusher is? It is the fire of Allāh, [eternally] fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it [Hellfire] will be closed down upon them. In extended columns.” (Surah Al-Fil, 104:5-9)
Every time the skin will burn through, it will be replenished with new skin:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:56)
Worst of all, the punishment will keep increasing:
“So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment.” (Surah An-Naba, 78:30)
The psychological effect of this punishing chastisement will be tremendous. A chastisement so severe that its sufferers will cry out for it to be multiplied on those who led them astray:
“They will say: ‘Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us – increase for him double punishment in the Fire.’” (Surah Sad, 38:61)
The daring will make their first attempt to break out, but:
“And for them are maces of iron. Every time they want to get out of it from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said]: ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!’” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:21-22)
After failing several times, they will seek assistance from Iblis, the Great Satan himself.
“And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded: ‘Indeed, Allāh had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allāh] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.’” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:22)
Giving up on Satan, they will turn to the angels guarding Hell to get their torment reduced, even if just for a day:
“And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell: ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us [even] one day from the punishment.’” (Surah Al-Ghafir, 40:49)
Awaiting the response for as long as Allāh wills, the guards will come back and ask:
“‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They (Hell’s keepers) will reply: ‘Then supplicate yourselves, but the supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but (an exercise in) futility.’” (Surah Al-Ghafir, 40:50)
Losing hope in the reduction of punishment, they will seek death. This time they will turn to the Hell’s Chief Keeper, the angel, Malik, pleading to him for forty years:
“And they will call: ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!...’” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:77)
His curt rebuttal after a thousand years will be:
“…Indeed, you will remain.” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:77)
Eventually, they will return to He Whom they refused to turn to in this world, asking for one last chance:
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers.’” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:106-107)
Allāh’s respond will be thus:
“Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:108)
The pain from this response will be worse than their fiery torment. For the disbeliever will know his stay in Hell will be for an eternity, his omission from Paradise absolute and final:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong – never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is easy.” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:168-169)
The greatest deprivation and sorrow for an unbeliever will be spiritual: he will be veiled from Allāh and will be deprived of seeing Him:
“No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:15)
Just like they refused to “see” Him in this life, they will be separated from Allāh in the next life. The faithful will jeer at them.
“So Today, those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?” (Surah Al-Mutaffifin, 83:34-36)
Their total despair and grief will culminate when death is brought in the form of a ram and slaughtered in front of them, so they know no refuge will ever be found in a final dissolution.
“And warn them, (O Muhammad), of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and yet they are heedless, and they do not believe!” (Surah Maryam, 19:39)
Allāhumma inni as alukal jannah wa a ‘udzu bika minan-nār. (O Allāh, I ask Thou for Paradise and seek refuge in Thou from the Fire) [Narrated by Abu Dawud, 792: sahih] Rabbana âtina fid duñya hasanatan, wa fil âkhirati hasanah, wa qina `âdzabañnâr (Our Lord! Bestow upon us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire). (Al-Baqarah 2:201)
Allāh Almighty Knows Best
[Via IslamReligion]
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