The Keepers Of The Hell

Banu Salleh

They are Mighty And Stern Angels

They never disobey God. They do precisely as ordered.

Allah Says: “Those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Pray to your Lord to lighten for us the penalty for a day (at least).’ 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 not but in error.’” (Al-Ghafir, 40:49-50).

“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels, stern and severe, and who do not disobey Allah in what He orders them and who do precisely what they are commanded.” (At-Tahrim, 66:6).

They Are Nineteen Keepers Of Hell

“Soon I will cast him into Hell Fire. And what will explain to you what is Hellfire? Nothing does it allow to endure, and nothing does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of man! Over it are nineteen (angels as keepers of Hell). And We have not made the guardians of the Fire except angels. And We have made their number only as a trial for the unbelievers – in order that the People of the Book may be certain and that the believers may increase in faith, and so that the People of the Book and the believers would not doubt, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the unbelievers would say, ‘What example does Allah intend by this?’ Thus does Allah leave to stray whom he pleases and guides whom He pleases? And none can know the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And this is nothing other than a warning to mankind.” (Al-Muddathir, 74:26-31).

One should not think that the inhabitants of Hell will be able to overcome the keepers of Hell because there are just nineteen of them. Every one of them has the strength to subdue all humanity by himself. These angels are called the Guards of Hell by God in the Quran:“And those in the Fire will say to the Guards of Hell, ‘Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!’” (Al-Ghafir, 40:49).

The Chief Angel Guarding Over Hell Is Malik

Allah Says: “Surely, the disbelievers will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever. (The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein. We wronged them not, but they were the wrongdoers. And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He will say: ‘Surely, you shall abide forever.’ Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Az-Zukhruf, 43:74-78).

Samurah RA narrated that the Prophet SAW said: “Last night I saw [in a dream] two men coming to me. One of them said, ‘The one who lights the fire is Malik, the gatekeeper of Hell; I am Jibril, and this is Mika’el.’” (Al-Bukhari).

Ibn Abbas RA related: “The Prophet SAW said, ‘On the night of my ascent to Heaven. I saw Musa (who was a tall, brown, curly-haired man) as if he was one of the men of the Shan’awah tribe. Then I saw ‘Isa, a man of medium height, of moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors, and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gatekeeper of the Hellfire.’” (Muslim).

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