Hell is brought forth

For disbelievers and sinners, the angels will drag Hell itself into view. Allah says:

وَجِاْيٓءَ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بِجَهَنَّمَۚ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ

And Hell, that Day, will be brought forth. On that Day man will remember, but what will remembrance avail him then?
(Al Fajr 89:23)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُؤْتَى بِجَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَهَا سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ زِمَامٍ مَعَ كُلِّ زِمَامٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَجُرُّونَهَا

Hell will be brought that Day with seventy thousand ropes, each rope held by seventy thousand angels.
(Muslim)

Imagine the size and terror of Hell being pulled forward by millions of angels, roaring and raging with fire as people witness it. Its flames will burst forth and its breath will make even the prophets tremble.

The nature and reality of Hell

Hell, Jahannam, is not a symbol or metaphor, but a real creation of Allah, already existing and blazing. The Prophet ﷺ said:

لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ أَرْسَلَ جِبْرِيلَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ انْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا وَإِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لِأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا قَالَ فَجَاءَهَا وَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِلَى مَا أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لِأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا قَالَ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فَوَعِزَّتِكَ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهَا فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَحُفَّتْ بِالْمَكَارِهِ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهَا فَانْظُرْ إِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لِأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا قَالَ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ حُفَّتْ بِالْمَكَارِهِ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لَقَدْ خِفْتُ أَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَهَا أَحَدٌ قَالَ اذْهَبْ إِلَى النَّارِ فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا وَإِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لِأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ يَرْكَبُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لَا يَسْمَعُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ فَيَدْخُلَهَا فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَحُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهَا فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ لَا يَنْجُوَ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهَا

When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He sent Jibril to Paradise saying: Behold it and what I have prepared therein for its people. Jibril came and looked at it and what Allah had prepared therein for its people, then he returned to Allah and he said: By Your might, no one will hear of it but that he will enter it. Allah ordered that it be surrounded by adversity and He said: Return to it and behold what I have prepared therein for its people. Jibril returned and found that it was surrounded by hardship, then he returned to Allah and he said: By Your might, I fear that no one will enter it. Allah said: Go to the Hellfire and behold it and what I have prepared therein for its people. Jibril found that it was in layers, one above another, then he returned to Allah and he said: By Your might, no one who hears of it will enter it. Allah ordered that it be surrounded by desires and He said: Return to it. Jibril returned and he said: By Your might, I fear that no one will escape it.

(Tirmidhi)

It stands as the eternal manifestation of Allah’s perfect justice, just as Paradise represents His mercy. Allah says:

إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتْ مِرْصَادًا لِّلطَّاغِينَ مَآبًا

Indeed, Hell lies in wait — a place of return for the transgressors.
(An Naba 78:21–22)

It is described with many names in revelation, each portraying an aspect of its horror: Jahannam for its depth, Jaḥeem for its intensity, Saqar for its scorching fire, Ḥutamah for its crushing force, Laza for its flame, and Hawiyah for its abyss. Allah says:

لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ

It has seven gates; for each gate is a portion assigned.
(Al-HIjr 15:44)

Classical commentators such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubi wrote that these gates correspond to levels of disbelief and sin, descending one below the other — the lowest reserved for the hypocrites.

The heat, fury, and depth of Hell

Its heat is beyond imagination. The Prophet ﷺ said:

نَارُكُمْ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ

Your (ordinary) fire that the sons of Adam kindle is one part of seventy parts of the fire of Hell.

(Bukhari)

Allah describes it as penetrating the hearts:

نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ

The Fire of Allah, kindled, which rises over the hearts.
(Al-Humazah, 104:6–7)

It is alive and enraged. The Qur’an says,

إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍۢ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا,

When it sees them from afar, they will hear its fury and roaring.
(Al Furqan, 25:12)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

If a stone were thrown into Hell, it would fall for seventy years before reaching its bottom.

(Muslim)

In another hadith he ﷺ heard a sound and said,

That was a stone thrown into Hell seventy years ago, and it has just reached the bottom.

(Muslim)

He ﷺ also described:

Its raging breath will make even prophets tremble, as each will cry, “Myself, myself,” except the Prophet ﷺ who will say, “My ummah, my ummah.” (Aḥmad)

Hell even speaks and complains to its Creator. The Prophet ﷺ said:

Hell complained to its Lord saying, ‘O my Lord, parts of me have consumed the other parts.’ So He allowed it two breaths: one in winter and one in summer — that is why you find extreme heat and cold.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

And in another narration:

Hell will keep saying, ‘Are there any more?’ until the Lord places His Foot upon it, and it will say, ‘Enough! Enough!’ and it will contract.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

The guardians and inhabitants of Hell

Over Hell are angels so stern and unyielding that they never show weakness or disobedience. Allah says:

عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

Over it are angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do as they are ordered.
(At Tahrim 66:6)

Their chief is Malik. Allah says:

وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّاكِثُونَ,

And they will call, ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us!’ He will say, ‘Indeed, you will remain.’
(Az-Zukhruf 43:77)

The disbelievers will dwell in Hell forever, while the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths:

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire.
(An-Nisa’, 4:145)

As for sinful believers, they may enter temporarily, then be purified by Allah’s mercy and the intercession of the righteous.

The Seven Gates and Their People

Scholars such as Ibn Kathir, al-Qurṭubi, and al-Suyuṭi have commented that the seven gates are for the following:

• First gate: for major sinners from the Muslim ummah who delayed repentance.
• Second: for the Jews who rejected ʿĪsā (AS).
• Third: for the Christians who worshipped him.
• Fourth: for the Sabians and Magians.
• Fifth: for idol worshippers.
• Sixth: for hypocrites.
• Seventh (lowest): for the worst disbelievers — those who knowingly opposed Allah and His Messenger.

The scale of its inhabitants

The Prophet ﷺ said:

The molar tooth of the disbeliever will be like Mount Uhud, and the thickness of his skin will be seventy cubits.

(Muslim)

He also said:

The distance between the two shoulders of the inhabitant of Hell will be the distance of a three-day journey for a fast rider.

(Muslim)

This enormity corresponds to the magnitude of their punishment — bodies made vast so they can experience torment fully, each cell tasting the heat.

The food, drink, and garments of Hell

Their food will be the cursed tree of Zaqqum:

إِنَّ شَجَرَتَ الزَّقُّومِ طَعَامُ الْأَثِيمِ كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ

Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinner — like molten brass, it will boil within their bellies.

(Ad-Dukhan 44:43–46)

Their drink will be scalding water and pus:

وَسُقُوا مَاءً حَمِيمًا فَقَطَّعَ أَمْعَاءَهُمْ

They will be given to drink boiling water that tears apart their intestines.
(Muhammad, 47:15)

Their garments will be of molten tar:

سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ النَّارُ

Their garments will be of pitch, and the Fire will cover their faces.
(Ibrahim 14:50)

And whenever their skins are burned away, Allah will renew them:

كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ

Whenever their skins are burned, We will replace them with new skins so they may taste the punishment.
(An Nisa, 4:56)

Even the least punished will suffer unbearably. The Prophet ﷺ said,

The least punished man in Hell will have sandals and straps of fire, from which his brain will boil as if in a cauldron.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

The conversations and despair of its people

The Qur’an describes their cries for relief:

وَهُمۡ يَصۡطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَآ أَخۡرِجۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَٰلِحًا غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِي كُنَّا نَعۡمَلُۚ أَوَلَمۡ نُعَمِّرۡكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَآءَكُمُ ٱلنَّذِيرُۖ فَذُوقُواْ فَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ

They will cry out in Hell and say: “Our Lord, let us out so that we may act righteously, different from what we did before.” (They will be told): “Did we not grant you an age long enough for anyone to take heed if he had wanted to take heed? Besides, there came a warner to you. So have a taste of the torment now. None may come to the help of the wrong-doers.”

(Fatir 35:37)

The people of the Fire will cry to the people of Paradise:

أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ أَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ

Pour upon us some water or whatever Allah has provided you,

and will be told,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ

Indeed, Allah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.
(Al Araf, 7:50)

Their faces will be dragged along the Fire:

يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ

They will be dragged on their faces into the Fire.
(Al Qamar, 54:48)

Communities in Hellfire

قَالَ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِيٓ أُمَمٖ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ فِي ٱلنَّارِۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتۡ أُمَّةٞ لَّعَنَتۡ أُخۡتَهَاۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱدَّارَكُواْ فِيهَا جَمِيعٗا قَالَتۡ أُخۡرَىٰهُمۡ لِأُولَىٰهُمۡ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَـَٔاتِهِمۡ عَذَابٗا ضِعۡفٗا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِۖ قَالَ لِكُلّٖ ضِعۡفٞ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَعۡلَمُونَ

[Allah] will say, “Enter the Fire along with the communities of jinn and humans who’ve passed away.” Whenever a community enters the Fire, it will curse its fellow community, up until each of them has followed all the others into it, and the last of them will say about the first of them, “Our Lord, here are those who misled us, so double their punishment in the Fire.” He will say, “Each of you will have double the punishment, though you don’t know it.

(Al Araf 7:38)

The people of hellfire argue and curse each other

Sometimes you have to be shown the bitter reality as scary as it is, rather than having it sugar-coated. Those who rebelled from jinn and humans will go into hellfire. We see that multitudes of communities will enter the fire – such as the jinn, the people of Aad and Thamud. Each community which enters will curse the other communities. They blame them for leading them astray and those they followed will argue back.

The leaders and followers will squabble among each other and ask Allah to give each other a double punishment.

The khutbah and disavowal of Shaytan

In Surah Ibrahim, Allah highlights one of the very scary scenes from the Day of Judgement.

وَبَرَزُواْ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعٗا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُاْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمۡ تَبَعٗا فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّغۡنُونَ عَنَّا مِنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٖۚ قَالُواْ لَوۡ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيۡنَٰكُمۡۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡنَآ أَجَزِعۡنَآ أَمۡ صَبَرۡنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٖ

They will all appear before Allah, and the lowly ˹followers˺ will appeal to the arrogant ˹leaders˺, “We were your ˹dedicated˺ followers, so will you ˹then˺ protect us from Allah’s torment in any way?” They will reply, “Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. ˹Now˺ it is all the same for us whether we suffer patiently or impatiently, there is no escape for us.”

(Ibrahim 14:21)

In Imam al-Baghawi’s tafseer, he commented that this scene takes place in Hell, after the people of Jannah have got into Jannah, and the people of Hellfire have got into Hellfire. Allah also mentions this scene in Surah Ghafir, where He says:

وَإِذۡ يَتَحَآجُّونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ فَيَقُولُ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُاْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمۡ تَبَعٗا فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّغۡنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِيبٗا مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ

And [mention] when they will argue within the Fire, and the weak will say to those who had been arrogant, “Indeed, we were [only] your followers, so will you relieve us of a share of the Fire?”

(Ghafir 40:47)

Shaytan will say to them after their issues are settled:

وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمۡ وَعۡدَ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمۡ فَأَخۡلَفۡتُكُمۡۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوۡتُكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَجَبۡتُمۡ لِيۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۖ مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصۡرِخِكُمۡ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصۡرِخِيَّ إِنِّي كَفَرۡتُ بِمَآ أَشۡرَكۡتُمُونِ مِن قَبۡلُۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ

Allah promised you a truthful promise while I gave you a promise and did not fulfil it. I had no authority over you, except that I invited you and you accepted my call. So, do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot save you, nor can you save me. I reject your associating me with Allah in the past. Surely, there is a painful punishment for the unjust.

(Ibrahim 14:22)

Imam al-Baghawi says in his tafseer that Shaytan will have mimbar, and the second ayah will be the khutbah he delivers in Jahannam. You have no one to blame but yourselves. Don’t blame me. You deceived yourselves and thought I had control over you, but I don’t. It was your choice to accept my call. I can’t do anything for you, you failed yourselves. I cannot help you in anything.

When we look at this scene from Surah Ibrahim, and Allah is warning us that it’s all about our personal choices. Those who were blindly following their leaders, without questioning their actions, will end up in Hellfire and wonder how they got there. They will have been inspired by the believers, who had the Prophet ﷺ intercede for them, and ask who will intercede for them. They will go to their leaders from the dunya – and this is where the conversation in the first ayah will take place. The leaders will say they can’t protect them. They did not benefit even themselves from the guidance of Allah, and stupidly, the people followed them. This is the consequence of their own choices.

When they have given up on the leaders, the people will go to Shaytan. He is the boss of all evil, maybe he can do something. Imam al-Baghawi says in his tafseer that Shaytan will have mimbar, and the second ayah will be the khutbah he delivers in Jahannam. You have no one to blame but yourselves. Don’t blame me. You deceived yourselves and thought I had control over you, but I don’t. It was your choice to accept my call. I can’t do anything for you, you failed yourselves. I cannot help you in anything.

We see that Allah is teaching us that we are responsible for our own choices. Be careful who to follow. Be careful how to take your decisions. Because the people of Jahannam will regret it when it’s too late.

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقّٗا فَهَلۡ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمۡ حَقّٗاۖ قَالُواْ نَعَمۡۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن لَّعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبۡغُونَهَا عِوَجٗا وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ كَٰفِرُونَ

And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, “We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?” They will say, “Yes.” Then an announcer will announce among them, “The curse of Allah shall be upon the wrongdoers.”

قَالَ يَٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّي ٱصۡطَفَيۡتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَٰلَٰتِي وَبِكَلَٰمِي فَخُذۡ مَآ ءَاتَيۡتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

(Al Araf 7:44-45)

Here, Allah Almighty defines three traits of the wrongdoers, Sudoon, those who diverted others from the straight path, Yabghoona, those who transgressed the boundaries, and bil Aakhirati Kafiroon, those who denied the hereafter.

Sudood means to divert somebody from the path. We discussed this in the story of Abu Lahab and his wife in Surat Masad, as well as in the example of Waleed bin Mugheera and how he conceived plots and plans to slander and tarnish the reputation of the Prophet ﷺ to deviate him from the path. They disbelieved and they wanted others to join in the campaign. They wished to distort the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.

In modern times, this can be witnessed through the example of people in authority whether they be government leaders or the head of the clergy. In the Muslim world, there may be instances where the clergy follow the blind authority of the king or sultan irrespective of whether the sultan is right or wrong. This can lead to a distortion of the truth and changing Islamic rulings to make permissible what Allah deemed impermissible. A similar example can be seen in secular governments where the fear of being sacked or greed or hunger to climb the power ladder has lead members of government to change their position on issues of justice and leadership.

Finally, the disbelievers denied the hereafter which is the principle tenet of imaan.

Importance of intention

In the Hadith Qudsi one of the first three people to be thrown in hellfire are scholars who did not act upon the knowledge they had.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognise them. [ The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied – you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Qur’an. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognise them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Qur’an for Your sake. He will say: You have lied – you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Qur’an that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognise them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [untrodden] in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say: You have lied – you did but do so that it might be said [of you]: He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Muslim, Tirmidhi and an-Nasa’i]

Shaytan will pursue such people as they become tools to destroy the community from within it. He knows the community and can corrupt it. We have this in our society – some scholars who are so knowledgeable and famous, and appear on TV but are corrupt and using their knowledge to justify haram and oppression. It is completely against the Shariah, but they are stamping it as halal.

Leaders and followers

Leaders enter hellfire before their followers. However, they will turn on their followers and say that their followers were no less evil than them and they did not force them to follow them, so they are no better than them. They will focus on the worse qualities in them, unlike the believers who will focus on the good things and erase the bad. These are painful scenes from Jahannum.

Allah says:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ عَنۡهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمۡ أَبۡوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلۡجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ ٱلۡخِيَاطِۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

Those who deny Our signs and consider them beneath their dignity, the gates of Heaven will not open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle; that is how We punish sinners

(Al Araf 7:40)

Allah says the doors of Jannah will not open for those who refused His signs. The Arabic expression ‘til a camel can pass through the eye of a needle’ is the equivalent of the expression in English ‘pigs might fly’. It is impossible. The gates of mercy will be closed to sinners who did not repent.

In Surat Fatir, Allah Almighty says:

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدٞۖ وَمَكۡرُ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ

Whoever desires honour [through power] – then to Allah belongs all honour. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those – it will perish.

(Fatir 35:10)

وَقَالَتۡ أُولَىٰهُمۡ لِأُخۡرَىٰهُمۡ فَمَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ عَلَيۡنَا مِن فَضۡلٖ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡسِبُونَ

 

Then the first to enter will say to the last, “You were no better than us, so taste the punishment for what you earned.

(Al Araf 7:39)

Exchange between people of Jannah and hellfire

Allah Almighty will speak on behalf of the people of Jannah. The people of hellfire used to say in the dunya that Allah has given them more wealth and followers so He will not punish them. Here, Allah Almighty challenges them.

أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقۡسَمۡتُمۡ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِرَحۡمَةٍۚ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُونَ

(Al Araf 7:49)

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَنۡ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ أَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

The companions of Hell will ask the companions of Paradise: “Give us some water or anything else Allah has provided you.” They will say, “Allah has forbidden both for the disbelievers

(Al Araf 7:50)

The people of the hellfire will experience extreme hunger and thirst. They will recognise the people of Jannah and call to them for help. However, on that day it will be too late to help the disbelievers.

Allah says:

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقّٗا فَهَلۡ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمۡ حَقّٗاۖ قَالُواْ نَعَمۡۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن لَّعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

The people in Paradise will call out the people of the Fire: “We’ve found what our Lord promised to be true, have you found what your Lord promised you to be true?” They will say, “Yes!” So, an announcement will be made: “The curse of Allah is on the wrongdoer (Al Araf 7:44)

From such verses, we can attempt to explain that Jannah will possibly be positioned above hellfire.

People of Jannah will call to the people of the hellfire to confirm that they believed in the truth and they were rewarded for what they believed.

The regret of the disbelievers

Those who rejected Allah’s signs and lived in arrogance or disbelief, the scene will be very different.

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدُونَ

Indeed, the criminals will be in the torment of Hell, to remain there forever. The punishment will not be lightened for them, and they will be in deep despair. We did not wrong them, but they were themselves the wrongdoers.
(Az Zukhruf 43:74–76)

When the punishment becomes unbearable, they will call out for relief:

وَنَادَوۡاْ يَٰمَٰلِكُ لِيَقۡضِ عَلَيۡنَا رَبُّكَۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّـٰكِثُونَ

They will cry, ‘O Malik (the keeper of Hell), let your Lord make an end of us!’ He will reply, ‘You will remain forever.’
(Az Zukhruf 43:77)

This conversation shows that the greatest pain in Hell is not only the fire itself, but also the despair, the realisation that there is no escape and that they wasted their only chance in this world.

Those whose final destination was hell rejected Allah and disobeyed Him. They were:

Those who took their religion for distraction, a mere game and were deluded by worldly life. Today We shall ignore them, just as they have ignored their meeting with this Day and denied our Revelation.

who made their religion a fanfare, a sport and were deceived by worldly life. Today We shall abandon them just as they neglected their meeting with Us on this day, they disputed Our signs.

(Qur’an 7:51)

Allah Almighty uses the words amusement and pastime to show how the disbelievers viewed the message and how they rejected it. Now, in this verse, Allah Almighty says on that Day, they will be treated just as they treated the revelation, because they were given many opportunities to reflect and rectify themselves, but they mocked the verses and a trivia of them.

The justice of Allah

Through all of this, Allah’s justice will be clear. He does not wrong anyone. Every reward and punishment will match what each person earned. Those who believed and did good will find a peace and happiness beyond imagination, and those who ignored the truth will face what they chose for themselves.

As Allah says:

وَمَن يَعۡمَلۡ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَلَا يَخَافُ ظُلۡمٗا وَلَا هَضۡمٗا

Whoever works deeds of righteousness while believing will have no fear of injustice, nor of any loss.
(Ta Ha 20:112)

The good deeds of disbelievers

Allah says:

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ حَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡۚ هَلۡ يُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter – their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?

(Al Araf 7:147)

The verse says that the deeds of those who deny the Hereafter will be worth nothing on the Day of Judgement. They will not be rewarded by for the good that they did. There are different opinions on how the good deeds of disbelievers are treated. There is no doubt that their good deeds are rewarded during their lifetime, but scholars disagreed if they get any reward in the afterlife for them.

Scholars divide good deeds into two parts:

The first: that requires intention.

Second: that does not require intention like sadaqa and gifts.

What required intention is not valid from the disbeliever and does not benefit from it at all, neither in this world nor in the hereafter.

As for what does not require the intention, he will benefit from it in this world, according to the correct view of most scholars.

As for the hereafter, he does not benefit from it in the sense that it does not save him from the Fire, there is consensus on this.

They differed as to mitigating the punishment for him with these actions, according to two views:

The first: He does not benefit from it, and this is the majority view, but some of them narrated it as Ijma’ consensus.

The second: It is possible for God to benefit him with His kindness. This is the view of Al-Hafiz Al-Bayhaqi, and Ibn Hajar inclined towards this in Al-Fath and Ibn Rajab and others.

Some scholars like Qadi Iyad and Al-Zarkashi claim that there is a consensus Ijma’ that disbeliever receive no reward for good deeds in the afterlife and they use this verse and others like it as evidence. However there is no consensus (ijma) on this even though they claim it and this is a famous opinion. It is very theological discussion. To cut a long story short, those who say there is no reward are following the literal meaning of verses without putting them together with other verses.

Imam al Bayhaqi and ibn Hajar al Asqalani have commented on this topic and mentioned that the good deeds of disbelievers would be rewarded but overall this is a disagreed issue. Imam al Kashmiri in his commentary on Bukhari mentioned that the disbelievers will have different ranks in Jahannam. If Allah is the Lord of Justice and there are different levels of hell, then good deeds must have an impact in which level they will be. Allah would not treat the disbeliever who did good in the same way He would treat an evil tyrant. Moreover a tyrant has control over others, whereas another disbeliever does not kill others or destroy nations, so it would not be justice to treat them in the same way; that would be oppression. In Surat an-Nisa, Allah Almighty describes that the lowest level of Jahannam is for hypocrites:

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ فِي ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡ نَصِيرًا

Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them

(An Nisa 4:145)

The least severe (in torment) of its levels narrated by Nu’maan ibn Basheer who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

The least severely punished of the people of Hell will be a man who has two shoes and shoelaces of Fire – according to another version: two live coals will be placed on the soles of his feet – because of which his brains will boil as a pot boils. He will not think that anyone is being punished more severely than him, but he will be the one who is punished most lightly.

(Bukhari)

The intercession and release of some believers

Despite its unimaginable horror, Allah’s mercy will prevail for some. After the prophets, angels, and righteous intercede, Allah Himself will say:

بَقِيَتْ شَفَاعَتِي‏.‏ فَيَقْبِضُ قَبْضَةً مِنَ النَّارِ فَيُخْرِجُ أَقْوَامًا قَدِ امْتُحِشُوا، فَيُلْقَوْنَ فِي نَهَرٍ بِأَفْوَاهِ الْجَنَّةِ يُقَالُ لَهُ مَاءُ الْحَيَاةِ، فَيَنْبُتُونَ فِي حَافَتَيْهِ كَمَا تَنْبُتُ الْحِبَّةُ فِي حَمِيلِ السَّيْلِ، قَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهَا إِلَى جَانِبِ الصَّخْرَةِ إِلَى جَانِبِ الشَّجَرَةِ، فَمَا كَانَ إِلَى الشَّمْسِ مِنْهَا كَانَ أَخْضَرَ، وَمَا كَانَ مِنْهَا إِلَى الظِّلِّ كَانَ أَبْيَضَ، فَيَخْرُجُونَ كَأَنَّهُمُ اللُّؤْلُؤُ، فَيُجْعَلُ فِي رِقَابِهِمُ الْخَوَاتِيمُ فَيَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ هَؤُلاَءِ عُتَقَاءُ الرَّحْمَنِ أَدْخَلَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ عَمَلٍ عَمِلُوهُ وَلاَ خَيْرٍ قَدَّمُوهُ‏.‏ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ لَكُمْ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ وَمِثْلُهُ مَعَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏

 

Now remains My intercession.” So He will take a handful from the Fire and bring out people who have been completely burnt. They will be thrown into a river at the entrance of Paradise, called The Water of Life. They will grow on its banks just as a seed grows in the silt carried by a flood — you have seen how it grows next to a rock or near a tree: that which is exposed to the sun becomes green, and that which is in the shade becomes white.

They will come out shining like pearls, and rings will be placed on their necks, and they will enter Paradise. The people of Paradise will say, “These are the ones freed by the Most Merciful. He admitted them into Paradise without any good deed they did or goodness they sent forth.” It will then be said to them, “For you is what you see, and the like of it with it.”
(Muslim)

Thus they will be placed in the River of Life at the gates of Paradise, and they will grow anew as seeds grow on the banks of a river. Their bodies will be purified, their faces will shine, and they will enter Jannah — the eternal home of peace.

The finality of Hell

For the people of Jahannam, there will be no escape and no end. Allah says:

لَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَمُوتُوا وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُم مِّنْ عَذَابِهَا

It will not be decreed for them to die, nor will its punishment be lightened for them.

(Fatir, 35:36)

Hell is the embodiment of divine justice. Vast, deep, and alive, it will roar, rage, and consume, its flames fed by men and stones.

Its existence is both a warning and a mercy, and a call to reflection before it is too late. As the Prophet ﷺ said:

وَاللَّهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا، وَلَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً

If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.

(Bukhari)

Hell is a living, sentient creation, obedient to Allah’s will, raging with His command but never exceeding His justice.

The last man to be taken out of Hell

The Prophet ﷺ described:

إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ آخِرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ دُخُولًا الْجَنَّةَ وَآخِرَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ خُرُوجًا مِنْهَا رَجُلٌ يُؤْتَى بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيُقَالُ اعْرِضُوا عَلَيْهِ صِغَارَ ذُنُوبِهِ وَارْفَعُوا عَنْهُ كِبَارَهَا فَتُعْرَضُ عَلَيْهِ صِغَارُ ذُنُوبِهِ فَيُقَالُ عَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا وَعَمِلْتَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا كَذَا وَكَذَا فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُنْكِرَ وَهُوَ مُشْفِقٌ مِنْ كِبَارِ ذُنُوبِهِ أَنْ تُعْرَضَ عَلَيْهِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ فَإِنَّ لَكَ مَكَانَ كُلِّ سَيِّئَةٍ حَسَنَةً فَيَقُولُ رَبِّ قَدْ عَمِلْتُ أَشْيَاءَ لَا أَرَاهَا هَا هُنَا

Verily, I know the last of the people of Paradise to enter it and the last of the people of Hell to come out of it. He is a man who is brought on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said: Present his minor sins to him and withhold his major sins. Then the minor sins will be placed before him and it will be said: On this day you did this, and this day you did this. He will say yes. It is not possible for him to deny it, while he will be afraid that his major sins will be presented before him. It will be said: In place of every evil deed you will receive one good deed. He will say: My Lord, I have done other things I do not see here.

(Muslim)

Purpose and wisdom behind hell

Scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim and al-Ghazali highlight the wisdom of hell.

Hell exists to manifest Allah’s attributes — Al-ʿAdl (The Just), Al-Qahhar (The Subduer), Al-Muntaqim (The Avenger).

It proves that Allah does not wrong anyone, for every soul will see the truth of its own deeds.

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that even in punishment, there is mercy, for the believer who is purified and saved is better off than if his sin remained.

The Fire of Jahannam is a creation of divine precision and truth. Its horror is not vengeance but justice; its terror is not cruelty but consequence. It was promised to those who turned away from light, mocked revelation, and preferred arrogance to humility. Yet even in its shadow, mercy is present for the believer who trembles at its mention, prays for safety, and seeks refuge in Allah has already begun his journey away from it.

The Prophet ﷺ would often say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ

O Allah, protect me from the Fire.

(Abu Dawud)

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