The Gates of Hell

 

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

 

Ibn Katheer commenting on this aayah, said:

“This means that each gate has been allotted its share of the followers of Iblees who will enter it, and the will not be able to avoid it. May Allaah protect us from it. Each will enter a gate according to his deeds, and will be assigned to a level of Hell according to his deeds.”

 

It was reported from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (radiAllahu anhu) that he said, during a khutbah (sermon):

“The gates of Hell are such and-such”.

 

Abu Harun said,

“They are in layers, one above the other”.

 

It is reported that he also said,

“The gates of Hell number seven, one above the other. The first will be filled, then the second, then the third, until all of them are filled.”

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/162)

 

 

When the disbelievers come to Hell, its gates will be opened, and they will enter it, to remain there forever:

“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened [suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners]. And its keepers will say, “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves – reciting to you the Verses of your Rabb, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours”. They will say, “Yes” but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers”. (39:71)

 

 

After they are admitted, they will be told:

“Enter you the gates of Hell, to abide therein. And [indeed] what an evil abode of the arrogant!” (39:72)

 

These gates will be shut upon the evildoers, and they will have no hope of ever escaping from them after that, as Allah says, “But those who reject Our Signs, they are the [unhappy] Companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over [all round].” (90:19-20)

 

Ibn ‘Abbaas said,

“vaulted” (literally: “shut over them”) means that the gates will be locked”.

al-Mujaahid pointed out that the word used (mu’sadah) is the word used in the dialect of Quraysh to mean “locked” or shut” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 7/298)

 

In the Qur’aan Allah says:
“Woe to every [kind of] scandalmonger and backbiter, who piles up wealth and lays it by. Thinking that his wealth would make him last forever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you that which breaks to pieces? The Fire of [the wrath of] Allaah, kindled [to a blaze], which mounts [right] to the heart. It shall be made into a vault over them, in columns outstretched.” (104:1-9)

 

 

Allaah  states that the gates of Hell will be locked behind them. Ibn Abbaas said,

“In columns outstretched” means that the gates will be stretched out”. ‘Atiyah said, “It is a pillar of iron”. Muqaatil said, “The gates will be closed firmly behind them and locked with a bolt of iron, so that the pain and heat will be intensified. The expression “stretched forth” applies to the “pillar”, meaning that the bolts with which the  gates are locked will be very long, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one”

(Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.61)

 

The gates of Hell may be opened and closed before the Day of Judgement. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told us that the gates of Hell are locked during the month of Ramadhan. at-Tirmidhi reported that Abu Hurayrah said the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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.”

(Ibid, p.66)

[al-Jannah wa an-Naar, page 10]

 

The Vast Extent of Hell

 

Hell is huge and vast and immensely deep, as is proven by several things:

 
(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. Nevertheless, Hell will accommodate the huge number of Kuffaar and evildoers who have existed throughout history, in spite of their huge size, and there will still be room for more, as Allaah says in the Qur’aan:

“On the Day when We will say to Hell: “Are you filled?” It will say: “Are there any more to come?” (50:30)

The Fire of Hell is like a mill to which are brought thousands upon thousands of tons of grain, which it grinds tirelessly until it is all done, then waits for more.

 

 

In the hadith that describes the debate between Paradise and Hell, it says that Allah  said to Hell, “You are My Punishment; I will punish in you whomsoever I will”. Both Paradise and Hell will be filled, but Hell will not be filled until Allah places His foot in it and it will say, “Enough, enough!”. Then it will be filled and its different parts will come closer to one another. Allah will not wrong any one of His Creation.

Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) (Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/544). [See the narration from Anas in al-Bukhaari, Muslim and Mishkaat ul-Masaabeeh, 3/109 with a similar meaning].

 

 

(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 (radiAllahu anhu) said:

“We were with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and we heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do you know what that was?” We said, “Allaah 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, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab fi shiddat haar an-naar, 4/2184 no. 2844)

 

 
Haakim reports from Abu Hurayrah, and Tabaraani from Mu’aadh and Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“If there was a huge stone as big as seven khalifaat stones, and it was thrown from the edge of Hell it would fly through it for seventy years before it reached the bottom”.

(Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer, 5/58, no. 5124, Its isnaad is saheeh).

 

 

(3) The great number of angels who will bring Hell forth on the Day of Resurrection.
The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) described how Hell will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, concerning which Allah said,

“And Hell will be brought near that Day”. (89:23)

 
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels.”

(reported by Muslim from ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ud, 4/2184 no.2842)

 
We can only image the vastness of this terrifying creation that requires such a huge number of strong and powerful angels whose strength is known only to Allaah!

 

 

(4) Another indication of the vastness of Hell is the fact that two great creations like the sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell. at-Tahhaawee reports, in Mishkil al-Aathaar, that Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahman said, “Abu Hurayrah told us that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“The sun and moon will be two rolled-up bulls in Hell on the Day of Resurrection”

al-Bayhaqi also reported this in “al-Ba’th wal-Nushur”, as did al-Bazzaar, al-Isma’ili and al-Khattaabi, with an isnaad that is saheeh according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari, who reported in al-Saheeh al-Mukhtasar, with the wording

“The sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell of the day of Resurrection”.

(Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated this hadeeth in Silsilah al-ahadeeth as-Saheehah, 1/32, hadith no:124)

 

[al-Jannah wa an-Naar, pg 7-8]

Dispute between the Hell and Jannah- Few beneficial points from Riyad us Saaliheen

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (RadiAllahu anhu) reported: The Prophet Muhammed (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

There was a dispute between the Hell and Jannah.

The Hell said: “The haughty and proud are my inmates.” Jannah said: “The modest and the humble are my residents”. Thereupon, Allah the Exalted and Glorious (addressing Jannah) said:
“You are My Mercy, through you I shall show mercy to those whom I wish”. (And addressing the Hell), He said: “You are (the means) of My punishment by which I shall punish such of My slaves as I wish and each one of you would have its fill”.

[Muslim].

Commentary:

1] In this Hadith people who are termed as `modest’ and `humble’ are the rich in Faith and piety. They lead a life of patience and contentment. This Hadith gives glad tidings to such noble people. On the contrary, it has a threat of Hell for those who disobey Divine injunctions and are haughty and proud. Now, it is entirely one’s own choice which way he goes.
2] The dialogue between Jannah and Hell quoted in this Hadith is not something impossible. It is not at all difficult for Allah to create in them such intelligence and consciousness which can enable them to make a discussion on the subjects mentioned in the Hadith. Thus, there is no need to offer any justification for the veracity of such Ahadith.

These should, therefore, be taken as literally correct. This Hadith is mentioned in detail in Musnad Ahmad and is narrated by Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu anhu) at greater length than in the narration of Abu Sa`id Al- Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) quoted in Kitab-ut-Tafsir (the Book of Commentary) of Sahih Al-Bukhari.

[End quote from Riyad us Saaliheen]

This hadith is also a refutation of Ashari/Jahmi belief who departed from the path of Salaf as Saalih. When we Salafis say that Allah speaks as it befits His Majesty but we do not know “how”, these Ashari and Jahmi comes up with arguments that “Speech is done only with tongue and lips” and therefore your (salafis) saying that Allah speaks necessitates that Allah too has tongue and lips (Astagfirullah).

We ask them regarding this hadith where Hell and Heaven dispute with each other by speaking to each other. Do you think it is done by tongue and lips? No. Its the power of Allah who can make speak anything just like our limbs will speak on the day of Judgement. And this is what Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) said in his commentary.

Further readings about Ashari and Jahmi belief:

• Narrations from the Salaf concerning what necessitates Allah’s Attributes does not necessitates the creations Attributes.|Part3| {Book: The ’Ash’aris: In the Scales of Ahl us-Sunnah}

Paradise and Hell Have Already Been Created- Refuting belief of Mu’tazilah | Qaadariyyah | Jahmiyyah

 

At-Tahaawi said, in his book on al-‘Aqeedah al-Salafiyyah (correct belief in accordance with that of the early generations of Islaam) that is known as al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah.

“Paradise and Hell have already been created. They will never come to an end or cease to exist. Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) created Paradise and Hell before the rest of creation, and He (subhanahu wa’tala) created inhabitants for each of them.

Whoever He (subhanahu wa’tala) wishes (will enter) Paradise by His grace and mercy, and whoever He (subhanahu wa’tala) wishes (will enter Hell) as a result of His (subhanahu wa’tala) justice.

Every person will behave according to that for which he was created, and his destiny will be that for which he was created; good deeds and evil deeds are foreordained for all men”.

 

Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abul-‘Izz al-Hanafi remarked, in his commentary on this text:

“With regard to his saying that Paradise and Hell have already been created, Ahl as-Sunnah agree that Paradise and Hell have been created and are in existence at the present moment. Ahlus-Sunnah continued to hold this view, until some odd ideas of the Mu’tazilah and Qaadariyyah came along, which denied that. These groups said: “Allaah will create them (i.e. Paradise and Hell) on the Day of Resurrection.” They said this because of their false arguments by means of which they seek to improve regulations on what Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) should do; (they say) it befits Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) to do this, or it does not befit Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) to do that. They compare Him to His creation and their actions. This is a kind of anthropomorphism with regard to deeds; they have allowed the ideas of Jahmiyyah (a sect of Mu’tazilah named after the deviant, Jahm ibn Safwan) to creep into their thinking, and have become mu’attalah (those who deny that Allaah can see). They said, “It  does not make sense for Paradise to be created before the time of reward, because it will not be used or inhabited for a very long time. They rejected the aayaat and reports that contradict these false notions they seek to project onto Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala). They misinterpreted the texts and accused those who disagreed with them of going astray and concocting bid’ah”.

 

Proofs from the Qur’aan and Hadeeth in support of this are, for example:
“Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allaah, which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty”. (57:21) “…

 

for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for al-Muttaqun” (3:133)

 

“And fear the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers” (3:131)
“And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him (Jibreel) at a second descent (ie another time), near Sidrat al-Muntahaa (lote tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass), near it is the Paradise of Abode” (53:13-15)
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saw Sidrat al-Muntahaa, a tree in Heaven, and near it, Paradise, as is mention in al-Bukhaari, and Muslim in the hadith of Anas (radiAllahu anhu). At the end of this narrative of al-Israa, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Then Jibreel brought me to Sidrat al-Muntahaa which was veiled in colours indescribable. Then I entered Paradise, and its lights were of pearls and its soil was musk”.

 
Muslim, Abu Dawud and Imaam Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“When Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) 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 Allaah 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….”

Muslim reports from Aishah (radiAllahu anhu) that there was a solar eclipse in the time of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and he said,

“Whilst I was standing here I saw everything that you have been promised, I even saw myself picking some of the fruits of Paradise, when you saw me stepping forward. And I saw Hellfire, parts of it consuming other parts, when you saw me stepping backward”.

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 (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Allaah?”, He said, “I saw Paradise and Hell”.

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also ascended into jannah on the night of Mi’raj in his ‘Isra (night journey): for example –

* “…I saw four rivers flowing out from beneath Sidrat al-Muntahaa, two visible and two hidden.”

(Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, Baab al-‘Israa, 1/150, no.164)

* “Whilst I was walking in Paradise I saw a river whose banks were domes of hollow pearls and I asked, “What is this, O Jibreel?” He said,

“This is al-Kawthar which your Rabb has given to you”.

(from Anas ibn Maalik, Sahih al-Bukhaari, Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab fil-Hawd, Fath al-Baari, 11/464)
* al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah said,

“I entered Paradise where I saw ar-Rumaysa, the wife of Abu Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, “Who is that?” He (Jibreel) said, “That is Bilaal”. And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, “Whose is this?” They said, It is for ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab”

(Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 3/226)
Imaam Ahmed, Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“The children of the believers are in Paradise, being cared for by Ibraahim (alaihissalam)

[and in the narration of Abu Nu’aym, ad-Dawylami, and Ibn Asakir it adds- “and Sarah, until they give them back to their parents on the day of Resurrection”]

 
al-Bukhaari and Muslim also report from ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (radiAllahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection”.

According to al-Muwatta of Imaam Maalik and as-Sunaan, Abu Dawood, “Ka’b ibn Maalik said the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“Verily the soul of the believer is a bird hanging on to the trees of Paradise, until Allaah Swt returns it to its body on the day of Resurrection”

This makes it clear that souls will enter Paradise before the Day of Resurrection.
As for the specious arguments of those who say that Hell has not been created yet, they say: If it was already created now, then it would of necessity have to come to an end of the Day of Resurrection and everyone in it would have to perish because Allaah says: “Everything will perish save His Face” (28:88) and “Everyone shall taste death..” (3:185) The response to this is: If you mean that Paradise does not exist until the Trumpet is blown and people are resurrected from their graves, then this is incorrect and is refuted by the evidence quoted above and other proofs which we have not mentioned here. If you mean that Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) has not yet completed the creation of everything that He will prepare for the inhabitants of Paradise and that He is still creating more and more things in it, and that when the believers enter Paradise, Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) will create even more things in it, then this is true and cannot be refuted, and the evidence that you give can only mean this, but when you use the aayah – “Everything will perish save His Face” – as evidence, your problem is that you misinterpret this aayah. Using it to prove that Paradise and Hell do not yet exist is like your colleagues using it to prove that they will both be destroyed and their inhabitants will all perish! You and your scholars did not understand the aayah properly; only the leaders (great scholars) of Islaam have understood it properly. They say that “everything” for which Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) has decreed destruction and oblivion “will perish” but Paradise and Hell have been created to last forever and never pass away, as has the Throne, which forms the roof of Paradise.

 
“It was suggested that it meant that everything would perish except His dominion, or whatever was done for His sake. Another suggestion was that when Allaah (subhanahu wa’tala) revealed the word: “Whatever is on it will perish” – the angels said, “The people of earth are doomed”, and hoped that they would remain. Allaah said that the people of heaven and earth would perish and said, “And invoke not any other ilaah along with Allaah, Laa ilaaha illaa Huwaa. Everything will perish save His Face” (28:88) because He is the Living and does not die. The angels realise that they too were destined to die. Their words should be taken in the light of and reconciled with other clear and unambiguous reports that prove that both Paradise and Hell are eternal”.
(Sharh at-Tahaawiyyah, p.479, see also Siddeeq Hasan Khan, Yaqadhah ula al-‘i’tibaar, p. 37 and ‘Aqeedah as-Safarini 2/230)

Related articles

• Prayer Behind One Who Does Not Affirm Allaah Is Above His Throne (thevalidprayer.wordpress.com)

The Keepers of Hell: Mighty and Stern

 

Standing over Hell are MIGHTY and STERN angels who never disobey Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’ala Who has created them. They do whatever He commands them, as Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’ala says:

“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, who flinch not [from executing] the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do [precisely what] they are commanded.” (66:6)

 

Their number is nineteen as Allaah says:

“Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain to you what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man! Over it are nineteen [angels as guardians and keepers of Hell]” (74:26-30)

 

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, Allaah said in the next aayah:

“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..” (74:31)

 

Ibn Rajab said,

“What is known and well-established among the earlier and later generations (as-Salaf wal-Khalaf) is that the trial came about when the number of angels was mentioned and the kuffaar thought that it was possible to kill them.

 

They thought that they would be able to fight and resist them. They did not know that humankind in its entireity would not be able to resist even ONE of them.”

(at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.174)

 

 

These angels are the ones whom Allaah subhaanahu wa ta’ala called the guardians of Hell:

“Those in the Fire will say to the keepers [angels] of Hell: “Call upon your Rabb to lighten for us the torment for a day!” (40:49)

[al-Jannah wa an-Naar, pg 6]

Related Links:

• Did you know Hell can Speak and See?

• The Evil Deeds that Lead One to Hell by Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullah)

• The Huge Size of the People of Hell

• The Disbelievers Among the Jinn Will Be In Hell

 

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]” (51:56)

 
On the Day of Resurrection, the jinn and mankind will be gathered alike:

“And on the Day when He will gather them [all] together, [and say]: “O assembly of jinns! Many did you mislead of men” (6:128)

 
“So by your Rabb, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and [also] the Evil Ones [with them], then We shall bring them forth on their knees round about Hell. Then shall We certainly drag out from every sect all those who were worst in obstinate rebellion against Allaah the All-Gracious. And certainly We know best those who are most worthy of being burned therein”. (19:68-70)

 

 
Then Allaah  will tell the disbelieving jinn:

“Enter in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and jinns into the Fire”. (7:38)

 
Then they will be thrown on their faces in Hell:

“Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire], they and those straying in evil. And the whole hosts of Iblis together”. (26:94-95)

 

 

Thus Allaah’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” (11:119)

 
“And the Sentence among the previous generations of jinns and men that had passed away is proved against them..” (41:25)

 

[al-Jannah wa an-Naar, pg 20-21]

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 Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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)

 
Zayd ibn Arqam said,

“The man who is destined for Hell will become huge in preparation for it, so that one of his molars will be as big as Mount Uhud”.

This is narrated by Ahmad, who attributes it to the Prophet (saw) but Zayd did not state that he heard it from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). (Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, 4/131, al-Albaani said its isnaad is saheeh according to Ibn Maajah and Ahmad)

 
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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 (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 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)

 
This increasing of the kaafir’s body size will increase his suffering and torment.

Commenting on the hadith narrated by Muslim on this subject, an-Nawawi said,

“All of this is in order to intensify the suffering, and all of this is possible for Allaah . We must believe in it, because the truthful (Prophet) has told us about it”

[Sharh an-Nawawi ‘alaa Muslim, 17/186].

 

Ibn Katheer in a comment on these hadith said,

“So that their punishment and suffering may be more severe, as Allaah the Severe in punishment says:

“…that they may taste the Penalty”. (4:46)

[Ibn Katheer, an-Nihayah, 2/139]

 

Related Link:

¶ Did you know Hell can Speak and See?

 

The Evil Deeds that Lead One to Hell by Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullah)

 

Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked:

“What are the deeds of the people of Hell and what are the deeds of the people of Paradise?”

He replied,

“The deeds of the people of Hell are:

 

• associating partners in worship with Allaah
• 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 jihad
• miserliness
• inconsistency between what is in one’s heart and the face one shows to people
• despairing of the mercy of Allaah 
• feeling secure from the plan of Allaah 
• panicking blindly at the time of crisis
• pride and extravagance at the time of plenty
• abandoning one’s duties towards Allaah 
• transgressing His limits
• violating His sanctity
• fearing a created being instead of the Creator
• showing off
• going against the Qur’aan 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 Allaah 
• rejecting the truth
• withholding knowledge and testimony that should be revealed
• witchcraft and magic
• disobeying one’s parents
• killing any soul forbidden by Allaah  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”

(Yaqadhat uli al-I’tibar, p.222)

 
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned all the sins that will lead one to Hell.

 

Muslim reports from ‘Iyadh bin Himaar that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, during a lengthy khutbah:

“..the people of Hell are five:

1] the weak who lack the power to (avoid evil);

 

2] the (carefree) who pursue (everything irrespective of whether it is good or evil) and who have no concern for their families or their wealth;

 

3] the dishonest people whose greed cannot be concealed even in the case of minor things;

 

4] and those who betray you, morning and evening, with regard to your family and your property.

 

5] He also mentioned misers, liars and those who are in the habit of abusing people and using obscene, foul language”.

(Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat Na’imihaa Baab as-Sifaat allaatee yu’raf bihaa fid-dunyaa ahl al-Jannah wa ahl an-Naar, 4/2197 no. 2865)

 

Related links:

¶ Did you know Hell can Speak and See?

         ¶ The Weak and Destitute Will Form the Majority in Paradise

 

The Wishes of the People of Paradise and the laugh of Prophet

 

Some of the People of Paradise will wish for things that will be fulfilled in the strangest ways, unlike anything that happens in this world. The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told of some of these and how they will be fulfilled.

 

 
Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallahu alahi wasallam) was speaking and a bedouin man was present. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“A man from the people of Paradise will ask his Rabb for permission to grow things.

 

Allaah will ask him, “Do you not have what you want?” He will say, “Of course, but I love to grow things.” So he will sow the seeds and in the blinking of an eye the plant will grow and its fruit will ripen and become like mountains.

 

Allaah (subhanahu watalala) will say, “Here it is. O son of Aadam nothing satisfies you!”

 

The Bedouin said, “By Allaah! you wont find him except he is from Quraysh or the Ansaar for these are the people that love to grow things. As for us, we don’t grow anything!”

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) laughed.”

[Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/95, no. 5653]

 

The Weak and Destitute Will Form the Majority in Paradise

 

Most of those who will enter Paradise will be the weak and destitute, whom people tend to ignore and care little about, but in the sight of Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) they are important, becuse they fear Him and worship Him faithfully and with humility.

 

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Hareethah ibn Wahb that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“Shall I not tell you about the people of Paradise? They said, “Of course”. He said,

 

“Every weak and oppressed person; if he were to implore Allaah for anything, He would grant it to him.”

[Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/535]

 

 
An-Nawawi said, commenting on this hadith:

“It refers to those who others despise, scorn and oppress because of their weak position in this world.

 

What is meant is that most of the people of Paradise will be of this type, but it does not meant that all of them will be“.

[Sharh an-Nawawi alaa Muslim, 17/187]

 
Al-Bukhaari, Ahmad and Muslim reported from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that most of those who entered were the poor and destitute. The people of means were held back, whilst the people of Hell had been ordered into the Fire.

 

I stood by the gate of Hell, and saw that most of those who entered it were women”.

[Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 2/663 no 5233]

 

[[Source: al-Jannah wa an-Naar by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, pg 73-74]

 

Related link:

• Did you know Hell can Speak and See?

• Beautiful conversation between Allah and the the Last Person to Enter Paradise