The Punishment of the People of Hell will vary in degree

 

As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror is greater than in others, so the people of Hell will be given different levels of punishment. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim and Ahmad from Samurah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, concerning the people of Hell:

“There are some whom the Fire will take up to their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and others up to their collarbones”.

According to another report, “up to their necks”

(Muslim in Kitaab al-Jannah wa Sifaat Na’imihaa, Baab Shiddat Harr an-Naar, 4/2185)

 

The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) has told us about those who will receive the lightest punishment in Hell. al- Bukhari reports from al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer who said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) say,

“The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed a smouldering ember, and his brains will boil because of it.”

 

In another report also narrated by al-Bukhari from an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under the arch of whose feet will be placed two smouldering embers, because of which his brains will boil like water boils in a mirjal [copper vessel] or qumqum [narrow necked vessel].”

(al-Bukhaari in Sahih, Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al-Baari, 11/417, and Muslim in his Sahih, Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 363)

 

According to a report narrated from an-Nu’man ibn Basheer by Muslim, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The person who will have the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day of Resurrection is a man who will be given shoes and laces of fire, because of which his brains will boil like water in a mirjal (copper vessel). He will not think that anyone could be more severely punished than himself, yet he will be the one with the lightest punishment”.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Imaan, 1/196, no. 364; Muslim also reports from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri in the same chapter, no. 361)

 

al-Bukhari and Muslim both narrate from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (saw) say, when his uncle Abu Talib was mentioned:

“Maybe my intercession will help him on the Day of Resurrection, so that he may be put in a shallow part of Hell, with fire reaching to his ankles and causing his brain to boil”.

(al-Bukhaari in Kitaab ar-Riqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar, Fath al- Baari, 11/417 and Muslim in Kitaab al-Imaam, Baab Shifa’at an-Nabi (saw), ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, 1/195, hadith no. 360)

 

Many ayat confirm the different levels of punishment that will be given to the people of Hell:

 
“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire..” (4:145)

 
“..and [the Sentence will be] on the Day that Judgement will be established [it will be said to the angels]: “Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest Penalty!” (40:46)

 
“Those who reject Allaah and hinder [men] from the Path of Allaah, for them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief [or corruption]”. (16:88)

 

al-Qurtubi said,

“This topic indicates that the kufr of the person who simply disbelieves is not like the kufr of a person who oppresses, disbelieves, rebels and disobeys. There is no doubt that the kuffaar will suffer different levels of punishment in hell, as is known from Qur’an and Sunnah. We know for certain that the punishment of those who oppressed and killed the Prophets and Muslims, and spread corruption and disbelief on earth, will not be the same as the punishment of those who simply disbelieved, but treated the Prophets and Muslims well.

 

Do you not see Abu Talib, how the Prophet (ﷺ) will bring him up to a shallow level of Hell, because he helped him, protected him and treated him well? The hadith narrated by Muslim from Samurah may be interpreted as referring to the kuffar, as there is a hadith about Abu Talib, or it may be interpreted as referring to those monotheists who will be punished”.

(at-Tadhkirah, p. 409)

 

 

Ibn Rajab said,

“Know that the different levels of punishment suffered by the people of Hell will be according to the levels of their deeds for which they entered Hell”.

Then he quotes the evidence for that, such as the words of Ibn ‘Abbas,

“The punishment of those who were extreme in their disbelief and spread corruption on earth, calling others to kufr, will not be like the punishment of those who did not do such things”.

Then Ibn Rajab says,

“Similarly, the punishments of the monotheists in Hell will be at different levels, according to their deeds. The punishment of those who were guilty of major sins (kabaa’ir) will not be like that of those who were guilty of minor sins (saghaa’ir). The punishment may be reduced for some of them because of other good deeds, or for whatever reason Allaah wills. Hence some of them may die in the Fire”.

(at- Takhweef min an-Naar, p. 142-143)

 

[Source: al-Jannah wa an-Naar by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, pg 38-39]

Paradise: There is Nothing Like It

 

The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description. They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like Paradise:

 

“It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”.

[Ibn Maajah, as-Sunan, Kitaab az-Zuhd, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah, 2/1448, no. 4332. Ibn Hibbaan narrated it in his saheeh]

 

 

The Sahabah asked the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description:

“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade.”

[Ahmad, at- Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/29, sahih].

 

Allaah indeed spoke the truth when He  said:

“And when you look there [in Paradise] you will see a delight [that cannot be imagined]. and a great dominion”

[Quran 76:20]

 

What Allaah has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend: al- Bukhaari reported from Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that Allaah said,

“I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine”.

Recite if you wish,

“No person know what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.”

(Quran 32:17).

 

In the version reported by Muslim from Abu Hurayrah, there is the addition,

“Never mind what Allaah has told you; what He has not told you is EVEN greater”.

 

[Source: al-Jannah wa an-Naar by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, pg 58]

 

The rich who are living in the lap of luxury on the Day of Resurrection

Those who are content with the life of this world, and who enjoy a great deal of luxury, will have a hard time on the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has told us that the one who frequently has a full stomach in this world will feel hungry for a long time on the Day of Resurrection.

In Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Sunan ibn Maajah and Mustadrak al-Haakim it is narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to one of his Companions:

“Withhold your burps from us, for those who are most satisfied in this world will be hungry for the longest time on the Day of Resurrection. “

[The isnaad of this hadith is quoted by Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah, hadith no. 343.]

And he told us that those who own a lot of wealth and worldly luxuries will have the least reward on the Day of Resurrection, unless they spent their wealth in good ways. Both Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Abu Dharr [radiAllahu anhu] said:

“Those who have the most will have the least on the Day of Resurrection, except for those upon whom Allah bestowed wealth, and they started giving it away left and right, front and back, and used it to do good. “

[Saheeh al-Jaami ‘ as-Sagheer, 2/165, hadith no. 1 950.]

Paucity of Hasanaat (good deeds) will delay their entry and cause others to go ahead of them, after they were foremost in this world. In Sunan ibn Maajah it is narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“Those who have a lot will be the lowest in status on the Day of Resurrection, except those who said with their wealth, ‘this way and that way’ (i.e., spending in the way of Allah), and earned it from good sources. “‘

[Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah, 4/364, hadith no. 1 766.]

The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also told us that those who indulge heavily in worldly luxuries and wealth will not be able to overcome the obstacles and terrors of the Day of Resurrection.

In Shu ‘ab al Eemaan it is narrated that Umm ad-Darda’ said: “I said to Abu’dDarda’,

‘Why do you not ask as So and so has asked?’ He said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) say,
‘Ahead of you there is a very difficult obstacle which those who are burdened (with wealth and luxury) will not be able to overcome. “‘

[Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 21607, hadith no. 5204. In Saheeh al-Jaami ‘ it is also attributed to Al-Haakim. See Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2/1 78, hadith no. 1 997.]

[Taken from: The Day of Resurrection by Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, page 202-205]

Ibn Taymiyyah Concerning Predestination (Qadar)

 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah  (may Allah have mercy on him and reward him greatly) said:

“The viewpoint of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa ‘ah on this issue is that which is indicated by the Qur’an and Sunnah, and that which was followed by the Sahaba (Companions), the Muhaajiroon (Emigrants to Madeenah) and Ansaar (Helpers, Muslim residents of Madeenah), and those who followed them in truth. This view is that Allah is the Creator and Sovereign of all things, which includes all independent entities and their attributes, such as people’s deeds and other things.

 

Whatever He wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen. Nothing can happen except by His will and decree. Nothing is beyond Him if He wills it; rather, He is the One Who is Able to do all things, and He does not will anything but He is able to do it. Allah knows what has happened and what is yet to come; if it is not to happen, He knows how it would have been if it had happened. This includes people’s actions and other things. Allah, the Exalted, decreed the decrees of His creation before He created them; He decreed their lifespans, their provision and their deeds, and wrote that down, and He wrote down their ultimate destiny, who will be blessed and who will be doomed.

 
So they (Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa ‘ah) believe that He created all things, that He is Able to do all things, that His will encompasses all that exists, and that He knew and decided and wrote all things before they came into being. “

Majmoo ‘ al-Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 8/449.

 

He [rahimahullah] also said:

“The Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and aaimmah (the leading scholars) of this ummah are agreed that people are commanded to do that which Allah has commanded them, and are forbidden to do that which Allah has forbidden. They are agreed on their belief in His promise and His warning, which are spoken of in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
They are agreed that there is no justification for anyone with regard to neglecting any obligatory duty or committing any forbidden act; but Allah has perfect evidence against His slaves. “

Majmoo ‘ al-Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 8/452.

 

Read: “If the people one day want revival, then Al-Qadar (Divine Predestination) has no choice but to answer.”

 

 

“Among the things that are agreed upon by the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and aaimmah (the leading scholars) of this ummah is their belief in Divine will and Predestination (al-Qadaa ‘ wal-Qadar), and that Allah is the Creator of all things. What He wills happens, and what He does not will does not happen. Allah sends astray whomsoever He wills, and He guides whomsoever He wills. They also believe that people have their own will and freedom to choose, so they do by their own will and power that which Allah enables them to do, but they point out that people do not will anything except that which Allah wills. “

Majmoo ‘ al-Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 8/459.

 

[Taken from: Divine will and Predestination by Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, page 122-124]

 

The First People to Enter Paradise

 

 

The first of mankind to enter Paradise will be our Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and the first nation to enter Paradise will be his ummah. The first member of this ummah to enter will be Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radiAllahu anhu).

 

Ibn Katheer quotes a number of Hadith [an-Nihayah, 2/213] that state this such as the report of Muslim from Anas (radiAllahu anhu) according to which the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“I will be the first one to knock at the gates of Paradise”.

 

 

Muslim also reported from Anas that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“I will come to the gates of paradise and ask for it to be opened.

The gatekeeper will ask, “Who are you?”

I will say, “Muhammad”.

The gatekeeper will say, “I was ordered not to open the gate for anyone else before you””.

 

 

al-Bukhaari, Muslim and an-Nasaa’ee report from Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:

“We are the last, but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection. We will be the first of mankind to enter Paradise”.

 

 

Abu Dawood reports from Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

“Jibreel came to me, and showed me the gate of Paradise through which my ummah will enter”.

Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), would that I had been with you to see it!”.

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “But you, O Abu Bakr, will be the first of my ummah to enter Paradise”.

 

[Source: al-Jannah wa an-Naar by Dr. Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar, pg 50]