This is a dwelling that manifests the wrath of that Almighty and Overpowering One (Allah Almighty). Just as His mercy and blessings are endless—that wherever human thoughts and imaginations may reach, they are but a mere particle of His countless favors—in the same way, His anger and wrath know no bounds, that every pain and torment which may be conceived is but a small part of His infinite punishment.
In the Holy Qur’an and Hadith, many of its severities are mentioned. I will briefly describe some of them so that Muslims may see, seek refuge from it, and abstain from those deeds whose consequence is Hell.
In a Hadith, it is said: “When a servant seeks refuge from Hell, Hell itself says: O Lord! This servant seeks protection from me, so grant him protection.”
The Holy Qur’an repeatedly commands: “Save yourselves from Hell! Fear the Fire!” Our Master and Beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself frequently sought refuge from it, teaching us to do the same.
The Sparks and Fuel of Hell
The sparks of Hell will fly as high as lofty palaces, as if they were yellow camels coming one after another. Human beings and stones will be its fuel. This worldly fire is but one part out of seventy parts of the Fire of Hell.
The one who receives the lightest punishment will be worn shoes of fire, from which his brain will boil like a copper cauldron. He will think that he is receiving the severest punishment, though in reality it is the mildest.
To him, Allah Almighty will ask: “If the whole earth became yours, would you give it as ransom to escape this punishment?” He will reply: “Yes!” Allah will then say: “When you were in the loins of Adam, We commanded you with a far easier thing—that you should not disbelieve—but you refused.”
Hellfire was fanned for a thousand years until it turned red, then for another thousand years until it turned white, and then for another thousand years until it turned black. Now it is pitch black, without the slightest hint of light.
The Intensity of Hell
Angel Jibreel (peace be upon him) swore before the Prophet (peace be upon him): “If even the size of a needle’s eye of Hell were opened, all the inhabitants of the earth would perish from its heat.”
“If any keeper of Hell appeared before the people of this world, all of them would die from his terror.”
“If a single link of the chain of the people of Hell were placed upon the mountains of the world, they would tremble, sink, and collapse to the very bottom of the earth.”
This worldly fire—which everyone knows burns intensely, to the extent that in certain seasons it is unbearable even to approach—yet even this fire prays to Allah Almighty that it may never be returned to Hell. But astonishing is man, who still performs deeds leading to Hell, and does not fear that Fire from which even fire itself seeks refuge.
The Depths of Hell
The depth of Hell is known only to Allah. In a Hadith, it is mentioned: “If a rock is thrown from the edge of Hell, it will not reach the bottom even after seventy years.”
If a leaden ball equal to a man’s head were thrown from the sky to earth, it would fall in less than a day, though the journey is five hundred years. Yet a stone in Hell would take seventy years to descend.
Hell has different layers, valleys, and wells. Some valleys are such that even Hell itself seeks refuge from them seventy times a day.
The Torments of Hell
The guardians of Hell will strike with iron maces so heavy that if one were placed upon the earth, all mankind and jinn together could not lift it. Scorpions are heightened like a Gigantic camel’s neck fold, and serpents of unimaginable size will torment the dwellers. A single bite will cause pain and burning that lasts a thousand years.
They will be given boiling water to drink, like molten dregs of oil, whose heat will cause the skin of the face to peel off as soon as it nears the mouth. Hot water will be poured upon their heads.
The pus and filth that flows from the bodies of the people of Hell will be given for them to drink. They will be given the thorny plant of Zaqqūm, so bitter and vile that if a single drop were to come into the world, it would corrupt the livelihood of all its inhabitants. When it enters the throat, it will choke like a noose.
They will ask for water, and they will be given boiling liquid that will melt the skin of their mouths and tear apart their intestines, which will then flow out of their bodies like broth.
Their thirst will be so extreme that they will fall upon it like camels dying of thirst.
Despair of the People of Hell
The disbelievers will cry out together and call upon Hazrat Malik (peace be upon him), the keeper of Hell: “O Malik! Let your Lord finish us off!” He will not answer them for a thousand years. After that, he will reply: “You must call upon the One whom you disobeyed.”
For another thousand years, they will call upon Allah by His Names of Mercy, but He will not answer. At last, He will say: “Away with you! Remain in Hell and do not speak to Me!”
At that moment, they will lose all hope of good, and they will cry and wail like the braying of donkeys. At first, tears will flow, but when tears are exhausted, they will weep blood. Their weeping will dig trenches in their cheeks. The blood and pus will flow so much that boats could float upon it.
The Forms and Shapes of the People of Hell
The faces of the people of Hell will be so hideous that if a single one of them were brought into this world, everyone would die from the horror and stench.
Their bodies will be enlarged so vast that the distance between their shoulders will be a three-day journey for a swift rider. A single molar tooth will be the size of Mount Uhud. Their skin will be forty-two cubits thick. Their tongues will drag outside their mouths for one or two miles, upon which others will trample.
Their sitting places will be like the distance from Makkah to Madinah. Their mouths will shrink in such a way that the upper lip will curl to the center of the head, and the lower lip will droop down to the navel.
Thus, it becomes clear that their forms will not remain human, for the human form is Ahsan al-Taqwīm (the most beautiful form), beloved to Allah, for it resembles His beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).
Instead, the disbelievers will be given monstrous forms as described.
The Final Punishment
At last, the disbeliever will be placed in a box of fire equal to his height. Then fire will be kindled within it and a lock of fire fastened. That box will be placed inside another box of fire, with fire burning between the two, and locked again. Then yet another box will enclose it, locked with fire, and thrown into the blaze.
Each disbeliever will then think that none but himself remains in the Fire. This is torment upon torment, and everlasting punishment.
Death Brought to an End
When all the people of Paradise have entered Paradise, and only those destined eternally for Hell remain in it, then death will be brought forth in the form of a ram and placed between Paradise and Hell.
A caller will call out: “O people of Paradise!” They will look, fearing lest they be expelled. Then he will call: “O people of Hell!” They will look happily, hoping for release. Then he will ask: “Do you recognize this?” All will say: “Yes, this is death.”
Then death will be slaughtered. It will be said: “O people of Paradise! Eternity—no more death! O people of Hell! Eternity—no more death!”
At that time, the people of Paradise will rejoice with joy upon joy, and the people of Hell will grieve with grief upon grief.
نَسْألُ اللہَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِیَۃَ فِي الدِّیْنِ وَالدُّنْیَا وَالآخِرَۃِ۔
We ask Allah for pardon and well-being in religion, in this world, and in the Hereafter.
FAQs
What is Jahannam described as in Islam?
Jahannam is the manifestation of Allah’s wrath and anger, just as Paradise is the manifestation of His mercy. Its punishments are beyond human imagination, and whatever pain can be conceived is only a small particle of its true torment.
Does Islam encourage seeking refuge from Hell?
Yes. The Qur’an repeatedly commands: “Save yourselves from the Fire!” and “Fear the Fire!” The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself frequently sought refuge from Hell to teach Muslims to do the same.
What happens when someone sincerely seeks protection from Hell?
According to Hadith, when a servant seeks refuge from Hell, Hell itself says: “O Lord, this person seeks protection from me, so grant him protection.”
What will be the fuel of Hellfire?
The Qur’an mentions: “People and stones will be its fuel.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:24)
How does the fire of Hell compare with worldly fire?
This worldly fire is only one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell. Even the hottest fire on earth is just a fraction of Hellfire’s intensity.
What is the lightest punishment in Hell?
The person with the mildest punishment will wear shoes of fire that will cause his brain to boil like water in a cauldron. Yet he will think he is suffering the worst torment, while in fact it is the least severe.
Why will disbelievers regret not obeying Allah?
Allah will remind them that when they were in the loins of Adam, He commanded them with a far easier condition—not to disbelieve. Yet they refused, and now they face unbearable punishment.
What is the color of Hellfire?
Fanned for 1,000 years → turned red
Another 1,000 years → turned white
Another 1,000 years → turned black
Now it is completely black, with no light at all.How intense is Hell’s heat and terror?
If a hole the size of a needle’s eye were opened from Hell, the whole world would perish from its heat.
If one keeper of Hell appeared on earth, all people would die from his terrifying appearance.
If one chain-link of Hell’s shackles were placed on a mountain, it would sink deep bottom into the earth.Is Hell deeper than the earth and skies?
Yes. A stone thrown into Hell from its edge would take 70 years yet will not reach the bottom. This shows its unimaginable depth.
What are the different layers and valleys of Hell?
Hell contains multiple layers, valleys, and pits. Some valleys are so terrifying that even Hell itself seeks refuge from them seventy times a day.
What weapons will the angels of punishment use?
They will strike with massive iron maces so heavy that if placed on earth, even all mankind and jinn together could not lift one.
What creatures exist in Hell?
Enormous scorpions with necks like camels
Gigantic serpents that, if they bite once, cause pain for a thousand years.What food and drink will the people of Hell receive?
Food: The thorny plant Zaqqūm and bitter thorns that choke like a noose in their throats
Drink: Boiling water like molten oil, pus and filth flowing from their own bodies
This food and drink will burn their insides, melt their intestines, and cause unbearable suffering.How extreme will their thirst be?
They will be so thirsty that they will fall upon the boiling liquid like camels dying of thirst.
Will the people of Hell seek death as an escape?
Yes. They will beg Malik (the keeper of Hell) to ask Allah to end their lives. After thousands of years, he will reply: “Call upon the One you disobeyed.” Allah will eventually tell them: “Away with you! Remain in Hell and do not speak to Me!”
How will the people of Hell cry?
At first they will cry tears.
When tears end, they will cry blood.
Their weeping will dig trenches in their faces.
The blood and pus will flow so much that boats could float on it.What will their physical forms look like?
Faces will be hideous and foul-smelling.
Bodies will be enlarged: distance between shoulders = three days’ journey.
A molar tooth = size of Mount Uhud.
Skin thickness = 42 cubits.
Tongue dragging 1–2 miles, trampled by others.
Sitting place = distance from Makkah to Madinah.
Lips distorted: upper lip reaching the center of the head, lower lip touching to the navel.Will they retain human form?
No. Human form is Ahsan al-Taqwīm (the most beautiful form), beloved to Allah. The people of Hell will be given monstrous and deformed shapes instead.
What is the final punishment for disbelievers?
Each will be placed in a box of fire, locked, and enclosed within other fiery box, one after another, until completely sealed. He will think no one else remains in Hell but himself.
What will happen when death is destroyed?
When all the people of Paradise enter Paradise and the people of Hell remain in Hell, death will be brought in the form of a ram and slaughtered infront of them.
The people of Paradise will rejoice, knowing they will never die.
The people of Hell will despair, realizing they will never die.What should a believer ask from Allah after learning about Hell?
A Muslim should constantly pray:
“We ask Allah for pardon and well-being in religion, in this world, and in the Hereafter.”
نَسْألُ اللہَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِیَۃَ فِي الدِّیْنِ وَالدُّنْیَا وَالآخِرَۃِ۔
I’ve shared some key foundational beliefs in Islam, with more insights coming soon. Stay connected to deepen your understanding and strengthen your faith. Missed our last post? Click the link here: A Glimpse of Paradise: Jannah in Islam
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