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Category: Paradise-Hell

Day of Resurrection

Narrated Abu Huraira: Some people said, “O Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him)! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He said, “Do you crowd and squeeze each other when looking at the sun when clouds do not hide it?” They replied, “No, Allah’s Apostle.” He (peace be upon him) said, “Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the moon when it is full and not hidden by clouds?” They replied, No, O Allah’s Apostle!” He (peace be upon him) said, “So you will see Him (your Lord) on the Day of Resurrection, similarly Allah will gather all the people and say, ‘Whoever used to worship anything should follow that thing. ‘So, he who used to worship the sun will follow it, and he who used to worship the moon will follow it, and he who used to worship false deities will follow them; and then only this nation ( i.e., Muslims) will remain, including their hypocrites. Allah will come to them in a shape other than they know and will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘We seek refuge with Allah from you. This is our place; we will not follow you till our Lord comes to us, and when our Lord comes to us, we will recognize Him.

A Cold Breath Of Jahannam

Last week, it was extremely cold…. cold beyond imagination. It was so cold, they said these were temperatures we havent seen in more than a decade. Pipes froze and burst, many people lost electricity and many even died. There was ice everywhere…ice on the cars, ice on the trees, ice on the on the grass. When the arctic wind blew, it cut through to the bone. It hit across the face and numbed whatever it touched. And as I felt the chilling effects of these below-freezing temperatures, I thought of Jahannum.
Yes, Jahannum.

Now, why would I remember Jahannum, one might ask, in this Siberian weather?
Isnt Jahannum fiery, burning and hot?

Yes. But, although Jahannum is a place known for its unimaginable heat, scorching blazes and sweltering fires, there are also places within it that are extremely cold, frigid and chilling.

So frigid are these places that it would burn and scorch and torture a person just as the severest fire would and worse.

And this extreme state of coldness in Jahannum is called Zamhareer.

The state of the Hell of Zamhareer is a suffering of extreme coldness, of blizzards and freezing for the people who will enter Jahannum. (May Allah protect us from it).

Yet, its coldness is not a pleasure or a relief to the sinners. Rather, it is a severe punishment and burning torture which no one would ever be able to bear.

Ibnul Qayyim said about the following Ayah: “Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink. Except boiling water, and Ghasaaqaa” [Al Naba: 24-25]

It is Zamhareer, it burns them with its freezing just as it burns them with its heat. Mujaahid and Muqaatil also stated that it is the peak of coldness. (Badaai al Fawaa-id)

Allah mentions this Zamhareer when he talks about the rewards of the people of Jannah and how they are saved from its cold torture, its extreme frigidity, and biting frost.

”They will recline on thrones. They will not see the excessive heat of the sun, nor the extreme bitterness of cold (Zamhareera).” (Surah Insan:13)

And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The Fire says: Master, some of me eat other parts, so grant me a breath (respite). Thus (the Fire) was granted a breath in the summer and a breath in the winter. So whatever you find of bitter cold or Zamhareer, thus it is from a breath of Jahannum, and whatever you find of heat or Haruur, thus it is from a breath of Jahannum”. (Muslim)

So what did the righteous people do when they experienced freezing winters and low temperatures?

They remembered this hadeeth and asked Allah to protect them from Jahannum and its bitter cold as well as its severe heat.

Ibn Rajab said: “And from the virtues of winter is that it reminds one of the extreme cold of Hell and pushes one to seek refuge from it…”

So when winter comes along and the arctic wind blows and temperatures drop, use it as a reminder for the Aakhirah.

When your fingers and toes are so cold and numb that you can no longer feel them and when you shake and shiver in the frigid weather, remember Zamhareer and its bitter coldness.

These winds, these extremes of temperatures, this ice and snow are signs amongst the signs of Allah. They are reminders of our life to come and of the Aakhirah.

So seek refuge in Allah from Jahannum and its heat and its coldness. Do all you can to stay away from it and do all you can to protect yourself from it. And never forget the Day when you will stand in front of Him and give an account of all that you said and did.

The famous worshipper Raabiah said: “I have never heard the adhan except that I remember the caller who will announce the Day of Resurrection, and I never see the falling snow except that I imagine the flying pages of the records of peoples deeds (on that day), and I never see swarms of locusts except that I think about the Great Gathering on the Last Day.” (Sifah Al-Safwah)

And Sufyan ibn Uyaynah said that Ibrahim at-Taymee said: “I imagined myself in the Hellfire with its iron chains and blazing fire eating from Zaqqoom (a tree in hell with exceedingly bitter fruit), and drinking from its Zamhareer (a bitterly cold drink), so I said, ‘O my soul, what do you long for?’
It replied, “To return to the world and perform a righteous action, by which I will be saved from this punishment”.
I also imagined myself in Paradise with its Hoori dressed in silken garments (of Paradise) with gold embroidery.
I said “O my soul! What do you long for?”
It said, “To return to the world and perform a righteous action by which this reward will increase.” So I said to myself, “You are in the world and (surrounded by) aspirations”.

O Allah, we seek Your refuge from the torment of Jahannum, from its Zamhareer (coldness) as well as Haruur (heat). Ameen.

Women Of Paradise: The Black Woman

We often hear speakers in Friday prayer or in admonitions talking about Paradise and all of us find our hearts, minds and thoughts tuned on to that ‘frequency’. However, the majority of the speakers talk about Paradise as if it were a house for men only. Reality is not like that.

Paradise is for the believing men and women.

The only price for it is sound belief in Allah, love of Alaah and His Messenger salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam.

In what follows are the glad tidings given by the Messenger of Allah salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam, to some of the women among his companions.

Which Women Will Enter Jannah?

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Shall I inform you which woman will enter Paradise?” The Sahaba replied: “Yes, most certainly.” Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The woman who has children, is lovable, when she becomes angry the husband consoles and comforts her, and when the husband becomes angry she says that as long as you do not become pleased with me, I will not even apply surmah (antimony) to my eyes.” [Tibrani]

The love between husband and wife offends Shaitan more than anything else. If husbands and wives are to care for each other and strive to maintain a peaceful and loving environment in the house, every Muslim household can become a model of Jannah. All kinds of quarrels and arguments will cease, and the misfortune of divorce will not prevail. Children brought up in such environments will be an example of piety, discipline, love, and sympathy. May Allah make every Muslim house a model of Jannah.

If the hearts of both spouses are united, there can be no greater bounty, and if there are differences between them (Allah forbid), there can be no greater calamity.

The Superiority of the Women of Paradise over the Hoor al Ayn
Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha) narrates that she said to Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam): “O Rasul Allah, are the women of this world superior or the hoors (of Paradise)?”

He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “The (mominah) women of this world will have superiority over the hoors just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.”

Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha) then asked, “O Rasul Allah, what is the reason for this?”

He answered, “Because they performed salah, fasted, and worshiped [Allah]. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. [The human mominah] will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls, and their combs will be of gold. They will say, ‘We are the women who will stay forever, and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort, and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay, and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us.'” [Tabrani]

As beautiful as the hoors of Jannah are, sincere & practicing Muslim women of this world will be far superior to them in Jannah. To imagine how wonderful those women will be who make it to Jannah, we only need to see how hoors have been described and then realize that they are of poor quality when compared to the fineness of the righteous women who Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) puts in Jannah.

From the Quran and hadith literature, we learn that “a hoor is a most beautiful young woman with a transparent body. The marrow of her bones is visible, like the interior lines of pearls and rubies. She looks like red wine in a white glass.” [Tirmidhi]

A hoor has big, beautiful eyes with black irises and intense white scleras. She is a woman characterized by modesty and flexing glances; she never looks at any man except her husband. She feels grateful for being his wife and is always reconciled with him. A hoor is young, immortal, and does not age. She is free of animosity and speaks softly. “She is of white color and free from routine physical disabilities such as menstruation, menopause, urinal and offal discharge, childbearing and the related pollution.” [Tirmidhi]

Having been brought up in luxury, she is a luxury herself. “If a hoor looked down from her abode in Heaven onto earth, the whole distance between Heaven and earth would fill with light and fragrance. Her face is more radiant than a mirror, and one can see one’s image in her cheek.” [Mishkat]

When a man turns his face away from her, she becomes 70 times more beautiful. If she were to spit in the salty water of the seven oceans, then the oceans would turn sweeter than honey.

However, sincere & practicing Muslim women will not feel jealous of the hoors as they will be far superior to the hoors in every way. Righteous women who enter Paradise, regardless of the age they died or how they looked on earth, will be made much more beautiful than the hoors of Jannah. A hoor is one of the delights of Paradise. She has only been created in Paradise for the sake of someone else. Believing women will be themselves deserving of great rewards and will be given these rewards in Jannah. This hadith tells us that the reason for the superiority of Muslim women over hoors is the acts of worship and obedience that they performed in this world.

The Children Of The Mushrikeen

The Messenger of Allah (saw) was asked about the children of the Mushrikeen, and he said, “Allah who created them knows best what they would have done”. [on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Janaa’iz, Baab ma qilaa fi awlaad al-Mushrikeen, Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Every child is born in a state of fitrah [the natural state of man] and his parents make him a Jew or a Christian, or a Magian, just as an animal produces a perfect baby animal: do you find it mutilated?” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Janaa’iz, Baab ma qilaa fi awlaad al-Mushrikeen, Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

As Ibn Hajar said, “al-Bukhaari may Allah have mercy on him, indicating that he was refraining from giving an opinion on the children of the mushrikeen.

Later in his Saheeh, in the tafseer of Surat ar-Rum, he indicates that he favored the suggestion that they are in Paradise. He also organized the hadith in this chapter in such a way that shows this was his favored opinion. He starts with a hadith that indicates that we cannot say one way or the other, then quotes a hadith that indicates that they are in Paradise, and follows that with a hadith that clearly states that this is the case:

“As for the children around him, they are the children of mankind.” In another version, “As for the two children around him, every child is born in a state of fitrah.” Some of the Muslims asked, “Even the children of the Mushrikeen?” He said, “Even the children of the mushrikeen”

Ibn Hajar said, “This is supported by the hadith of Anas reported by Abu Ya’la, in which the Prophet (saw) said, “I asked my Rabb for the laheen [those who play or those who are unaware] of the children of mankind, that they would not be punished, and that was granted to me.” [its isnaad is hasan] Laheen was explained as meaning children, because of the hadith of ibn ‘Abbaas narrated by al-Bazzar. Ahmad reported from al-Khansaa bint Mu’aawiyah ibn Suraym from her paternal aunt who said, “I said, “O Messenger of Allah, who is in Paradise?” He said, “Prophets are in Paradise, martyrs are in Paradise and newborn babies are in Paradise”. Its isnaad is hasan. [Fath al-Baari, 3/246]

They also took as evidence the hadith, “The children of the mushrikeen are servants of the people of Paradise” [Ibn Mandah in al-Ma’rifah, Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, Abu Ya’la in al-Musnad and al-Albaani deemed it saheeh by the sum of its isnaad, Silsilat al-Hadith as-Saheehah, 3/452, no. 1468]

The idea that they are in Paradise is the opinion of some scholars, such as favored by Abul-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzee [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/382, 4/303] an-Nawawi said of this opinion, “This is the correct position favored by those who study the words of Allah, “… And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger [to give warning]” [17:15]” [Fath al-Baari, 3/247]

al-Qurtubee also considered this the most likely t be corrected, reconciling the apparently conflicting reports by saying that the Prophet (saw) initially said they would be in Hell with their parents, then he refrained from passing any judgment and said “Allah knows best what they would have done”, then it was revealed to him that no one would be punished for the sins of another [17:15] so he stated that they would be in Paradise [at-Tadhkirah, p.515]. The trouble with this way of reconciliation, as Ibn Hajar said, is that this is not a matter that can be subjected to study and examination. It is a matter of al-Ghayb, which can only be known through revelation. And Allah knows best.

Some scholars, such as Hammaad ibn Zayd, Hammaad ibn Salamah, Ibn al-Mubaarak and Ishaaq, say that they are subject to the will of Allah. It was also transmitted by al-Bayhaqee in al-I’tiqaad from ash-Shaaf’iee. Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said “This might be the opinion of Maalik, although there is no written evidence for that” [Majmu’ Fatawah, 4/281-404, 24/372] and Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari attributed this opinion to Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, [Majmu’ Fatawah, 24/372].

This is also the favored view of Ibn Taymiyyah, who suggested that they will be tested on the day of Resurrection – “The correct view is what was said concerning them, Allah knows best what they would have done”. We cannot say of any particular individual that he will be in Paradise or Hell. Several hadiths state that on the Day of Resurrection, they will be tested in the arena of judgment: they will be given commands and prohibitions and those who obey will enter Paradise, whilst those who disobey will be sent to Hell.” He attributed this to Imaam Ahmad and Abul-Hasan al-Ash’ari, who attributed it to Ahlus-Sunnah [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/372, 4/303, 4/281].

Ibn Hajar also stated that they would be tested in the Hereafter by being shown the Fire: whoever enters it will find it cool and safe, but whoever refuses to enter it will be punished. Ahadeeth to this effect was reported by al-Bazzar from Anas and Abu Sa’eed and by at-Tabaraani from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal. It has been proven through saheeh asaanid that the insane and those who lived between the time of Jesus (as) and Muhammad (saw) will also be tested in the Hereafter. al-Bayhaqee stated in al-I’tiqaad that this is the correct opinion. [Fath al-Baari 3/246].

The soundness of this opinion is indicated by the clear, unambiguous aayaat of the Qur’an, which tells the story of the righteous slave whom Musa (as) traveled to meet at the junction of the two seas. Explaining the reason why he killed the boy, he said, “And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief” [18:80].

Muslim reports from Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, concerning the boy was killed by al-Khidr, “He was decreed from the beginning to be a kaafir and if he had been left, he would have oppressed his parents with his rebellion and disbelief.” Commenting on this hadith, Ibn Taymiyyah said “It means that Allah decreed it in Umm al-Kitaab [the Register Book in Jannah] i.e. it was written that he would be a kaafir and if he had lived he would have been a kaafir indeed.”

al-Qurtubee said, in at-Tadhkirah [p.514]: “What makes this idea [that they will be tested in the Hereafter] weak is the fact that the Hereafter is not the place of testing; it is the place of recompense – the reward of punishment. al-Hulaymee said, “This hadith is not proven to be sound, and it contradicts the basic beliefs of the Muslims because the Hereafter is not the place of testing. Everyone will inevitably know about Allah, and there is no test when a thing is inevitable.”

This is incorrect and was refuted by Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, who said, “Responsibility only ceases when one enters the abode of recompense, which is either Paradise or Hell. In the arena of judgment, they will be tested just as they are tested in al-Barzakh. The individual will be asked, “Who is your Rabb? What is your deen? Who is your Prophet?” Allah (swt) says, “[Remember] the Day when the Shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be called to prostrate to Allah, but they [hypocrites] will not be able to do so” [68:42]…” [Majmu’ Fataawa, 24/ 372]

Testing will only cease when a person enters Paradise or Hell. al-Qurtubee’s suggestion that everyone will inevitably know Allah on that Day is correct, but the testing will take the form of orders and prohibitions, as is reported in a number of texts. Allah (swt) will test them by ordering them to enter the Fire: whoever obeys will be blessed, whilst whoever disobeys will be doomed.

Allah Sent Gabriel To Paradise And Hell

On the authority of Abu Hurrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- When Allah created Paradise and Hell-fire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying:- Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) came to it and looked at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) returned to HIM and said:- By your glory, no one hears of it without entering it. So he ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship. He said:- Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:- So he (Gabriel) returned to it and found that it was encompassed by forms of hardship.

Then he returned to him and said:- By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it.

He said:- Go to Hell-fire and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants, and he (Gabriel) found that it was in layers, one above the other. Then he returned to HIM and said:- By Your glory, no one who hears of it
will enter it. So HE ordered that it be encompassed by Lusts.

Then HE said:- Return to it. And he (Gabriel) returned to it and said:- By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.

Hell In Islam: The Worst Destination

Pictures of Their Punishments
(1) The Punishment of the People of Hell Will Vary in Degree

As Hell has various levels, in some of which the torment and horror are greater than in others, the people of Hell will be given different levels of punishment. According to a hadith narrated by Muslim and Ahmad from Samurah, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) 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 Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) has told us about those who will receive the lightest punishment in Hell. al-Bukhaari reports from al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) 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 smoldering ember, and his brains will boil because of it.”

Many aayaat 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 on the Day that Judgement will be established: “Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest Penalty!” (40:46)
“Those who reject Allah and hinder from the Path of Allah, for them will We add penalty to penalty, for that they used to spread mischief “. (16:88)

(2) Roasting of the Skin
The Fire of the Almighty will burn the skin of the kuffaar. The skin is the site of sensation, where the pain of burning is felt, and for this reason, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will replace the burnt skin with a new one, to be burnt anew, and this will be repeated endlessly: “Those who reject Our Signs, We shall soon cast them into the Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty. For Allah is Exalted in Power, All-Wise” (4:56)

(3) Melting
One of the kinds of torment will be the pouring of al-Hameem over their heads. al-Hameem is ultra-heated water; because of its extreme heat, it will melt their innards and everything inside:

“… then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as skins”. (22:19-20)

at-Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radiy Allahu Anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “al-Hameem will be poured on their heads and will dissolve through until it reaches their sides and all their innards will drop out, until it comes out of his feet, and everything is melted, then he will be restored as he was.” He (at-Tirmidhi) said, “It is a sahih ghareeb hasan hadith”. (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.145, Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/540)

(4) Scorching (the face).
The noblest and most dignified part of a person is the face, hence the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) forbade us to strike the face. One of the ways in which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will humiliate the people of Hell is by gathering them on their faces, blind, deaf and dumb, on the Day of Resurrection:  “..We shall gather them together prone on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf; their abode will be Hell; every time it shows abatement, We shall increase for them the Fierceness of the Fire”. (17:97)

  • Then they will be thrown on their faces in the Fire: “And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire; “Do you receive a reward other than that which you have earned by your deeds?” (27:90)

  • The Fire will burn and cover their faces forever, with no barrier between them and it: “If only the unbelievers knew when they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and no help can reach them!” (21:39)

  • “The Fire will burn their faces and they will therein grin, with their lips displaced” (23:104)
  • “Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire”. (14:50)
  • “Is then one who has to fear the brunt of the penalty on the Day of Judgement his face, ?” (39:24)
    Look at this horrific scene that makes one shudder!
  • “The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say, “Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.” (33:66)

(5) Dragging
Another of the painful torments that the Kuffaar will suffer is being dragged on their faces into Hell: “Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad. The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces: “Taste the touch of Hell.” (54:47-48)

Their pain at being dragged will be increased by the fact that they will be tied up in chains and fetters: “…But soon shall they know – when the yokes round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along, in the boiling fetid fluid, then shall they be burned”. (40:70-72)

Qataadah said, “They will be dragged once in the Fire, and once in al-Hameem.” (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.147)

(6) Blackening of the faces.
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will blacken the faces of the people of Hell in the Hereafter: “On the Day when some faces will be white and some faces will be black; to those whose faces will be black: “Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the Penalty for rejecting Faith”. (3:106)

This is intense blackness as if the darkness of night had covered their faces “But those who have earned evil will have a reward of like evil, and ignominy will cover their faces. No defender will they have from Allah. Their faces will be covered, as it were, with pieces from the darkness of night. They are Companions of the Fire, they will abide therein [for aye!] (10:27)

(7) The Fire Will Surround the Kuffaar
The people of Hell are the Kuffaar whose sins and disobedience surround them, leaving no hasanah for them. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) said, in response to the Jews who claimed that the Fire would only touch them for a certain length of time: “Nay, those who seek gain in evil and are girt round by their sins – they are companions of the Fire; therein shall they abide ” (2:81)

No one will be in such a state unless he is a kaafir and a mushrik. Siddeeq Hasan Khan says, “What is referred to here by evil deeds is a certain type of deed, the reasons for which should be overwhelming, with no way out or means of achieving hasanah. Eternity in Hell is for the kuffaar and mushrikeen, so evil and sin in this aayah has to be interpreted as meaning kufr and shirk. Thus the arguments of the Mu’tazilah and Khawaarij are shown to be false by the proven mutawaatir reports that state that the sinners among the monotheists will eventually be brought forth from Hell.”

Sins and evil deeds surround the Kuffaar like a bracelet around the wrist, so their punishment should fit their crimes. Hence the Fire will surround the Kuffaar on all sides, as Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says: “There will be a bed of Hell and over them coverings ” (7:41)

The “bed” is what comes under them, and the “coverings” are what comes over them. What is meant is that fires will surround them from above and below, as Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says: “On the Day when the torment shall cover them from above them and from underneath their feet” (29:55)

“They shall have coverings of Fire above them, and coverings of Fire beneath them”. (39:16)

Some of the Salaf interpreted the “Bed” (al-Mihaad) as meaning a mattress and the “cover” (al-Ghawaash) as being a blanket (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/168)

The “surrounding” may be interpreted in another way, which is that Hell will have a wall to surround the kuffaar so that they will never be able to get out or escape from it, as Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says: “..Verily We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in; If they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!” (18:29)

(8) The Fire Will Leap Up Over Their Hearts

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) says: “By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into that which Breaks to Pieces. And what will explain to you what that which Breaks to Pieces is? the Fire of Allah, kindled, that which mourns to the hearts”. (104:4-6)

Muhammad ibn Ka’b al-Qurtubee said, “The Fire eats into him until it reaches his heart, then his body will be created anew. It was reported that when Thaabit al-Bananee read this aayah, he said, “The Fire will burn them until it reaches their hearts, while they are still alive; this is how great their suffering is!” Then he wept.” (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.146)

(9) Their entrails will be spilled out in the Fire
al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “A man will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire, and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey on a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, “O So-and-so, what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do evil?” He will say, “I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it, and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it.” Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill” (al-Bukhaari and Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642, hadith no. 5139)

One of the people whose entrails will be spilled out in Hell is ‘Amr ibn Lahay who was the first to change the religion of the Arabs.  Muslim reports from Jaabir ibn Abdullaah that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “I saw ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuza’ee dragging his own entrails in Hell, and he was the first one to introduce as-Saa’ibah (a she-camel turned loose for free pasture for the sake of idols, upon which nothing was allowed to be carried”. (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 2/642)

(10) The Chains, Fetters and Hammers of the People of Hell
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) has promised that the people of Hell will have chains fetters and hammers in the Fire:
“For the Rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire”. (76:4)
“With Us are fetters and a Fire and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous”. (73:12-13)
The yokes will be placed around their necks: “…We shall put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be a requital for their ill deeds”. (34:33)
“When yokes round their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along.” (40:71)
The chains or fetters are something with which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) will punish them: “With Us are fetters…” (73:12)
The chains are another kind of punishment, with which the wrongdoers will be tied up, just as criminals are chained up in this world. See how the Qur’aan describes them: “The stern command will say, “Seize him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits”. (69:30-32)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) has promised the people of Hell hooked rods of iron which are like hammers with which the evildoers will be beaten when they try to escape from the Fire, and they will be thrown ever deeper into Hell: “And for them are hooked rods of iron. Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein and said to them: “taste the torment of burning!” (22:21-22)

Fascinating Description Of Jannah

‘Some faces that Day will be Shining and Radiant, looking at their Lord.’ ( Source: “Quran” Surat~Al-Qiyaamah:75 A# 22-23)

And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk whose taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.

And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, Ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred [100] years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be traveled in a thousand [1000] years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty[60] miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining stars that are visible, as well as
those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.

And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of thirty-three [33] years in the image of Adam (AS) [ the father of humanity.]

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-‘Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is… the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds…{‘Alhamdullilah’}

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; The sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones;
if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorify, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everything but her and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty… free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face – free from any resemblance or likeness to anything – as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: ‘O People of Paradise! Your Lord –
Blessed and Exalted – requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!’ So they will say: ‘We hear and obey!’

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet – and none of them will turn down the request of the caller – the Lord – Blessed and Exalted – will order His Chair to be brought there.

Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstones, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: ‘O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!’

So they will say: ‘And what is that reward? Has HE not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?’

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller – Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names – has come to them from above them and majestified and said: ‘O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!’

So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: ‘O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honour!’

So the Lord – Blessed and Exalted will laugh to them and say: ‘O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!’

So, they will all give the same response: ‘We are pleased, so be pleased with us!’
So, He will say: ‘O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise!
So, ask of Me!’
So, they will all give the same response: ‘Show us your Face so that we may look at it!’
So, the Lord – Mighty and Majestic – will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah – the Exalted had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord [ the Exalted ] will speak to him and say: ‘Do you remember the day that you did this and that?’ and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: ‘O Lord! Will you not forgive me?’

So… He will say: ‘Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.’

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife…

{‘ALHAMDULLILAH’!} {…with incessant tears…!}

Source:-Ibn al-Qayyim’s beautiful Description Of Paradise
[Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim, pg. #193

Tasbeeh And Takbeer Are Among The Delights Of The People Of Paradise

Paradise is the abode of reward and delight, not of trials and testing. A problem might arise concerning the hadith reported by al-Bukhaari and others from Abu Hurayrah, according to which the Prophet (saw) described the first group to enter Paradise and said, “They will glorify Allah (SWT) morning and evening.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bid’ al-Khalq, Baab maa jaa’a fi Sifaat al-Jannah, Fath al-Baari, 6/318]

But there is nothing problematic in this report, insha’Allah, because, as al-Qurtubee said “This Tasbeeh is not the matter of obligation or imposition.” As was reported by Muslims, Jaabir explained it as follows, “They will be inspired with Tasbeeh and Takbeer as they are inspired with breathing.” The analogy of breathing was used because it is something man does with no conscious effort. Their breathing will become Tasbeeh, and the reason for this is that their hearts will be illuminated with the knowledge of their Rabb, may He be glorified, and filled with love for Him, and whoever loves a thing remembers it frequently.” [Fath al-Baari, 6/326]

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah stated that this Tasbeeh and Takbeer will be one of the pleasures enjoyed by the people of Paradise. He said, “This is not the kind of obligatory work that is done for the sake of a specific reward. It is the same as the kind of deeds that people do for pleasure and enjoyment.” [Majmu’ Fataawa, 4/330]

Will There Be More Men Or Women In Paradise?

Men and women engaged in this dispute when the Sahaabah were still alive. Muslim reports from Ibn Sireen: “Men and women disputed as to which of them would form the majority in Paradise. According to another report, either they were competing, or they were discussing, whether there would be more men or women in Paradise. They consulted Abu Hurayrah, who said that women would form the majority, on the basis of the words of the Prophet (saw): “The first group to enter Paradise will be as beautiful as the full moon, and the group that follows them will be like the brightest shining stars in the sky: each man of them will have two wives, the marrow of whose leg-bones will be visible through the flesh because of their extreme beauty. There will be no one who is unmarried in Paradise” [Sahih Muslim, Kitaab al-Jannah, Baab awwal zumrah tadhkul al-Jannah, 4/2179, hadith no. 2834]

This hadith clearly indicates that there will be more women than men in Paradise. Some others thought that there would be more men, because of the hadith, “I saw that they [women] formed the majority of the people of Hell”. The response to this is the fact that women will form the majority of the inhabitants of Hell does not necessarily mean that they will be a minority in Paradise, as Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalaani said [Fath al-Baari 6/325]

The two hadiths may be reconciled by stating that women will be in the majority in both Paradise and Hell, just as there are more women than men in this world. We could say that the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah indicates that the total number of women in paradise, including women of this world and al-Hoor al-‘Eeyn, will outnumber men. The question then is, who will be greater in number in Paradise: the men of this world or the women? al-Qurtubee reconciled these two hadiths by suggesting that women will form the majority of the inhabitants of Hell before the Shafaa’ah [intercession] when the sinners from amongst the muwwahideen will be brought out of Hell. Thereafter women will form the majority of the people of Paradise. [at-Tadhkirah, al-Qurtubee, p. 475]