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.
TAG: Hellfire
Why Don’t You Embrace Islam?
Al-Mighty Allah describes Paradise in the Quran, “Verily, the dwellers of Paradise that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds), and they shall have whatever they desire (They shall be given whatever they ask for). (It will be said to them) “Salamun” (Peace be on you), a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful.” [ Qur’an chapter 36/55-58]
Further, the Quran describes, “No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Surah As-Sajda 32/17)
Heaven is a beautiful and wonderful place that awaits those who believe in Allah and do righteous good deeds, where every wish is fulfilled. Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before. There would be many types of delights that people enjoy therein. The highest blessing is Allah’s good pleasure. Allah will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise) – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success (Paradise) (Quran Chapter 5/119)
Salah: Life’s Forgotten Purpose
Man has taken many journeys throughout time. But there is one journey that nobody has ever taken.
Nobody—except one.
On a vehicle no man has ever ridden, through a path no soul has ever seen. To a place no creation has ever before set foot. It was the journey of one man to meet the Divine. It was the journey of Muhammad (SAW), Prophet of God, to the highest heaven.
It was al Israa wal Miraaj (the magnificent journey).
On that journey, Allah took his beloved prophet (SAW) to the seventh heaven—a place not even angel Gabriel could enter. In the Prophet’s mission on earth, every instruction, every commandment was sent down through the angel Gibreel. But, there was one commandment that was not. There was one commandment so important that, rather than sending angel Gibreel down with it, Allah brought the Prophet (SAW) up to Himself.
That commandment was Salah (prayer). When the Prophet (SAW) was first given the command to pray, it was to be fifty times a day. After asking Allah to make it easier, the commandment was eventually reduced to five times a day, with the reward of fifty.
Prohibition of Arrogance
Arrogance is one of the most dangerous inner diseases of the heart. Those inner diseases reside in the hearts, but their destructive effects are reflected in the behavior and conduct of the sick person, who can be prevented from entering paradise on the Day of Judgment. In the authentic hadith reported by Imams Muslim and At-Tirmithi the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “One will not enter Paradise, if one has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his/her heart.”
This hadith is evidence that arrogance is one of the major sins because it prevents the arrogant from entering Paradise on the Day of Judgment. There is also evidence that arrogance is caused by heart disease and that the degree of arrogance varies. The heart can be filled with arrogance, or can have only up to a small atom’s weight of arrogance.
In scolding arrogance and demonstrating its danger, many verses and authentic ahadith have been revealed, and we will mention some of them.
First, what is arrogance? The prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) defined it for us in an authentic hadith reported by Imams Muslim and At-Tirmithi, “One will not enter Paradise, if one has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his/her heart.” a man then asked, “One may love his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?!” The prophet replied, “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, arrogance is: rejecting the truth and looking down on people.”
The different degrees and types of arrogance: The most evil kind of arrogance is rejection of the truth and not following it. In this context, many verses were revealed to scold arrogance and the arrogant people. Examples are: On the Day of Judgment, it is said to the arrogant people in surah Ghafer, (Verse 76), which can be translated as,
“Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!”
Hellfire is the abode of the arrogant people. This is emphasized in the hadith of the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that is reported by Imam Muslim, “Paradise and Hell Fire have argued. Hellfire said: Inside me are the merciless and the arrogant people….and Allah has judged between them:… You (Hell Fire) are my torture, with you, I torture whom I will….”
Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) turns the arrogant people away from being guided by his signs. He (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) say sin surat Al-A’raaf, (Verse 146), which can be translated as, “I shall turn away from My Ayah (verses of the Qur’an) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, in a wrongful manner.”
The most severe arrogance is being arrogant against Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) and rejecting submission and worshiping Him. Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) says in surah Ghafer, (Verse 60), which can be translated as, “Verily! Those who disdain My worship (because of arrogance), they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!”
Arrogance is being arrogant against the messengers, rejecting their message and not following them just because they are human. This is the case of many non-believers about whom Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) says in the Qur’an in surah Al-Mu’minoon, (Verse 47), what can be translated as “They said: “Shall we believe in two men like ourselves.” And in surat, Ibrahim, (Verse 10), can be translated as, “They said to their messengers: “You are no more than human beings like us.” And the tribe of Quraish also said, when it rejected and looked down on the prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) because he was an orphan and poor, as Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) told us in surat Az-Zukhruf, (Verse 31), what can be translated as, “And they say: “Why is not this Qur’an sent down to some great man of the two towns (Makkah and Ta’if).”
Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) described to us the real situation of the disbelievers in surat An-Namal, (Verse 14), which can be translated as, “And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their own selves were convinced thereof (i.e. those Ayahs are from Allah).”
From the examples of arrogance against the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) reported by Imam Muslim that a man who came and ate in the presence of the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) with his left hand, so the prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to him, “Eat with your right hand.” The man said, “I cannot.” The prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then supplicated to Allah against this man, “May Allah, make you unable to use your right hand.” “Nothing prevented him from doing so (eating with his right hand) except his arrogance, so he forever could not lift his right hand to his mouth.”
Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) told us the story of Iblees so that we may learn lessons from it, when he ordered him to prostrate to Adam, and he rejected because of his Arrogance and Envy towards Adam, claiming that he was better than him. Allah said in surat Al-A’raaf, Verse (12), what can be translated as, “… I am better than him (Adam), you created me from fire, and you created him from clay.”
Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) demonstrated to us that arrogance is an exclusive attribute of Himself. In a Qudsi hadith reported by Imam Muslim Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) says, “Dignity is my lower garment, and arrogance is my covering. If anyone competes with Me in either of these two, surely I torture him.” Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) says in surah Luqman, (Verse 18), what can be translated as, “And do not turn your face away from men with arrogance, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah does not like each arrogant boaster.”
Allah does not like the one who is conceited and arrogant. The prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says what was reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim, “While a man was showing off in his garment, he looked proudly to himself, all of a sudden, Allah immediately crumbled the earth underneath him, and he is still dropping with struggle through it till the Day of Judgment.”
Allah (Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala) does not look with mercy, on the Day of Judgment, at the one who lengthened his clothes out of arrogance. The prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says reported by Imams Bukhari, Muslim, and others, “Whosoever drags his clothes out of arrogance, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Judgment.” Abu Bakr said: “O Messenger of Allah: My garment slips (slightly off his waist) to the ground, but I lift it!?” The prophet replied, “You are not among those who do it out of arrogance.”
After we have heard all these verses and ahadith about the dangers of arrogance and how bad the consequences are, we should be cautioned and get away from it and its effects and its characteristics. So we teach ourselves to follow the truth when we know it and humble ourselves in front of others. Imam Muslim reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “…. And no one has humbled himself for the sake of Allah, but Allah has elevated him.”
The prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is the best example of humility in his life. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that “The prophet used to pass by children and give Salaam to them (greet them).” Imam Bukhari reported that, “A female slave from Madinah used to take the prophet’s sleeve and take him wherever she wanted.” Imam Bukhari also reported, “That the Prophet used to be at the service of his family.”
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)
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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)
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Worship Allah In Fear Of Hellfire And Hope Of Paradise
Islam teaches us to worship Allah out of love for Him but with a healthy balance of fear and hope.
Allah said: They arise from their beds and they supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend from what We have provided them. Surah As-Sajda 32:16
And Allah said: Verily, they used to hasten to good deeds and would supplicate to Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive. Surah Al-Anbiya 21:90
Al-Bara ibn Azib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: O Allah, I submit my face to You and entrust my affair to You. I commit myself to You out of hope and fear of You. Source: Sahih Muslim 2710, Grade: Sahih
Fear of Allah means to fear falling into sin and earning His punishment in the Hellfire.
Allah said: Fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:281
Fear of Allah makes us think twice before we commit a sin. It is the quality of mindfulness and awareness of Allah that resides inside the heart of a believer.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed to his chest three times and he said: Godfearing piety is here. Source: Sahih Muslim 2564, Grade: Sahih
Indeed, the description of punishment in the Hereafter found in the Quran and Sunnah should increase our resolve to be righteous. On the Day of Judgment, those who did not fear Allah will wish they had never been born.
Allah said: verily, We have warned you of a near punishment on the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth and the disbeliever will say: Oh, I wish that I were dust! Surah An-Naba 78:40
Fear of Allah is the source of all knowledge as it motivates us to seek the truth and act in accordance with it.
Allah said: Only those fear Allah from among His servants are those who have knowledge. Verily, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving. Surah Al-Fatir 35:28
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him would say during his sermons: The best provision is mindfulness of Allah, and the foundation of wisdom is the fear of Allah the Exalted. Source: Al-Jami’ As-Sagheer 1609, Grade: Hasan
And in the previous scriptures, it is written: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
However, we need to balance our fear of Allah with our hope in His reward and His Paradise.
Allah said: Shuaib said: O my people, worship Allah and hope for the Last Day and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption. Surah Al-Ankabut 29:36
Hope in Allah motivates us to perform good deeds and to abandon our base materialistic desires for the sake of righteousness.
Allah said: Wealth and children are only adornment of the worldly life, but enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for one’s hope. Surah Al-Kahf 18:46
The description of Paradise in the Quran and Sunnah should increase our resolve to perform good deeds to be rewarded in the Hereafter. In fact, it is a major sin to despair of the mercy of Allah.
Allah said: Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Verily, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
And Allah said: Who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray? Surah Al-Hijr 15:56
Therefore, we should have a healthy balance of fear and hope in our worship of Allah. The idea of balance in worship is expressed eloquently in Ibn Al-Qayyaim’s metaphor of the bird on its journey to Allah.
Ibn Al-Qayyim said: The heart on its journey towards Allah the Exalted is like that of a bird. Love is its head, and fear and hope are its two wings. When the head is healthy, then the two wings will fly well. When the head is cut off, the bird will die. When either of the two wings is damaged, the bird becomes vulnerable to every hunter and predator.
Source: Madarij As-Salikeen
Let us remember that our hearts are just like a bird on a journey to Allah in the Hereafter. Our love of Allah is the basis of our worship, and our fear and hope are like two wings that propel us along the straight path toward our final destination.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
By Abu Amina Elias
The Tree Of Zaqqum
The Tree of Zaqqum is a torment inside of the Hellfire that Allah (SWT) has prepared for those who disbelieve.
The Holy Quran says:
17.60 And [remember, O Muhammad], when We told you, “Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people.” And We did not make the sight which We showed you except as a trial for the people, as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Qur’an. And We threaten them, but it increases them not except in great transgression.
37.61 For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.
37.62 Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqum?
37.63 Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.
37.64 Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
37.65 Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.
37.66 And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.
37.67 Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.
37.68 Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.
44.43 Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum
44.44 Is food for the sinful.
44.45 Like murky oil, it boils within bellies
44.46 Like the boiling of scalding water.
44.47 [It will be commanded], “Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
44.48 Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water.”
44.49 [It will be said], “Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!
44.50 Indeed, this is what you used to dispute.”
56.51 Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
56.52 Will be eating from trees of zaqqum
56.53 And filling with it your bellies
56.54 And drinking on top of it from scalding water
56.55 And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
56.56 That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
In the Quran, the Tree of Zaqqum is mentioned in these four separate surahs (chapters), and I can never even imagine describing it as it’s shown in the Quran.
A Hadith says:
Narrated Ibn Abbas: Regarding: ‘And We granted the vision (Ascension to the Heaven “Miraj”) which We showed you (O Muhammad as an actual eye witness) but as a trial for mankind.’ (17.60) It was an actual eye-witness which was shown to Allah’s Apostle during the night he was taken on a journey (through the heavens). And the cursed tree is the tree of Az-zaqqum (a bitter pungent tree that grows at the bottom of Hell). (Book #60, Hadith #240) [Bukhari]
So here we have so many warners of these punishments, and we still disbelieve, so are we not defiantly disobedient? May Allah (SWT) save us all from His Wrath and may He admit us into His Mercy. Ameen.
The Majority Of Women In Hellfire!
O’ my beloved sisters in Islam; do not occupy yourself with worldly desires such as following the daily trends of fashion, watching Bollywood movies, singing and dancing to tunes that contain statements that are forbidden in Islam, and do not freely mix yourself amongst men (Muslim/non-Muslim), do not leave your homes dressed to impress the evil within society, do not pose with high heels, do not display yourself openly while you are covered, do not draw attention by acting foolishly in the streets, protect yourself from the evil within you, the cursed Shaytaan, and the evil that you drag with you.
Wake up! and realize you are not promised tomorrow. Repent to your Lord, the Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. Ask for guidance, patience, and strength. May Allah, the Most High, protect us and guide us so that our ultimate goal in this life is to obtain His Pleasure; Ameen
“Know they not that whoever opposes and shows hostility to Allah and His Messenger, certainly for him will be the fire of Hell to abide therein? That is extreme disgrace”. (9:63)
Most of the sinners amongst the monotheists who enter Hell will be women, as is reported in as-Saheehayn, via Ibn ‘Abbaas: in the khutbah given during a solar eclipse, the Prophet (sallahu’alayhi wa sallam) said,
“I saw Hell and I saw that most of its inhabitants were women”.
Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri reports: The Prophet (sallahu’alayhi wa sallam) said, “O women give in charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.”
They asked, “Why is that so, O Messenger of Allaah (saw)?”
He said, “Because you curse too much and are ungrateful for good treatment”. (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
Usaamah ibn Zayd reported that the Prophet (sallahu’alayhi wa sallam) said: “I stood at the gate of Hell, and saw that most of those who entered were women”. (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
Muslim reports from ‘Imran ibn Husayn (RA) that the Prophet (sallahu’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Few of the inhabitants of Paradise are women”.
“Women will be few among the inhabitants of Paradise because in most cases they prefer the immediate pleasures of this life, as they are less wise and unable to keep the Hereafter in mind. They are too weak to strive and prepare themselves for it and are more inclined towards this world. In spite of all this, they are the strongest factor in this world that distracts men from the Hereafter, because men are inclined to desire them and they are not concerned with the Hereafter. They are quick to follow those who call them to deviate from Islam and reluctant to follow those pious people who call them to the Hereafter and righteous deeds”. (al-Qurtubee, at-Tadhkirah, 1/369)
In spite of all this, there are many righteous women among them, who stay within the limits set by Allah (SWT), adhere to His laws, and obey Allah (SWT) and His Messenger. Many of these women will enter Paradise, and many of them excel over men in their faith and righteous deeds.
My dear sisters in Islam, prove yourself wrong and be amongst the righteous women of Islam. Dedicate yourself to obey the commands of your Lord, and His Messenger (sallahuàlayhi wa sallam) and realize that there is NO pleasure in other than which pleases your Creator.
O Muslimah!
Fear Your Lord!
Give charity and repent before it’s too Late!
O my dear sisters in Islam
Wear your hijab – preserve ur modesty – say NO to envy and backbiting!
Be a practicing and exemplary Muslimah for you are the PEAR OF ISLAM!
May Allah bless you all…
Ameen
Do Not Be Fooled By The One Who Recites
The Prophet (PBUH) has said: Malik said, “I heard that al-Qasim ibn Muhammad used to say, ‘I have seen the people, (i.e. the companions), and they were not impressed by speech.’ ” Malik said, “He meant that only action and deed would be looked at, not words.” [Malik’s Muwatta, Book #56, Hadith #56.10.25)
‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab said: “Do not be fooled by the one who recites the Qur’an for that is only words we utter. Rather, look at the one who acts upon it.”
Al-Hasan said: “Verily, this Qur’an is learned by servants and young children who do not approach it from its front side, nor do they have knowledge of the interpretation of its meanings. Allah, the Most High, says: ‘This is a Book (which) We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its verses.’ [Soorah Saad: 29] What does pondering over its verses mean? It means following it through actions. And verily, the people with the most right to this Qur’an are those who follow it even if they don’t recite it. One of them says: ‘O so and so, come here, I will teach you how to recite! When did the reciters ever do this? They are not the reciters, nor are they the forbearing, nor the wise. May Allah not increase their likes amongst the people!”
Bakr bin Khunais said: “Verily, in the Hellfire there is a valley, which the Hellfire seeks refuge from seven times every day. And verily, in this valley there is a pit, which the valley and the Hellfire seek refuge from seven times every day. And verily, in this pit, there is a snake, which the pit, the valley, and the Hellfire seek refuge from seven times every day. It will begin first with the wicked bearers of the Qur’an. So they will say: ‘O Lord! Will you start with (punishing) us before the idol worshippers? It will be said to them: ‘The one who knows is not like the one who doesn’t know.’”
Who Are The People Of Regret?
Life as we know it can bring with it all sorts of grief, stress, and regret. At times, such stress is due to financial worries, other times it relates to health concerns, whilst at other times its anxiety is due to an enemy that awaits. The grief of this world is of many types and of varying degrees, however, no matter how serious stress becomes, you are very unlikely to see it causing a mother to “forget her baby”, or a “child to go grey” or for “people behaving as if they are drunk”.These descriptions are exclusive to only one specific day of stress and regret. That is the Day of Judgement.
Allah said, The Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from her nursling, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people appearing intoxicated although they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.”[1]
A day so intense that it has been described as the day that will make children turn grey.”[2]
On this day of colossal stress and unimaginable fear, people– in their billions – will only be of two categories.
The first category
A group who feel safe, secure, and inexplicably at peace. These people singled out Allah in worship, they tackled every sin of theirs before death and lived a life of preparation for the Day of Allah’smeeting, thus Allah said about them,
أThose will have security…”[3]And He said, “TheGreatest Terror (the Day of Judgement) will not grieve them”[4]
The second category
They are the terrorized and regretful ones, who will be heard screaming out: “.. How great is our regret for not giving it thought!”[5]
A second group will be heard pleading as they lower their heads in shame, “Our Lord, we now see and we hear so return us so that we may do good, we are now certain!”[6]
And a third group will be heard screeching “O I wish that I was dust!”[7]
Regret is an incredibly powerful negative emotion that, at times, can become so extreme that, if not managed with iman, can make a person suicidal. In fact, the Harvard Newsletter tells a story of a man in Liverpool who always chose the same set of lottery numbers. However, one time when he forgot to renew his ticket, his numbers came up. This poor man was so full of self-blame and regret that he committed suicide. Similarly, there will be people who will wish for death on the Day of Judgement as one of its names is ‘Yawmul Hasra’ (The Day of Regret).
Allah said, “And warn them, O Muḥammad, of the Day of Regret…” [8]
The Prophet (sall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “There isn’t any person who enters Jannah except that they are first made to see their potential place in the hellfire had they failed so that they increase ingratitude, and there isn’t a person who enters the hellfire except that they are first made to see their potential place in paradise had they passed so that they are taken by regret.”[9]
What once seemed to be the greatest possible achievement in life will all of a sudden seem on that Day as a regretfully wasted opportunity, for what greater regret can there be in existence than missing out on Allah’s acceptance and the Paradise that it brings.
With this said, it is essential to realize that the Prophet(sall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) has explicitly mentioned several matters that will bring about ‘Hasra’ (regret) on that long day. What follows are a few examples of these matters:
The regret of not giving Surat Al-Baqara due attention
When the rewards are distributed to those who had given this surah the focus it deserves, those who fell short will be in a major state of bitter regret. This is because the Prophet (sall Allahu ʿalayhi Wa Sallam) said, “ReciteSurat Al-Baqara, for taking care of it is a blessing, leaving it will be regret and the magicians are unable to overcome it.”[10]