ON THE DESCRIPTION OF HELL AND THE SCALE

There is nothing wrong in mentioning this even though some of it was mentioned before. We are doing it to complete its benefit. It is possible that the repetition of admonitions will awaken the negligent and corrupt hearts, more so, since Allâh amplified the terror of Hell and the different scenes of the day of resurrection in various places in His Book. This has the greatest impact on the hearts of the intelligent and draws our attention to the fact that whatever is apart from that is insignificant, and that the hereafter is best and everlasting.

As for the description of Hell – may Allâh save us from it through His favour and bounty – it is related in the Hadîth that Hell is pitch black and dark. It has no light and no flare. It has seven doors. There are 70 000 mountains at each door. Each mountain has 70 000 sections of fire. Each section has 70 000 crevices. Each crevice has 70 000 valleys. Each valley has 70 000 castles of fire. Each castle has 70 000 houses of fire. Each house has 70 000 snakes and 70 000 scorpions. Each scorpion has 70 000 tails. Each tail has 70 000 spines. Each spine has 70 000 vessels of poison. When the day of resurrection takes place, the veils will be lifted from Hell. Canopies will fly from it and go to the right side of man and jinn. Others will go to their left, in front of them, above them and behind them. When they see all this, they will fall to their knees and they will all begin calling out: “O our Sustainer! Give us peace.”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “Hell will be brought on the day of resurrection. It will have 70 000 reins. Each rein will be held by 70 000 angels who will be drawing it.”

The Messenger of Allâh said with regard to the huge size of the guards of Hell, referred to in this verse: “stern and powerful.”[103] He said: “The distance between the two shoulders of these angels is equal to a journey of one year. Each one of them has such strength that if he were to strike a mountain with the iron rod that is in his hand, it would be reduced to powder. With each strike, he will cast 70 000 people into the pit of Hell.”

As for the following verse:

“Appointed over it are 19 angels.” (Sûrah al-Muddaththir, 74: 30)

This refers to the heads of the az-Zabâniyah (a specific group of guards). As for the general angels of Hell, their number is known to none but Allâh . Allâh says:

“None knows the armies of your Sustainer but He.” (Sûrah al-Muddaththir, 74: 31)

Ibn ‘Abbâs was asked about the extent of Hell. He replied: “By Allâh I do not know what its size is. However, we heard that the distance between the ear and shoulder of the az-Zabâniyah is equal to a journey of 70 years. And that valleys of pus and blood flow in Hell.”

A Hadîth of Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh states that the thickness of the canopies of Hell is equal to a journey of 40 years.

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger of Allâh said: “This fire of yours [i.e. this fire of the world] is one seventieth part of the heat of Hell.” The Companions y said: “O Messenger of Allâh! The fire of this world alone would have sufficed.” He replied: “It surpasses it by 69 times. Each one equal to the other.”

The Messenger of Allâh said: “If an inmate of Hell were to remove his hand towards the inhabitants of the world, the entire world will burn by its heat. If one of the guards of Hell were to come before the inhabitants of the world so that they could see him, they would all die on account of the anger of Allâh that is on him.”

Imâm Muslim rahimahullâh and others narrate that the Messenger of Allâh was sitting with his Companions y when he heard a terrifying sound. He asked: “Do you know what this is?” We replied: “Allâh and His Messenger know best.” He said: “It is a rock that was thrown into Hell 70 years ago. It continued falling and it reached the bottom now.”

‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb used to say: “Be constant in remembering the Hell-fire because its heat is intense, its pit is deep, and its rods are of steel.”

Ibn ‘Abbâs used to say: “The Hell-fire picks up its people as a bird picks up seeds.”

Ibn ‘Abbâs was asked about this verse:

“When it will see them from a distant place, they will hear its raging and roaring.” (Sûrah al-Furqân, 25: 12)

He was asked: “Does Hell have two eyes?” He replied: “Yes. Did you not hear the Messenger of Allâh saying: ‘He who wilfully fabricates a lie against me should prepare for himself a seat in front of the eyes of Hell.’ He was asked: ‘O Messenger of Allâh ! Does it have two eyes?’ He replied: ‘Did you not hear these words of Allâh :

“When it will see them from a distant place…” (Sûrah al-Furqân, 25: 12)

This is further supported by the following Hadîth: “A neck will come out of the Hell-fire. It will have two eyes with which it looks and a tongue with which it speaks. It will say: ‘Today I have been appointed over he who ascribed others deities to Allâh .’ It will be able to look at them more clearly than a bird that is attracted to a sesame seed and thus pecks at it.”

As for a description of the scale, it is related in a Hadîth that the pan for good deeds is of light and the pan of evil deeds is of darkness.

Imâm at-Tirmidhî rahimahullâh narrates that the Messenger ofAllâh said: “Paradise will be placed to the right of the Throne and Hell to its left. The pan of good deeds to its right and the pan of evil deeds to its left. Paradise will thus be on the side of good deeds and Hell will be on the side of evil deeds.”

Ibn ‘Abbâs used to say: “The good and evil deeds will be weighed on a scale which has two pans and a tongue.” He also used to say: “When Allâh decides to weigh the deeds of man, He will turn them into solids and weigh them on the day of resurrection.”