Aqeedah (Belief) Spiritual Purification With the Divine

The Entrance into Hell-Fire

Paradise and Hell Series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII

Allah (swt) paints a picture for us in the Qur’an of one of the greatest losers:

“But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record and had not known what is my account! My wealth has not availed me! Gone from me is my authority!” (Qur’an, 69:25-29)

In the hereafter, our aspirations, intentions and beliefs will be put on display. This person thought that their wealth and power would save them but realized this was false hope after facing the reality. He says in his utter despair and regret that the two avenues of salvation he was relying on amounted to absolutely nothing. That is the definition of a loser.

What happens next to this person? Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala (exalted is He) will announce to the keepers of Hell:

“Seize him and shackle him! Then into Hellfire drive him! Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!” (Qur’an, 69:30-32)

The English translation does not capture the terror of these verses. When Allah (swt) gives these orders, He (swt) is not speaking to one Angel, rather He (swt) is addressing a group of Angels to take hold of this person, tie him up with chains, then throw him into Hell-Fire. No one will enter the Fire willingly, so it takes a group of strong and stern Angels to take people to the Hell-Fire.

Chains

Even though these Angels are strong enough to restrain the sinners and disbelievers who will enter the Fire, Allah (swt) will order the Angels to secure them with chains and fetters – another level of punishment and humiliation for them. Allah (swt) says, “Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know, When the shackles are around their necks and the chains.” (Qur’an, 40:70-71)

After they are chained individually, they will then be chained together: “And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction.” (Qur’an, 25:13) We know that Hell-Fire is huge, but it will feel as if it is a tight and cramped place. Their state is described as muqaraneen, which means they will all be tied together. One of the biggest fears people have today is claustrophobia, the fear of narrow spaces. Those destined for the Fire will experience the fear of claustrophobia on a much greater level. This punishment shows that the torments of the Fire will not only be physical but also psychological.

Different ways of Entering the Fire

After being seized, shackled and chained together, they will then enter the Fire. Some will enter differently than others, and Allah (swt) shows this in the Qur’an.

Some will be thrown into the Fire:

“The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.” (Qur’an, 55:41) The Angels will grab these people by their foreheads and feet and throw them in the Fire. We can only imagine how humiliating it is to be detained in such a position.

Others will be pushed into the Fire:

“The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust.” (Qur’an, 52:13) Some of us who have experienced being pushed somewhere or having to do something against our will can attest to how powerless it makes one feel and how terrifying it can be. These people will be pushed into Hell-Fire against their will because no one will enter the Fire willingly.

Some will be dragged into the Fire:

“The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces.” (Qur’an, 54:48) Our face is the most honorable part of our bodies, revealing how degrading it will be for the disbelievers and sinners to be dragged on it.

Finally, some people will enter the Fire unexpectedly:

“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened.” (Qur’an, 39:71) This verse is one of the many miracles of Qur’anic composition, showing how every addition and subtraction of a word has an impact on the meaning. When Allah (swt) says that the disbelievers will be taken to Hell-Fire in groups, He (swt) does not include a conjunction between that statement and the statement that the gates will be opened. Meaning, Allah (swt) does not say, “then the gates will be opened” but simply, “its gates are opened”. The English translation does not capture the profound meaning of this verse. The scholars say that the omission of the Arabic letter waw (which can mean “and” as well as “then”) shows that the gates will open all of a sudden, without warning, on the disbelievers. Being thrown and pushed into the Fire are terrifying, but this entrance into the Fire is unquestionably the scariest.

Greetings

Just as we are greeted by the inhabitants when we enter a new location, the companions of the Fire will also be greeted – but their greeting will not be one of welcome and pleasure. Instead, Allah (swt) says, “The day they see the angels – no good tidings will there be that day for the criminals, and [the angels] will say, “Prevented and inaccessible.” (Qur’an, 25:22) They will be prevented from Paradise, and unable to access anything that will bring relief, happiness or comfort.

Allah (swt) says in another ayah (verse): “No welcome for them!” (Qur’an, 38:59) Rather, the Angels will greet them with mocking questions:

“Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” (Qur’an, 39:71)

The Angels will repeat this question over and over, “Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, “Did there not come to you a warner?” (Qur’an, 67:8)

It is as if the Angels are saying, “How could you have known about this Fire yet you still entered it?! Were you not warned of it?!” This is adding insult to injury, showing yet another aspect of the psychological trauma of those in Hell-Fire.

We seek Allah’s refuge from the Fire!

About the author

Amatullah

Amatullah

Amatullah is a student of the Qur’an and its language. She completed the 2007 Ta’leem program at Al-Huda Institute in Canada and studied Qur’an, Tajweed (science of recitation) and Arabic in Cairo. Through her writings, she hopes to share the practical guidance taught to us by Allah and His Messenger and how to make spirituality an active part of our lives. She has completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work and will be completing a Masters program in 2014. Her experiences include working with immigrant seniors, refugee settlement, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

17 Comments

  • SubhanAllah!!! Extremely vivid. The message definitely wakes the reader up from his/her state of sleep.

    “Allahumma Najinnee Min-aNaar” (O Allah, save us from the Hell Fire)

  • As a non-believer, but yet a deeply moral person, am I truly headed for the fires of hell? I believe in love, kindness,decency, honesty and forgiveness. Why doesn’t Islam forgive me?

    • Islam cannot forgive you; it is only a religion. Allah (God) is the only one who can forgive you. How can he forgive you if you don’t even believe in his existence? This is what, personally, hurts me the most. To see kind people in the world doing good deeds, but in the end, they disbelieve in Islam and all its truths. It’s sad. Islam invites you to all its blessings, just read. Reading is a blessing. The more you read, the more you will be able to differentiate the truth from falsehood. Islam is the truth.

    • Do you also believe in gratitude? Enslave yourself to the caring Lord who created you and you are promised Paradise.

  • ALLAH O AKBAR kabeera!!
    Allah is REHMAN RAHEEM KAREEM.HE loves his people (us) more than anything created till now. ALLAH(swt) loves us 70times like a mother loves his children. HE (swt) said when we pray to him there is not even an angel between us and ALLAH (swt) forgives every sin except for shirk and salaat. Please my fellow muslims brothers and sisters life is too short pray five times a day give sadqah or zakat help the poor and needy be nice to everyone even ur slave or servant trust noone except ALLAH(swt). Restrain from lies backbitting zanah. Respect ur elders especially ur parents.ur route to heaven is under ur mothers feet respect her love her and surely janat will be ur reward.a person would be judged by intentions(niyat) so whatever good u do always do it with good and true intention because u cn hide from people bt not from ALLAH (swt). May ALLAH (swt) forgive us and guide us to right path AMEEN ALLAHUMA AJIRNA MINAN NAAR.

  • @ martha. It is a shame to see people close to d truth but faii to notice it.my advice to u is to stick to this site and similar ones to get the correct perception of Allah and Islam because if u don’t get the right perception u will never be able to submit to Allah and rationalizing

  • Asalamu alaikum

    I have a question. Is the dua Allahuma ajirni mina nar or Allahuma ajirna mina nar? This has been bugging me.

    Can someone please answer this question.

    Jazak Allah

    • Wa alaikumussalaam. Allahumma ajirni minanaar means save ME from the fire. Ajirna means save US from the fire. Hope that answers your question

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