Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

It has been mentioned earlier that Paradise means gardens of rivers flowing beneath and so on.

Contrary to that what is Hell like? Is it a ground or a jungle filled with fire or what? Or what? And what do you mean by the levels of hell, the highest and lowest?

Also `Allahumma Ajirnee Minannar` means `O Allah, please save me from the Hell Fire`. I have read in many books that if a person utters this 7 times after Fajar or Maghrib prayer and dies during that day or night whatever the case may be, he/she will enter Paradise. If that is the case then is it not easy for anyone to play any mischief on this earth? Also does this apply to anyone or only to those who are regular in their prayer? What about a person who`s bad deeds are more than good deeds?

Can you clarify this point please? 

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Answer:

Description of hell fire

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Paradise and Hell, both are obviously events of the ‘unseen’, and its exact description and faculties are known to none save Allah Subhanah Alone. Although Allah Subhanah describes some portions and gives some description of both Paradise and the Hell Fire in His Glorious Quran, the Truth of the matter is that man is just not able to comprehend either the Mercies and Bounties of Paradise, nor the tortures and punishments of Hell Fire!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 17:

No living being knows what comfort of the eyes has been kept hidden from them, as a recompense (in Paradise) for their (righteous) deeds!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.467 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah, The High and Exalted He is, said, 'I have prepared for My pious slaves things (in Paradise) which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or (even) imagined by a human being.'

Your Question: Contrary to that what is Hell like? Is it a ground or a jungle filled with fire or what?

There are several verses in the Glorious Quran where Allah Subhanah describes the punishments which the disbelievers will have to bear in Hell Fire…..some amongst these verses are:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saffaat verses 62-68:

62 Is that (Paradise) the better entertainment or the Tree of ‘Zaqqum’?

63 For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrongdoers.

64 For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell Fire!

65 The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of the ‘Shayateen’

66 Truly they (the inhabitants of Hell) will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith.

67 Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water.

68 Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 44 Surah Dukhaan verses 43-50:

43 Verily the tree of ‘Zaqqum’

44 Will be the food of the sinful

45 Like molten brass; it will boil in their insides

46 Like the boiling of scalding water.

47 (A voice will cry:) "Seize ye him and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire!

48 Then pour over his head the penalty of boiling water;

49 Taste thou (this)! Truly wast thou mighty, full of honor!

50 Truly this is what ye used to doubt!"

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 88 Surah Ghashiyah verses 4-7:

4 The while they enter the Blazing Fire

5 The while they are given to drink of a boiling hot spring.

6 No food will there be for them but a bitter Dhari (a plant of Hell, bitter and thorny, loathsome in smell and appearance)

7 Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waqiah verses 41-44:

41 The companions of the ‘left hand’! What will be the companions of the ‘left hand’?

42 (They will be) in the midst of a fierce blast of Fire and in boiling water

43 And in the shades of black smoke:

44 Nothing (will there be in Hell) to refresh nor to please!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 38 Surah Saad verses 55-58:

55 Yea such! But for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of (final) Return!

56 Hell! They will burn therein; an evil bed (indeed to lie on)!

57 Yea such! Then shall they taste it a boiling fluid, and a fluid dark murky intensely cold!

58 And other Penalties of a similar kind to match!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 14 Surah Ibraheem verses 16-17:

16 In front of such a one is Hell and he is given for drink boiling fetid water.

17 In gulps will he sip it, but never well he be near swallowing it down his throat! Death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die! And in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 19-22:

19 These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: but those who deny (their Lord) for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water.

20 With it will be scalded what is within their bodies as well as (their) skins.

21 In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them.

22 Every time they wish to get away therefrom from anguish they will be forced back therein and (it will be said) "Taste ye the Penalty of Burning!"

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 40 Surah Mumin verses 69-72:

69 Seest thou not those that dispute concerning the signs of Allah? How are they turned away (from the Truth)?

70 Those who reject the Book and the (Revelations) with which We sent Our Messengers: But soon shall they know

71 When the yokes (shall be) round their necks and the chains; they shall be dragged along

72 In the boiling fetid fluid then in the Fire shall they be burned;

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 29:

29 Say "The Truth is from your Lord": let him who will believe and let him who will reject (it): for the wrongdoers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames) are like a wall and the 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!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 14 Surah Ibraheem verses 49-50:

49 And thou wilt see the sinners that day bound together in fetters

50 Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with Fire!

Your Statement: Also `Allahumma Ajirnee Minannar` means `O Allah, please save me from the Hell Fire`

This was a supplication constantly on the lips of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he (saws) would humbly beseech his Lord, in absolute and abject fear and humility, to protect him from the torment of the Fire.

Your Statements: I have read in many books that if a person utters this 7 times after Fajar or Maghrib prayer and dies during that day or night whatever the case may be, he/she will enter Paradise. If that is the case then is it not easy for anyone to play any mischief on this earth? Also does this apply to anyone or only to those who are regular in their prayer?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 103 Surah Al-Asr verses 1-3:

1 By (the token of) time!

2 Verily, (every) man is in loss!

3 Except such as have Faith and do righteous deeds; and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

Dear and beloved brother, rest absolutely assured that the recitation of a numbered verses are definitely not the prescribed criteria Allah Subhanah has prescribed for one’s entry into Paradise…..but one’s entry into Paradise is entirely dependant on one’s state of belief and the doing of good righteous deeds in accordance with the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws); and above all, the Mercy and Grace of the Lord Most Merciful.

Your Statement: What about a person who`s bad deeds are more than good deeds?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 101 Surah Al-Qariah verses 6-11:

6 Then he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy

7 Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction.

8 But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light

9 Will have his home in a (bottomless) pit.

10 And what will explain to thee what this is?

11 (It is) a Fire, blazing fiercely!

On that Inevitable and Tumultuous Day of Judgment, The All-Knowing, All-Just Lord will assign a weight for each deed, good and evil…..and whosoever’s scale of good deeds is heavier than his evil deeds, they will enter Paradise with the Mercy of their Lord; and whosoever’s scale of evil deeds is heavier than their good deeds, they will be condemned to the blazing fire of Hell.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan