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:

Dear Brother Burhan,

AssalaamOAlaikum,

May Allah forgive me if this question is sinful to even ask.Quoting the hadith from one of your answers: Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.125         Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas The Prophet (saws): "I saw the (Hell) Fire, and I have never before seen such a horrible sight as that, and I saw that the majority of its dwellers were women."   The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah (saws)!

What is the reason for that?"   He (saws) replied, "Because of their ungratefulness."  It was said. "Do they disbelieve in Allah (are they ungrateful to Allah)?"   He (saws) replied, "They are not thankful to their husbands, and are ungrateful for the favors done to them.   Even if you do good to one of them all your life, when she seems some harshness from you, she will say, "I have never seen any good from you.'"

The day of judgement is the one when the fate of everyone is going to Be decided by Allah Subhana. When the Prophet (PBUM) said that he saw majority of the dwellers of Hell were women, does it not mean that those women and other dwellers' fates have already been decided?

There must be another simpler explanation.

Regards,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

How did the Prophet (saws) saw people in hell?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Whatever the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, it has to be accepted unconditionally as the Truth; for he spoke nothing from himself, but was guided by the All Knowing, All Wise, Lord of the Worlds.

The All-Powerful, All Mighty Lord is able to do all things; and many a times Allah Subhanah showed a portrayal of Hell Fire and Paradise to the Prophet (saws), who related what he saw to his people as a warning to the evil doers, and as a source of good news to the workers of righteousness.

Allah Subhanah is the Lord and Creator of the past, the present and the future; and He has the Power to do all things.

Even in the Glorious Quran, on several occasions Allah Subhanah portrays the future happenings, sayings and conversations of the people of Hell Fire and the people of Paradise! That does not mean that these people are already stationed at those places; but is a portrayal of the future happenings of Truth, which is all known to the All-Knowing!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 43-47:

43 And We shall remove from their (the believer’s) hearts any lurking sense of injury; beneath them will be rivers flowing; and they shall say: "Praise be to Allah Who hath guided us to this (felicity): never could we have found guidance had it not been for the guidance of Allah: indeed it was the Truth that the Prophets of our Lord brought unto us." And they Shall hear the cry: "Behold! the Paradise before you! Ye have been made its inheritors for your deeds (of righteousness)."

44 The companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true: have you also found your Lord's promises true?" They shall say "yes"; but a crier shall proclaim between them: "the curse of Allah is on the wrong- doers;

45 "Those who would hinder (men) from the path of Allah and would seek in it something crooked: they were those who denied the Hereafter."

46 Between them shall be a veil and on the heights will be men who would know everyone by his marks: they will call out to the companions of the Paradise "peace on you". They will not have entered but they will have an assurance (thereof.)

47 When their eyes shall be turned towards the companions of the Fire they will say: "Our Lord! Send us not to the company of the wrong- doers."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 165-167:There are people who set up equals and rivals with Allah and adore them with the adoration due to Allah! Whereas the believers adore Allah most ardently. Would that these transgressors could realize now what they will realize, when they see the chastisement before them: that power and authority wholly belong to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment! When He will inflict punishment, those very leaders and guides whom they followed in the world will disown them. But punishment they shall get and all their bonds shall be cut off. Then those who followed them will say, “Would that we were given another chance to return to the world. Then we will disown them just as they have disowned us today!” Thus Allah will bring before them the deeds they did in the world in such a manner as to make them wring their hands in regret, but they shall be unable to come out of the Fire.

The simplest explanation to your query is that Allah Subhanah is Able and Capable of doing whatever He Wills! If He Wills, He may declare the state and conversations in the future of people of Paradise and the people of Hell Fire in the Quran; or He may portray events in the future of Paradise and Hell Fire to His Prophets! Allah Subhanah does whatever He Wills.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan