Jahannam (Arabic: جهنم)
is the Islamic equivalent to Hell.
It is also mentioned in the Quran
as: "That which Breaks to Pieces", '"Blazing
Fire" and "The Abyss". The term comes from the Hebrew
Gehenna, originally the
name of a valley outside Jerusalem.
Characteristics
Jahannam (Hell) is described as having seven
gates, each for a specific group of sinners, the sinners have degrees (or
ranks) based on their deeds and hypocrites
are in the lowest of the depths of the Jahannam. Sinners are the fuel for the
fire of Jahannam along with disbelieving Jinns and stones. The fire burns their skins, changing their
colour to black due to its intensity. Jahannam has a shadow of smoke ascending
in three columns, which yields no shade of coolness against the fierce blaze.
Its sparks are described to be as "huge as a palace." Jahannam is
described to have nineteen angels, who will punish wrongdoers. The leader of
these angels, as stated in the Quran, is Maalik. According to prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) he is an angel, very severe & harsh, and he will listen to the
request of the dwellers of hell after a 1000 years and the response will be in negative.
The food of Jahannam described in Hadith and
the Quran includes a bitter thorn plant, Dhari, which does not
nourish sinners, along with a tree named Zaqqum. Zaqqum
is described in the Quran as a tree that springs out of the bottoms of
hellfire; the shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the "heads of
devils" and eating it is similar to eating molten brass that will boil
their insides "like scalding
water". Sinners drink boiling water that will cut their bowels when they
consume it. If they call for relief, they shall be given water described to be
like molten brass,
which will scald their faces. The residents of Jahannam wear garments of fire
that will scorch them.
Inhabitants
Various groups of people described to be in
Jahannam include; disbelievers, hypocrites, polytheists, the People of the Book who
reject the truth, arrogant rejectors of truth, sinners and criminals, tyrants,
the unjust, transgressors, concealers of God's revelations, persecutors of
believers, people who commit suicide and murderers. Other people mentioned in
Hadith include, but are not limited to; the arrogant, the proud and the
haughty. Some prominent people mentioned in the Hadith and Quran are; Fir'awn,
the wives of Nuh
and Lut, Abu Lahab and his wife.
Punishment
Muslims believe that unfaithful Muslims not
true to their religion will be punished in Jahannam. Sunni Muslims believe that
such Muslims will eventually be forgiven. Muslims also believe that a
disbeliever or non-Muslim, for not believing while on Earth, may remain there
in Jahannam for eternity — each person is judged according to their own
circumstances. However, those who commit shirk will be condemned to
the worst punishments in Jahannam for eternity. The Quran states that God may
choose to make the punishment of hell temporary if He wills it according to His
wisdom and knowledge.
The Quran and Hadith offer detailed
descriptions of the methods of torture in Jahannam. The Quran states the
punishments will be: the burning of skin, only to be replaced for reburning;
garments of fire to be worn, and boiling water will scald the skin and internal
organs; faces on fire; lips burnt off; backs on fire; roasting from side to
side; faces dragged along fire; bound in yokes then dragged through boiling
water and fire. The Hadith introduces punishments, reasons and revelations not
mentioned in the Quran, the least-suffering person in Jahannam will have
his/her brain boiling from standing on hot embers; and Hadith also relates that a person who
committed suicide will be tortured on the Day of Judgment
by the very means he/she used to end his/her life, as well as in Jahannam.
