The intense heat, food, and drink of the people of Hell is described in Islamic religious sources.
Its Heat
God says:
“And the companions of the left – what are the companions of the left? (They will be) in scorching fire and scalding water and a shade of black smoke, neither cool nor beneficial.” (Quran 56:41-44)
Everything people use to cool down in this world – air, water, shade – will be useless in Hell. The air of Hell will be hot wind and the water will be boiling. The shade will not be comforting or cooling, the shade in Hell will be the shadow of black smoke as mentioned in the verse:
“And shadow of black smoke.” (Quran 56:43)
In another passage, God says:
“But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, will have his home in a (bottomless) pit. And what will explain to you what this is? (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely.” (Quran 101:8-11)
God describes how the shade of Hell’s smoke will rise above the Fire. The smoke that rises from Hell will be divided into three columns. Its shade will neither cool nor offer any protection from the raging Fire. The flying sparks will be like huge castles similar to string of marching yellow camels:
“Proceed to a shadow (of smoke) having three columns (but having) no cool shade and availing not against the flame. Indeed, it throws sparks (as huge) as a fortress, as if they were yellow camels (marching swiftly).” (Quran 77:30-33)
The Fire consumes everything, leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin reaching all the way to the bones, melting the contents of the stomach, leaping up to the hearts, and exposing the vital organs. God speaks of the intensity and affect of the Fire:
“I will drive him into Hellfire. And what can make you know what is Hellfire? It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned), altering the skins.” (Quran 74:26-29)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“Fire as we know it is one seventieth part of the Fire of Hell. Someone said, ‘O Messenger of God, it is enough as it is!’ He said, ‘It is as if sixty-nine equal portions were added to fire as we know it.’” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
The Fire never extinguishes:
“So taste you (the results of your evil deeds). No increase shall We give you except in torment.” (Quran 78:30)
“…Whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” (Quran 17:97)
The torment will never be reduced and the unbelievers will not have any break:
“…Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.” (Quran 2:86)
The Food of its Inhabitants
The food of the people of Hell is described in the Quran. God says:
“No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.” (Quran 88:6-7)
The food will neither nourish nor taste good. It will only serve as a punishment to the people of Hell. In other passages, God describes the tree of zaqqum, a special food of Hell. Zaqqum is a repulsive tree, its roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, its branches stretching all over. Its ugly fruit is like the heads of the devils. He says:
“Indeed, the tree of zaqqum is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.” (Quran 44:43-46)
“Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. And, indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies. Then, indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. Then, indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.” (Quran 37:62-68)
“Then indeed you, O those astray (who are) deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqum and filling with it your bellies, and drinking on top of it from scalding water, and will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels. That is their hospitality on the Day of Recompense.” (Quran 56:51-56)
People of Hell will get so hungry that they will eat from the obnoxious tree of zaqqum. When they will fill their bellies with it, it will start to churn like boiling oil causing immense suffering. At that point they will rush to drink extremely hot water. They will drink it like thirsty camels, yet it will never quench their thirst. Rather their internals will be torn. God says:
“…They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)
The thorny bushes and zaqqum will choke them and stick in their throats because of their foulness:
“Surely, with us are fetters (to bind them) and a ranging Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes and a penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“If a drop from zaqqum were to land in this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would rot. So how must it be for one who must eat it?” (Tirmidhi)
Another food served to the people of Hell will be festering pus that oozes out of their skin. It is the “juice” of the people of Hell. God says:
“So no friend has he here this Day, nor has he any food except filth from the washing of wounds which none do eat but those in sin.” (Quran 69:35-37)
“This – so let them taste it – is scalding water and (foul) purulence. And other (punishments) of its type (in various) kinds.” (Quran 38:57-58)
Lastly, some sinners will be fed fire from Hell as a punishment. God says:
“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire.” (Quran 4:10)
“Indeed, they who conceal what God has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price – those consume not into their bellies except the Fire.” (Quran 2:174)
Its Drink
God tells in the Quran about the drink of people of Hell:
“They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Quran 47:15)
“…And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.” (Quran 18:29)
“Before him is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water. He will gulp it but will hardly (be able to) swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.” (Quran 14:16-17)
“A boiling fluid and fluid dark, murky, intensely cold.” (Quran 38:57)
The types of drink people of Hell will get to drink are as follows:
· Extremely hot water as God says:
“They will go around between it and scalding water, heated (to the utmost degree).” (Quran 55:44)
“They will be given drink from a boiling spring.” (Quran 88:5)
· Flowing pus from the flesh and skin of an unbeliever. The Prophet SAWS said:
“Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabal. They asked, ‘O Messenger of God, what is the mud of khabal?’ He said, ‘The sweat of the people of Hell’ or the ‘juice of the people of Hell.’” (Saheeh Muslim)
· A drink like boiling oil described by the Prophet SAWS as:
“It is like boiling oil, when it is brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
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The intensity of the fire of Hell will be such that people will be willing to give up their dearest possessions to escape it:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek to) ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.” (Quran 3:91)
The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“One of the people of Hell who found most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord.”
Few moments in Hell and the person will forget all the good times they had. The Prophet of Islam SAWS informs us:
“On the Day of Resurrection, God will ask the one whose punishment in the Fire is lightest, ‘If you had whatsoever you wanted on earth, would you give it to save yourself?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ God will say, ‘I wanted less than that from you when you were still in the loins of Adam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me.’”
The horror and intensity of the Fire is enough to make a man lose his mind. He would be willing to give up everything he holds dear to saved from it, but he never will be. God says:
“The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife and his brother, and his nearest kindred who shelter him, and all – all that is on earth – so it could save him. No! Indeed, it is the Flame (of Hell), plucking out (his being) tight to the skull!” (Quran 70:11-16)
The punishments of Hell will vary in degree. The torment of some levels of Hell will be greater than others. People will be put in a level according to their deeds. The Prophet of Islam SAWS said:
“There are some whom the Fire will reach their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and yet others up to their necks.”
He spoke of the lightest punishment in Hell:
“The person who will receive the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day Resurrection will be a man, a smoldering ember will be placed under the arch of his foot. His brains will boil because of it.”
This person will think no one else is being punished more severely than himself, even though he will be the one receiving the lightest punishment.
Many verses of the Quran speak of various levels of punishment for the people of Hell:
“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145)
“and on the Day that Judgment will be established (it will be said to the angels): Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest penalty!” (Quran 40:46)
The Fire kindled by God will burn the skin of the people of Hell. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the site of sensation where the pain of burning is felt. God will replace the burnt skin with a new one to be burnt again, and this will keep on repeating:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 4:56)
Another punishment of Hell is melting. When super-heated water will be poured on their heads, it will melt away the internals:
“…poured upon their heads will be scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and (their) skins.” (Quran 22:19-20)
Prophet Muhammad SAWS said:
“Super-heated water will be poured onto their heads and will dissolve through it until it cuts up their innards, expelling them; until it comes out of their feet, and everything is melted. Then they will be restored as they were.”
One of the ways God will humiliate the sinful in Hell is by gathering them on Judgment Day on their faces, blind, deaf, and dumb.
“and We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.” (Quran 17:97)
“And brings an evil deed — such will be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said), ‘Are you recompensed for anything but what you used to do?’” (Quran 27:90)
“The Fire will burn their faces and they will grin therein, their lips displaced.” (Quran 23:104)
“The Day their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger.’” (Quran 33:66)
Another painful punishment of unbelievers will be getting dragged on their faces into Hell. God says:
“Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness. The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces (it will be said), ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’” (Quran 54:47-48)
They will be dragged on their faces while they are tied in chains and fettered:
“Those who deny the Book (the Quran) and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know, when the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged in boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled (with flame).” (Quran 40:70-72)
God will blacken the faces of the people of Hell:
“On the Day (some) faces will turn white and (some) faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black. (to them it will be said), ‘Did you reject faith after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject.’” (Quran 3:106)
Their faces will be such as if the night has covered them:
“But they who have earned (blame for) evil doings – the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from God no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night – so dark (are they). Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Quran 10:27)
The Fire will surround the unbeliever on all sides just as sins surrounded him like a sheet wound around his body:
“Theirs will be a bed of Fire and over them coverings (of Fire)…” (Quran 7:41)
“On the Day when the torment (of Hell) will cover them from above them and from underneath their feet.” (Quran 29:55)
“…and surely Hell will surround the unbelievers…” (Quran 9:49)
The Fire of Hell will leap up to the hearts. The Fire will penetrate their super-sized bodies and reach the innermost depths:
“No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts.” (Quran 104:4-7)
The Fire will split the entrails as mentioned by the Prophet SAWS:
“A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Fire. Then his entrails will be spilled out into the Fire and he will be forced to walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, ‘O so-and-so, what is wrong with you? Did you not enjoin us to do good and forbid us to do wrong?’ He will say, ‘I used to order you to do good, but I did not do it and I used to forbid you to do evil, but I used to do it myself.’ Then he will walk around and around like a donkey in a treadmill.”
God has described the chains, yokes, and fetters of Hell. They will be tied up with chains and dragged with yokes on their necks:
“for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire.” (Quran 76:4)
“With Us are fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous.” (Quran 73:12-13)
“We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers. It would only be requital for their evil deeds.” (Quran 34:33)
“when yokes will be put round their necks and the chains, they will be dragged along.” (Quran 40:71)
“(The stern command will say): seize him and bind him, and burn him in the blazing Fire, further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Quran 69:30-32)
The pagan gods and all other deities that were worshipped besides God who people thought will be their intercessors with God and bringing them closer to Him will be thrown into Hell with them. This will be to humiliate and demonstrate that these false gods have no power,
“Indeed, you (disbelievers), and that which you worship other than God, are but fuel for Hell. Verily, you will enter it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have entered there, but all will eternally abide therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)
When the unbeliever will see Hell, he will be filled with remorse, but it will not be of any benefit:
“And they will feel regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.” (Quran 10:54)
The unbeliever will pray for his death when they sense its heat,
“And when they are thrown into a narrow place therein bound in chains, they will cry out thereupon for destruction. (They will be told), ‘Do not cry this Day for one destruction but cry for much destruction.’” (Quran 25:13-14)
Their screams will get louder and they will call onto God hoping He will take them out of Hell:
“And they will cry out therein, ‘Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness – other than what we were doing!’” (Quran 35:37)
They will realize theirs sins and the error of stubborn disbelief:
“And they will say, ‘If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.’ And they will admit their sin, so (it is) alienation for the companions of the Blaze.” (Quran 67:10-11)
Their prayers will be rejected:
“They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return (to evil), we would indeed be wrongdoers.’ He will say, ‘Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.’” (Quran 23:106-108)
After that, they will call the keepers of Hell asking them to intercede to God on their behalf for reduction in torment:
“And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.’ They will say, ‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They will reply, ‘Then supplicate (yourselves), but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error.’” (Quran 40:49-50)
Their will even plead for their own destruction to relieve themselves of the pain:
“And they will call, ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!’ He will say, ‘Indeed, you will remain.’” (Quran 43:77)
They will be told the punishment will never be reduced, it is eternal:
“Then be patient or impatient – it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed for what you used to do.’” (Quran 52:16)
They will weep for a long time:
“So let them laugh a little and then weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.” (Quran 9:82)
They will weep until no tears are left, then that they will weep blood, which will leave its traces as described by the Prophet SAWS:
“The people of Hell will be made to weep, and they will weep until they have no tears left. Then they will weep blood until they have, as it were, channels in their faces, if ships were put in them, they would float.”
As you have seen, the descriptions of Hell in the Islamic scripture are clear and graphic, as are the descriptions of the people who deserve their fate therein. Such is the clarity that any person who believes in Judgment Day and the eternal destinies of the Hereafter must be motivated to at least try not to be of the people thrown inside. The best, and really only, way of avoiding this fate is to seriously search into the true religion God has mandated for humanity. A person should never follow a religion merely because it was that which he was “born into”, nor should they take religion to be a new age fashion. Rather, they should look into the truth about this world and the life to come, and be sure that they have prepared for that judgment from which there is no return, by living a life and system of belief revealed and unchanged from the One High Above.
