What is Hell in Islam?
Jahannam is the Arabic word for Hell, a place of punishment for those who disobey Allah (SWT) and reject His Messengers. People will be assigned to Paradise or Hell based on their deeds on the Day of Judgment, as one of the six articles of faith. As Muslims, we believe that it exists now and will last forever. According to Islamic teachings, Allah (SWT) created Jahanam before any other creation and assigned inhabitants for it. He also created Paradise (Jannat) for those who believe in Him and follow His commands. Allah (SWT) has predetermined the destiny of every human and Jinn based on their deeds and intentions and whether they will enter Hell or Paradise.
Read our other blog on the Jannah – The Reward for the Muslims.
So, let’s examine in detail about the jahannam, its 7 levels and punishments of Jahannam to better understand this important aspect of Islamic belief. Hell is a place of torment where Allah Almighty inflicts various kinds of punishments on the enemies of Islam. It is located on the seventh and lowest earth and is essential to the Day of Judgment.
Please check out our other blog post, which explains the concept of life after death. The duration and intensity of the punishment will vary depending on the person’s level of disbelief, disobedience, and sinfulness.
7 Levels of Jahannam in Islam
The severity of punishment varies according to the level of the sinner’s wrongdoing. It is belief that there are seven levels of Hell, each representing a different degree of punishment. These levels can provide a deeper insight into the Islamic concept of Jahanam and the consequences of sinful behaviour.
Jahannam (First level of Hell)
Jahannam is the first level of Hell in Islam. It has the least heat among all the other levels of Hell and has the least painful punishment for the sinners. As the sinners enter through its gates, their faces will be burned, and the Fire will eat their flesh. Here, Allah (SWT) will renew their flesh every time they are burned.
Ladah (Second Level of Hell)
This level is below Jahannam, and it is for those people and Jinn who did not believe in Allah Almighty, rejected the Prophet’s (SAW) messages, and did not believe in them as the Messengers of Allah (SWT). The punishment at this level involves fire consuming the body’s organs, both internally and externally, until the body is destroyed.
Saqar (Third level of Hell)
It is the third level of Jahannam, located below Ladah. The punishment for the people here is that Fire will eat up their flesh but not bones. The four reasons why people land up at this level of Jahannam are:
- He did not pray. (salah)
- They did not give food to people with low incomes.
- He used to talk nonsense to those who follow the path of falsehood and falsehood.
- They denied the existence of reward and the Day of Resurrection.
Al-Hutamah (Fourth Level of Hell)
This level is located below Saqar, and it is believed that Fire will burn the bones of sinners, their hearts, and their internal organs. The Fire will start from their feet and reach their hearts. The sinners will weep so much that their tear glands and blood will dry out. Their tears will be so abundant that even a ship could easily sail in the pool of their tears.
Jaheem (Fifth level of Hell)
It is believed that it lies below Al-Hutamah, which is a big piece of coal and is bigger than the lowest level. Sinners will be thrown here for three reasons:
- They did not give correct belief in Allah.
- Refused to provide due rights to creations.
- Not encouraged to feed the people with low income.
Saeer (Sixth level of Hell)
This level of Jahannam is located below Jaheem. Since its creation, this surface has been burning. It consists of 300 forts with 300 huts, each containing 300 rooms, and each room containing 300 different types of punishments. The pain here is unfathomable, unbearable, and excruciating. There are scorpions, snakes, chains, ropes, and whatnot. Also in it is the Pit of Torment, the most painful punishment in Hell.
Al-Hawwiyah (Last level of Hell)
This is the last and the worst level of Jahannam and is situated below Saeer. Sinners will be held in this level forever. There is pitch darkness on this level. Backbiters and non-believers will be punished on this level, and mountains will crush them while they are lying face-down. According to the Quran, Al-Hawwiyah is the level at which the kindled fire will embrace the sinner as a mother embraces her child.
Jahannam in the Quran and Hadith
The Quran and the Hadith provide detailed and in-depth information about the afterlife for those who are unrighteous. They describe different aspects of it, such as gates, levels, guardians, food, drink, chains, clothing, and inhabitants.
The Quran provides a list of sinful actions that are believed to lead to eternal torment in Hell. These actions include associating partners with Allah (SWT), rejecting the signs of His existence, ridiculing the Messengers of Allah, unjustly killing the innocent people, oppressing others, being dishonest, cheater, and robbing. According to Quranic teachings, committing adultery, consuming interest, and failing to express gratitude towards Allah (SWT) are also considered grave sins.
Jahannam in the Quran
The Quran describes Jahanam in Islam as a place with seven gates and designated groups, warning Muslims to avoid sins.
The Holy Quran describes Jahannam as a place of severe punishment for those who have committed sins. The punishment is proportional to the nature and severity of the sins committed. However, the worst punishment is reserved for those who reject Allah (SWT) and His Messengers. According to the Quran, Allah Almighty will curse them and condemn them to abide in dozakh forever without any possibility of relief or respite. Those who refuse to believe and submit to Allah’s will consider this eternal punishment to be the ultimate consequence.
Torment in Jahannam
The Quran describes the suffering of the people of Jahannam, who will be tormented with Fire, Boiling water, Maces of iron, Chains, Garments of Fire, and Food that chokes. They will also be Humiliated by the angels and the believers who will witness their fate. In addition, they will be Remorseful for their deeds and beg for forgiveness, but it will be too late.
One of the most scary thing in Jahannam is the Tree of Zaqqum. This cursed tree grows from the depths of Hellfire, and its fruit stalks resemble the heads of devils. Those who find themselves in Jahanam will be compelled to eat from it, filling their bellies with fire and causing themselves even more pain.
Hadith about Jahannam
The Hadiths, a significant aspect of Islam, offer valuable insights into the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). These sayings and actions provide us with guidance, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of our faith. Among the many topics the Hadiths cover, one of the most crucial is dozakh or Hell. The Hadiths shed light on the severe consequences of failing to follow the path of righteousness and the importance of striving to avoid punishment.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud (RA) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“Hell will be brought forth on that Day (of Resurrection) having seventy thousand bridles, and with every handle will be seventy thousand angels dragging it'”.
[Jami at-Tirmidhi 2573]
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
The Hell-fire of Hell complained to its Lord saying: O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another. So Allah allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in the summer. The breath in the summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in the winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 537]
Narrated by Hazrat Al Hasan (RA):
“While he was on the pulpit – the pulpit of Al-Basrah –Hazrat Utbah bin Ghazwin (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Indeed a giant rock can be thrown from the brink of Hell and it will continue to fall into it for seventy years without reaching the bottom of it.”.He said: “`Hazrat Umar (RA) used to say:’Increase in your remembrance of the Fire, for its heat is extreme, its bottom is distant, and its whips are of Iron.'”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2575]
Punishments in Jahannam
The Quran and the Sunnah describe dozakh as a place of blazing fire, intense heat, darkness, and torment. The lowest level is reserved for the hypocrites, who will suffer the most severe punishment. The punishments include:
Awaiting them is Hell, and they will be left to drink oozing pus, which they will sip with difficulty and can hardly swallow. Death will overwhelm them from every side, yet they will not be able to die. Awaiting them still is harsher torment.
(Surah Ibrahim: 16-17)
As for those bound for misery, they will be in the Fire, where they will be sighing and gasping, staying there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth will endure, except what your Lord wills. Surely, your Lord does what He intends.
(Surah Hud: 106-107)
These are some of the punishments that Allah (SWT) has prepared for the people of Jahannam as a just recompense for their disbelief and disobedience. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
“Surely those who reject Our signs, We will cast them into the Fire. Whenever their skin is burnt completely, We will replace it so they will constantly taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
(Surah An-Nisa: 56)
Dua for Protection from Jahannam
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Quran confirms that both sinful humans and sinful Jinn will fill Jahannam.
The first people to enter Jahanam will be those who did good deeds to show off or gain worldly benefits, such as martyrs, scholars, and generous people who did not do their actions sincerely for Allah Almighty.
Muslims believe that it exists now and will last forever.
According to Islamic belief, one day in Jahannam is equivalent to “A thousand years on Earth.”
There are seven levels of Jahannam in Islam. The names of these levels are Jahannam, Ladah, Saqar, Al-Hutamah, Jaheem, Saeer, and Al-Hawwiyah. Details about each gate are Mention Above.
Jahannam has seven gates.
Gates of hellfire are closed for the sincere believers who fast and worship Allah Almighty sincerely. Gates of Hellfire are not closed for the enemies of Allah (SWT) and insisting sinners who commit sinful acts and don’t care for the orders of Allah (SWT).
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said:
“This fire of yours is one part from seventy parts of the fire of Hell, each part of it is like the heat of this one.”(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2590)
Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “None of the sinful Muslims will remain [eternally] in Hellfire. Once they are punished according to the punishment which they deserve, they will be taken out of Hellfire and admitted into Paradise.” For more benefits, please refer to Fatwa 89494.
