Jahannam

Jahannam (Arabic: جهنم) is the Islamic equivalent to hell. Its roots come from the Hebrew word Gehinnom, which is a valley south of Jerusalem that was used as a garbage dump by the Israelites. In the pre-Israelite times, the Canaanites worshipped the god Moloch and performed child sacrifices in the valley, burning them as offerings to the deity. Consequently, the valley had a longstanding association with burning fires and horrid rituals. According to the Qur'an only God knows who will go to Jahannam and who will go to Jannah (Heaven). Those who ignored, or only pretended to believe in Allah remain in Jahannam after Qiyamah (Judgment Day).

Description

The Qur'an provides different detailed descriptions of Jahannam, which have been interpreted both literally and metaphorically by Islamic followers. Hell is variably described as a firey place, a fearsome abyss, a narrow bridge that must be crossed to get into paradise, and also a foul-looking monster that can be summoned by Allah. (Qur'an 82.4). It is also said that "Zaqqum" (a thorned tree grows in Jahannam, which has a bitter thorned fruit that the damned are compelled to eat to intensify their torment. Its fruits are shaped like devils' heads. (Qur'an 44.46)).

According to Islam, one's punishment in hell depends on one's sins, and thus there are different levels of hell designated for different types of sinners. It is said that Jahannam has seven levels that a sinner can go to depending on their deeds. . The most severe level is known as "Hutama," which is said to be reserved for religious hypocrites.

Day of Judgment (يوم القيامة)

According to Islam, each person will be made to account for their deeds at the "Day of the Resurrection" (Qiyamah) (Qur'an 71.18). During this day, a man's or a woman's own book of life will be opened, and they will be apprised of every action they did and every word they spoke (Qur'an 54.52-53), albeit actions taken during childhood are not judged. It is said that the account is so detailed that the man or woman will be amazed at how comprehensive the account is. If one denies a deed he or she committed, or refuses to acknowledge it, his or her body parts will testify against him or her. It is said that every human, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is held accountable for his or her deeds and are judged by Allah accordingly (Qur'an 74.38).

The trials and tribulations associated with the Day of Judgment are detailed in both the Qur'an and the Hadith, as well as in the commentaries of the Islamic expositors and scholarly authorities.

Angels are fearful as some hadiths state that on this day God is angrier than ever before or after for dreadful is the Wrath of God (Qur'an 69.47, Sahih Bukhari, book 55 "accounts of the prophets", number 567.) Humans are so fearful on this "day" that the prophets themselves repeatedly address God with the phrase sallim, sallim, or spare, spare — that is, "spare your followers, O God." Followers of Muhammad during his lifetime who strayed from Islam after his passing, Apostates of Islam, are engulfed in fire. Those who distorted or ignored the Qur'an or converted to another religion are engulfed in hellfire. However, those who truly believe in God, and are pious, referred to as Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun due to the trace of ritual ablution performed during their lives, repent their sin and return to "jannah (the Garden) beneath which rivers flow". The world is destroyed, folded. The dead rise from their graves and gather, waiting to be judged for their actions.

Surah Al-Baqara of the Qur'an states that along with Muslims, Allah will also save other People of the Book from Hell and people who did not receive the true message of Islam will also be saved:

"Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds - shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear nor are they saddened." (Qur'an 2.62)

Barzakh is a sequence that happens after death, in which the Archangel Azrael with the help of other less significant angels will separate the soul from the body, either harshly or painlessly depending on how righteous the person was during their lifetime (Qur'an 79.1-2). Three main events take place chronologically which constitute the Barzakh sequence:

• The separation of the soul and the body.

• Nakir and Munkar's (two Islamic Angels) interrogation of the soul in its grave.

"Who is your (lord)?"

"What is your way of life?"

"Who is your leader?" (Sura 17.71)

• The "Waahsh" or the horror of the grave, the pressure of the grave depending on whether the person was righteous or not.

After judgement all men and women are made to cross over a deep abyss, whence the flames of Jahannam (Hell) leap up, on al-Sirât (الصراط), a thorny bridge so thin that it cannot be seen. It is said in Hadith that crossing the bridge is such a difficult task, because the bridge is as thin as a strand of hair, and as sharp as the edge of a sword. The believers and those destined for Jannah are able to cross quickly and safely, seeing it as a thick stone bridge, whereas others fall off this hair-thin bridge into Jahannam. Believers will be led by the prophet Muhammad to a vast basin or lake-fount called al-kawthar الكوثر, where their thirst will be sated with a white-colored drink that tastes like sweetened milk. It is said that whosoever drinks of it shall never thirst thereafter. In one hadith, al-kawthar is said to be a river of paradise (al-Bukhari, book 76, hadith 583.)

Intercession (الشفاعة)

Throughout judgment, the underlying principle is that of a complete and perfect justice administered by Allah. However, the accounts of judgment are also replete with the emphasis that Allah is merciful and forgiving, and that mercy and forgiveness will be granted on that day insofar as they are merited. People beseech the prophets to intercede on their behalf, first Abraham, then Moses, then Adam, and finally Noah, all of whom decline to do so and instead point to the prophet Muhammad, who intercedes on behalf of the world.

Abraham meets his father Azar whose face is enlightened. When Abraham demands that his father not be disgraced he is informed that on this day no one is above reproach. Abraham finds a blood-stained Dhabh beneath his feet and throws him into Hell. Other notable relatives who are among those cast into jahannam include the wives of Nuh (Noah) and Lut (Lot) (Qur'an 66.10). When Lut (Lot) and his family left Sodom and Gomorrah, his wife disobeyed the commands of the two angels not to look back at the burning city, thus she is not among Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalun.

Hadiths state that the prophet Muhammad will be allowed to intercede on behalf of all of mankind, as opposed to the prophets who preceded him who were only able to appeal to nations. Furthermore, a believer will be allowed to plead for members of his family and for his loved ones. However, the decisionb to be sent to Jannah (paradise) or to Jahannam (hell) is a matter in Allah's hands alone. God is thus the ultimate arbiter and qadi (judge) as to who goes to hell and who is rescued.

In one Hadith, it is related that after the Intercession of the prophet Muhammad, Allah himself intercedes, repeatedly ordering his angels to fetch out of Jahannam (hell) any who sincerely professed the Shahada until the angels are ordered to return and find anyone with even an atom's measure of goodness in his or her heart albeit those who have worshipped false gods, or have participated in shirk (idol worship) are not rescued from Jahannam (hell) and instead remain there forever. After the Intercession, life resumes, either in Jannah (paradise) or in Jahannam (hell). One can go to hell in Islam, and then go from there to Heaven after serving your time in Hell. There is a certain ratio for time in earth, to time in hell. It is said that only Allah (god) klnows how long that sinners are kept in hell. They are released according to Allah's will.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Ali, Mohammed Ali Ibn Zubair. Signs of Qiyamah Islamic Book Service, 2000. ASIN B000KJ4YDK
• Kabbani, Muhammad Hisham. The Approach of Armageddon: An Islamic Perspective. Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2003. ISBN 978-1930409200
• Khalifa, Rashad. Quran: The Final Testament, Authorized English Version with Arabic Text, Revised Edition IV. Submission.org, 2005. ISBN 978-0972920926
• Smith, Jane I. The Islamic Understanding of Death and Resurrection. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0195156492

External links

• Judgement day in the Qur'ân and hadith
• Islam Basics
• Tajweed ul Qur'an
• al-Qiyâmah
• Signs of the Appearance of the Dajjal and His Destruction
• Signs of Qiyamah
• Signs of the Last Hour
• The two blowings of the Trumpet of Light which ushers in the period of Judgement

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