Just as Allah has warned in His Book about the Hellfire and has informed us about the different types of punishments it will have, there are also many prophetic narrations stated by Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) describing and addressing the Hellfire.
But before we start stating these narrations, let us ponder upon the following narration to realize the seriousness of the matter:
Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Among the inmates of Hell will be a person who had led a very luxurious life in this world will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Hellfire, he will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you (ever) happen to have any luxury?' He will reply: `I swear by Allah, no my Lord.' … ”” [Muslim] This means that the dwellers of the Hellfire will completely forget any pleasures they enjoyed in this life, and all it took is one single dip.
Now let us read more of the saying of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) to learn more about what one will be rescued from by believing and adhering to the message of Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).
• Its bridles: Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Hell will be brought on that Day (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) with seventy bridles; and with every bridle will be seventy thousand angels, pulling it.”” [Muslim]
• Its hotness: Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Your fire (in this world) is a part of the seventy parts of the fire of Hell”, (meaning in its heat). It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah! It would have been enough, (meaning, if it was only as hot as the fire in this world, then that would have been enough as a deterrent).' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “It was increased sixty-nine times (or multiples), each multiple being of the same (degree) of heat.”" [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
• Its depth: Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “We were once in the company of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) when we heard a loud bang. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) asked: “Do you know what this (sound) is?” We replied: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “It is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years ago, and has only now reached its bottom.”” [Muslim]
• Its trees: Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “If a drop from the tree of Zaqqoom (i.e., a tree of Hell) were to fall onto this world, it would (pollute and) destroy the lives of all the people of this world.” [An-Nasaa’i & At-Tirmithi]
• Its least punishment: An-Nu’maan ibn Al-Basheer, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “The least in punishment among the people of Hellfire is one whose sandals or shoelaces will be of fire, which will make his brain boil as a pot of water boils. He will not think that there is anyone being punished more than him, but in fact, he will be the least in punishment.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
What its inhabitants drink: Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah has taken a pledge upon Himself to make everyone who consumes intoxicants drink from Teenatul-Khabaal.” He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was asked: `O Messenger of Allah! What is Teenatul-Khabaal?' He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: “It is (a liquid) made of the sweat and pus of the dwellers of Hell.”” [Muslim]
• The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said that those who are destined to be among its inhabitants will become very thirst on the Day of Resurrection and will request to drink and they will be told: “`Come along,' until they reach Hell, which will be destroying itself, (i.e., some parts of it will eat up others due to its intense heat) and they will be thrown into it.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]. What do you think the condition will be of those who stood for fifty thousand years without eating or drinking (awaiting accountability after being resurrected), until they almost died of thirst and their stomachs burnt from hunger, and who were then taken to Hell and given boiling drinks in red hot pots to drink?
It is an abode in which its dwellers are deprived of joy; their faces are dark; they are beaten with hooks that are stronger than steel; upon it are angels who are harsh and tough. The inhabitants of Hell will be lying on fire and drinking boiling water; they will be continuously in grief; they will never leave Hell because it will be their eternal abode; they will cry for having wasted their youth; their crying will be continuous and increasing; their Creator is angered by them; they will be exposed in front of others; what they collected in life will not benefit them; they will see the evil consequences of their sins; life will seem as if it was a dream to them; their bodies will burn, but whenever they are burnt out, they will be returned to their original form in order for them to taste more torture.
It is the dwelling of humiliation and disgrace, punishment and betrayal. The dwelling of violent exhaling and inhaling, weeping and crying, a dwelling whose people are people of misery and sorrow, and regret, and cries; chains gather and collect between their hands and necks. Fire flares from under them and from on top of them. Their drink is scalding water, by which the insides of their bellies and their skins melt. Their food is fruits from the tree of Zaqqoom; like murky oil, it boils within their bellies like the boiling of scalding water. They curse themselves and invoke against themselves that they die, but there are not responded to. They ask the Lord to get them out but He will not even talk to them. They will be dragged into it on their faces, screaming and weeping.
Nonetheless, if one believes and adheres to the teachings with which Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) came, will be rescued from all its torments and agonies and will enjoy an eternal bliss in Paradise.
