[Ilustratio Only]
The Holy Prophet (
Levels of Hell—Bodies of the Denizens of Hell and their Diet
The fire of Hell is seventy degrees hotter than the worldly fire. As has already been mentioned in its initial stages its color was red, then white, and now it is black. It has seven levels, and each level has a big entrance. The first level of Hell is reserved for those Muslim sinners and idolaters who were polytheists but simultaneously supported Prophets. The remaining six levels of Hell have been earmarked for the polytheists, worshippers of fire, atheists, Jews, Christians and hypocrites respectively. These levels of Hell are known as (1) Jahim, (2) Fahannam, (3) Sa‘ir, (4) Sagar, (5) Nata, (6) Haviya, and (7) Rutama. Every one of these extensive levels is replete with incalculable pains, tortures and torments, and multifarious houses.
For instance, there is a house called ‘“Ghayy”, the severity of its torments is such that the denizens of the other six levels pray four hundred times daily for salvation from its tortures. There is another house, known as ‘“‘Zamharir’’, it is a region of extreme cold. There is still another house Jubb-ul-Huzan, 1.e. well of griefs, wherein is a well called Tinatul Khabal—mire of pus and poison. There is a towering mountain, known as Sa‘ud its space equals seventy years of walking. Idolaters would be thrown into the Fire of Hell from its peak. There is a pond, Aab-i-Hamim, with so hot water that the moment a sinner drinks it, his upper lip swells to such an extent that it covers his nose and eyes; the lower, his chest. At this water passes down the throat, his tongue burns; the mouth contracts, and ultimately this boiling water tears apart the human lungs, stomach, and intestines.
There is another tank Ghassaq wherein gathers the idolaters’ pus, sweat, and blood. Another fountain, Ghisleen serves the same purpose. Likewise, there are countless tormenting scenes in Hell. The size of the sinners’ bodies would be stretched and broadened to magnify their sufferings and various types of tortures shall be inflicted on the exterior as well] as the internal parts of each fiber and limb of their bodies. Burning, crushing, biting by poisonous snakes and scorpions, piercing with thorns, slashing of skin—these are the manifold modes of punishment in Hell. Due to the excess of heat and warmth in Hell, the bodies of the sinners would melt: will be reborn and melt again.
This process would be repeated for seven hundred times in the duration of a moment. But this point should not be ignored that the shape of the original limbs of their bodies would not undergo any change; flesh and skin would repeatedly be tortured. The skin of some infidels is said to be forty-two yards thick; their teeth would resemble towering mountains, and their sitting would cover an unlimited space. After a long time, the pangs of hunger would be increased to such extremity that it would surpass: all other torments. At last, the sinners would become terribly restless and demand food to satisfy their appetites. They would be given to eat Kaqqum, a thorny plant, which would get stuck in their throats.
They would cry for water, as they used to do in the world when a morsel of food gets stuck in their throats. It shall be ordained that water be provided to them from Fahim, the very first level of Hell. It would cause their lips to swell, their tongue to dwindle, their throat to break into pieces, and their intestines will be torn apart and excreted through their anuses. So, being in dire distress they will supplicate to the Lord of Hell for death, so that their punishment may come to an end.
After a thousand years, he will say: ‘You will always remain in Hell.” After a thousand years, they will pray to God: “Deprive us of our lives, but have mercy and relieve us of this intolerable torment.” After one thousand years the Lord shall ordain: ‘‘Hold your tongue, and do not beg My pardon; you have been condemned forever.” At last perforce, they will say to one another: ‘Let us endure, for endurance may bear good fruit.’’ They will continuously pray to the Almighty for one thousand years with extreme lamentation and entreaty, but all in vain. Ultimately when all hope is lost they will say to one another, that restlessness or patience are one and the same for us.
For us, there is no means of salvation. They would be turned upside down. The shape of their bodies would be distorted and they would assume the form of dogs, donkeys, monkeys, wolves, snakes, and other beasts and animals. Those who are proud of their worldly self and power would be trampled on the Day of Resurrection. Such is the description of the condition of the infidels on that Day.
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