HELL’S CANOPY
Hell’s Canopy
Allah, the Most High said:
“And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates; for every gate is of them [Satan’s followers] a portion designated. “ (Al-Hijr (15): 43-44)
Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (radiyAllahu ‘ anhu) who narrated from the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Verily Hell has seven doors, of which is one for him who unleashed his sword upon my nation.”
In another hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Indeed Paradise has eight doors while Hell has seven; and some doors are better than the others.”
Abu Rizin narrated from the Prophet (pbuh) that, “Indeed Hell has seven doors. The space between one Hell and the next is the distance covered by a rider in one year. All (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: ‘The doors of Hell are seven; each on top of the other and to illustrate this point, he made a circle with the fingers in both hands. Then he collapsed the circle by placing one hand over the other and kept doing it thrice. This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim. In another attempt at illustrating his point, ‘Ali placed his right hand up on top of the inner left arm.
Al-Dahhak said: ‘Allah has classified each door for a particular type of sinners. A door for the Jews, a door for the Christians, a door for the Magician, a door for the Sabaean, a door for the hypocrites, a door for those who associate partners with Allah and a door for the people of Tawhid. The people of Tawhid have hope (of leaving Hell) while the others do not.’
‘Ata al-Kharasani said: ‘Hell has seven doors.The worst misery, distress, heat and with the most putrid smell is reserved for the fornicators who commit it even when they know [it is forbidden].’
It is clear from the above narrations that Hell has specific doors for specific sins just as Paradise has specific doors for specific good deeds. It is mentioned that each door of Hell is hotter than the door above it.
Hisham Ibn Hasan said: ‘We were traveling on our pilgrimage and made a stop and descended at a place when a man amongst us read the verse mentioning the seven doors of Hell. A woman heard this and said: “Repeat it! May Allah have mercy on you.’ So he repeated the verse. She then said: T have left behind in my house seven slaves. I ask you to witness that they are free; for each door I free one slave.’ This was reported by Ibn Abi Al-Dunya.
Al-Aziz Ibn Abi Warad said: ‘There was a man in the village that built a masjid and placed seven stones in the direction of qiblah. Every time he completed his prayer he would address the stones saying, ‘O stones! I ask you to witness that there is no god but Allah.’He fell sick one day and his soul was lifted113 from him. He said:‘Isaw in my dream that I was ordered to enter Hell. I saw the stone thatI used to address in my house there and could recognise it. It was enormous and blocked me from the door from among the doors of Hell. All the other stones did likewise [blocking all seven doors of Hell].’
Section One:
The Doors of Hell are Shut
Allah mentions in the Qur’an that the doors of Hell are shut tight upon its dwellers. He, the Most High said:
“Indeed, it[i.e., Hellfire] will be closed down upon them. “ (Al-Humazah (104):8)
And He said:
“Over them will be fire closed in.” (Al-Balad (90): 20 )
In explaining the word, Al-Dahhak said: ‘It is a wall without doors, perhaps the doors overlap each other to form a solid wall as if there were no doors and Allah knows best.’
Muqatil said:‘The doors of Hell overlap each other and are held together by stakes of iron such that all misery and heat returns back to them.’Allah said:
“In extended columns.” (Al-Humazah (104): 9)
It is described that the doors are bound by very strong pillars or poles. The neck of each pole is further bound together by chains completely sealing off the doors of Hell. Furthermore, it is said that the pillars are made of fire.
Sadi said: ‘The meaning of the verse changes according to the way it is read. It could mean ‘long pillars’ or it could mean ‘a very long time—i.e. eternity’.’
Sa‘id Ibn Jubayr said: ‘A man will cry out from a branch among the branches of Hell, ‘O Hanan [the Most Compassionate]! O Manan [the Benefactor]!’ Allah, the Most High will respond: ‘O Jibril! Take My slave out.’ But he will find it sealed and will say: ‘O Lord! It is sealed.’
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (radiAllahu ‘anhuma) narrated: ‘Allah will say to the dwellers of Hell:
“He will say: ‘Remain despised therein, and do not speak to Me. ‘“ (Al-Mu’minun (23): 108)
The doors are shut in on them. ‘Wretched are the people after those Words and for them there remains nothing but moaning and groaning in grief.’
Abu Imran al-Jawnl said:‘On the Day of Judgment, Allah will order every obstinate tyrant, every rebellious devil, everyone who was feared for his evil by people in this world, to be bound by iron and then entered into Hell, that does not come to an end. The Angels then block them [from escaping torture].’ He added, ‘By Allah, the feet of the dwellers of Hell will never find a steady footing. By Allah, they will never see the surface of the sky. By Allah, their eyelids will not see the darkness of sleep. By Allah, they will never taste a cool drink.’
Some predecessors have described that the dwellers of Hell will be made to wear [an attire] of molten copper,which prevents them from breathing. The fire in their bodies is stoked. Then the doors are shut upon them and Allah will be angry with them.
Section Two:
Canopy of Hell Encloses the Disbelievers
Allah, the Most High says:
“We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. “ (Al-Kahf (18): 29)
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The canopy of Hell are four thick walls. Each wall is the length equal to traveling forty years. “ (Tirmidhi, #2587)
Since the canopy encloses them, they face the full wrath of the burning fire of Hell thereby causing distress, grief and sorrow. Allah said:
“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. “ (Al-Kahf (18): 29)
Allah, the Most High said:
“And for [striking] them are maces of iron. Every time they want to get out of it [i.e., Hellfire] from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said]: ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!. ‘“ (Al-Hajj (22): 21-22)
Abu Ma’shar related, ‘We were at the funeral with Abu Ja’far Al-Qarl who wept and said:‘Zayd Ibn Aslam narrated to me that the dwellers of Hell do not breathe and that fact made me cry.”
Section Three:
Doors of Hell Remain Closed before Anyone can Enter
Allah said:
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened. “ (Al-Zumar (39): 71)
It is also narrated that the doors of Hell are opened during midday.
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of Khabab Ibn Al-Arat (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) who saw a man praying at midday [when the sun is at its zenith] and forbade him to do so. He gave the reason saying, ‘Verily, this is the time when the Hell’s doors open and so there is no prayer then.’
Another proof of it being open is the hadith that is narrated by both Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “When Ramadan approaches, the doors of Paradise are opened and the doors of Hell are closed. The devil and rebelliousJinn are shackled. ” (Bukhari, #1899 and Muslim, #1079.)
However it is said that the doors of Paradise are opened and the doors of Hell are closed exclusively for those who fast.
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
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