HELL’S CHAINS AND SHACKLES
Hell’s Chains and Shackles
Allah, the Most High said:
“Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze. “ (Al-Insan (76): 4)
And Allah, the Most High said:
“And We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?” (Saba’ (34): 33)
And Allah, the Most High said:
“When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged. In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame]. “ (Ghafir (40): 71-72)
And Allah, the Most High said:
“[Allah will say],‘Seize him and shackle him.Then into Hellfire drive him. Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him.’”(Al-Haqqah (69): 30-32)
And Allah, the Most High said:
“Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire. And food that chokes and a painful punishment. “ (Al-Muzzammil (73): 12-13)
Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) explained the verse:
“When the shackles ate around their necks and 99165 the chains; they will be dragged. “ (Al-Ghafir (40):71)
That the chains grip them and they in turn pull onto it. It was reported by Ibn Abl Hatim. These are the three types of bonds:
1. Shackles (ighlal)—that are attached to the neck, as how Allah describes this in the verses above.
When mentioning Hell, Hasan said: ‘If a shackle of Hell were to be placed on a mountain, it will disintegrate into black water. If a span of a chain of Hell were to be put on a mountain, the chain will crush it.’
Musa Ibn Abi ‘A’ishah said after reading the verse:
“Then is he who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection [like one secure from it]? And it will be said to the wrong doers, ‘Taste what you used to earn. “ (Al-Zumar (39): 24)
Every time a type of torment befalls them, they shield themselves using their faces.”
Fudayl Ibn Tyad said:‘When the Lord says:
“‘Seize him and shackle him…” (Al-Haqqah (69): 30)
“Seventy thousand Angels rush and compete with each other, vying for the opportunity to shackle his neck.’
2. Fetters (quyud)—these are straps or bonds. Abu ‘Imran said: ‘By Allah, these bonds never loosen or break.’
Allah said in the Qur’an:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles” (Ibrahim (14): 49)
3. Chains (salasil)—Nawf Al-Shami commented on the following verse:
“Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him. “ (Al-Haqqah (69): 32)
Cubits are a span of the outspread arm. Its length is from Kufah (in Iraq) to Makkah.
Ka’b (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: ‘Verily one ring of the chain mentioned by Allah in the Qur’an is made of more iron than what this world contains.’
Ibn Jurayj explained that the cubit used to describe the chain in Hell is the Angel’s cubit.
Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) described the fastening mentioned in the above verse thus, ‘It enters his anus and comes out of his mouth. He is then aligned as a skewed locust with a rod and roasted.’ It is reported by Ibn Abi Hatim.
Abu Hashim said: ‘The dwellers of Hell have poles in Hell containing chains within them. Order is given that they be tied around their necks and Hell roars loudly. They are sent away a distance equivalent to five hundred years and then brought back one day. This is the meaning of the verse,
“…and indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count.” (Al-Hajj (22): 47)
Al-Dahhak said regarding the verse:
“And they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.” (Al-Rahman (55): 41)
‘His forelock and his feet are bound together in chains behind his back.’
Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) said: “His forelock and feet are seized while his back is broken as firewood crackles and breaks in a kiln.”
TabaranI and Ibn Abl Hatim reported on the authority of Ya’la Ibn Maniyyah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah, the Most Glorified, will create a black cloud for the dwellers of Hell and He will ask them, ‘O people of Hell! What do you wish for?’ They will recollect the worldly clouds and reply, ‘O Our Lord! A drink.’ Then shackles will rain on them, adding to their shackles and chains that add to their chains.Ambers will rain down burning them.”
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu ‘anhu),the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned an account of his ascension to Heaven where he was brought to a valley in which he heard a wretched voice and smelled something decaying. He asked, “What is it, O Jibril!” Jibrll replied, ‘That is the voice of Hell saying, ‘O Lord! Give me what You have promised me. Indeed my fetters, my chains, my blaze, my boiling water, my darkness and my torture have increased. My depth has deepened and my heat has intensified. Give me what You promised me.’ Allah will reply, “For you is every male and female polytheist, every male and female disbeliever, every evil person from males and females and every oppressor who does not believe in the Day of Recompense.”
Section One:
Commentary on the Verse, “Andforthem are hooked rods of iron”
Allah, the Most High and Most Exalted 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)
Al-Dahhak said,‘Maqami are hammers.’
On the authority of Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), the Prophet (pbuh) said: “If an iron hammer (belonging to the Angels) were to fall onto earth, and if the entire mankind and Jinn were to come together to carry it, they will not be able to do so. This was reported by Imam Ahmad who also reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “If a mountain were struck with the iron hammer,it will scatter (into the air as dust) and come resting in its same position as before.” It is reported by Imam Ahmad.
In his ‘Kitab al-Zuhd’ Imam Ahmad mentioned Malik bin Dinar say, ‘When the dwellers of Hell get the feel of a beating with iron hammers, they dip themselves into the boiling waters of Hell and will stay submerged [fearing the beating with the iron hammer] as a person would sink in this world.’
Salih Al-Mar’i said: ‘When it was read to some pious worshippers the verses:
“When the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged. In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame]. “ (Al-Ghafir (40): 71-72))
One of them heaved a sigh and fell unconscious. We then left him and went to another gathering where someone was reading to Yazid Al-Dhabbi the verse:
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in Shackles. “
Yazid cried so much on hearing it that he fainted as a result.’
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
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