HELL’S SNAKES AND SCORPIONS
Hell’s Snakes and Scorpions
We have mentioned about the serpents (hiyyat) and scorpions ( ‘aqarib) of Hell-fire (Jahannam) in previous chapters.
Imam Ahmad narrated from Ibn Luhayah,from Darraj, on the authority ofAbdullah Ibn Al-Harlth Ibn Juz Al-Zubaydi, that the Messenger (pbuh) said: “In Hell-fire there are serpents the size of a camel’s neck, when one is stung by it, he feels its poison for forty years. In Hell-fire there are also scorpions the size of a saddled mule,when one is stung by it, he feels its poison for forty years. “ (Ahmad in his Musnad, 4/191, Hakim, 4/593 and others.)
Al-A’mash narrated from Abdullah Ibn Murrah, from Masruq, that Ibn Mas’ud (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said, regarding Allah’s saying,
“We will increase them in punishment over their punishment. “ (Al-Nahl(16): 88)
That is, ‘Refers to scorpions with fangs like elongated bees.” (Hakim, 2/356; who said it is authentic according to the conditions of Al Bukhari and Muslim)
In another version, he said: ‘The increase refers to scorpions of fire that are like black mules, with fangs the size of palm trees.’ This was narrated by Adam Ibn Abu Iyyas in his ‘Tafsir’ from Al-Mas’udi, from Al-A‘mash, from Abu Wa’il, from Ibn Mas‘ud (radiyAllahu ‘anhu).However, the version narrated from Abdullah Ibn Murrah is more authentic.
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated (in his Tafsir) from Sufyan, that a man narrated from ‘Abdullah the interpretation of the verse,
“double punishment in the Fire” (Sad (38): 61)
That,‘[It means] Snakes and serpents.’
Al-Suddi conveyed from Murrah from ‘Abdullah regarding the same verse, to mean,‘Serpents in Hell-fire.’
IbnWahb narrated fromYahya Ibn Abdullah,from Abu‘ Abdu’l Rahman Al-Habli, that‘ Abdullah Ibn Amr (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: ‘In Hell-fire there are shores containing serpents and scorpions whose necks are the size of camels’ necks.’
Ibn Abi Al-Dunya and others narrated from Mujahid that Yazid Ibn Shajarah said:‘In Hell-fire there are wells in shores similar to the sea shores, containing vermin and serpents like (the size of) camels, and scorpions like mules. When the inhabitants of Hellfire call out for the alleviation of their punishment, they are told ‘Go to these shores’ where these vermin take bites out of their lips, sides and other parts,so they hastily return to the Fire. They are subjected to scabies such that one scratches the skin until his bones are exposed. He is then told, ‘O so and so, does this pain you?’ He will say,‘Yes’. He will be told,‘This is your punishment for hurting the believers’.’
‘Ubaydullah Ibn Musa conveyed from ‘Uthman Ibn Al-Aswad that Mujahid said:‘In Hell-fire there are scorpions like elephants with fangs like spears. When one of them strikes the disbeliever on his head, his flesh falls to his feet.’
Hammad Ibn Salamah reported from Al-Jariri that Abu ‘Uthman said: ‘On the Sirat (The Bridge that is placed over the Hellfire.) there are serpents stinging the inhabitants of Hell-fire, hissing. That is the sound referred to in the verse,
“They will not hear its sound. “ (Al-Anbiya’ (21): 102)
Ibrahim Al- ‘Ajli (Allah have mercy on him) used to have mosquitos landing on his shoulders and back, which annoyed him,so he used to say to himself:
While you are annoyed by the faint sound of a mosquito, Hellfire has more wretched and tormented inhabitants.
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.