Paradise & Hell in Light of the Qur'an & Sunnah

*Episode 1*

*Part 1: Introduction, Definition and Explanation - Hell*

Bi'idhnillaahil Kareem (With the permission of Allaah the Most Generous) a very important series begins today, concerned with the subject of al-Jannah and an-Naar - *the Paradise and the Hell-Fire.* One of these two will be the end destination, moreover the eternal abode, for each and every one of us. Therefore it is crucial for us to reflect on what Allaah has prepared for mankind - for those who are obedient and recognize His favors, and for those who reject His signs and rebel against Him.

It is our intention with these posts, after seeking the pleasure of Allaah ﷻ, to touch the hearts of each and every one of you, including ours. We will cover the subject from the book *_"The Final Day: Paradise and Hell"_* by Dr. 'Umar Suleiman al-Ashqar, Professor at the College of Shariah, University of Jordan. May this series fill our hearts with fear of Allaah's punishments and increase our Love for Allaah ﷻ and grant us an incredible yearning for the beauty and bliss of al-Jannah, the Gardens and In Shaa Allaah to put this dunya into perspective and to inspire us to devote our lives to the cause of Allaah and his Deen, and to work to save our heels from feeling the heat of the Hell-Fire. Ameen !!

So I ask every reader, for the sake of our own souls, that we read each word carefully, and deeply reflect upon the Aayaat of Allaah and the sayings of His Messenger ﷺ, so that In Shaa' Allaah we will live our lives, as if we could see the Fire on one side of us, and the Garden on the other.

Surely, as the Prophet ﷺ said, there is no life but the life of al-aakhirah.

*Definition and Explanation*

Hell is the abode which Allaah ﷻ has prepared for those who do not believe in Him ﷻ, those who rebel against His ﷻ laws and disbelieve in His Messengers. It is the punishment for His ﷻ enemies, the prison for evildoers.

It is the ultimate humiliation and loss; there is nothing worse:

_*"Our Lord! Verily, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed, You have disgraced him, and never will the Dhaalimoon [polytheists and wrongdoers] find any helpers" (3:192)*_

_*"Know they not that whoever opposes and shows hostility to Allaah and His Messenger, certainly for him will be the fire of Hell to abide therein? That is extreme disgrace". (9:63)*_

_*"The losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, that will be a manifest loss!" (39:15)*_

How could Hell be other than we have described, when it is full of utterly indescribable torment, pain and grief? It is eternal and its inhabitants will remain there forever. Allaah ﷻ has condemned them and their place in the Fire:

_*"Evil indeed it [Hell] is as an abode and as a place to dwell" (25:66)*_

_*"This is so! And for the Tagheen [transgressors] - will be an evil final return - Hell! Where they will burn, and worst [indeed] is that place to rest!" (38:55-56)*_

_To be continued In Shaa Allaah.._

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