Jahannam
Encyclopedia
Jahannam is the Arabic language
equivalent to Hell
. The term comes from the Greek Gehenna
, itself derived from the Hebrew geographical name for the Valley of Hinnom
.
only God Knows who will go to Jahannam (Hell) and who will go to Jannah
(heaven). Those who ignored, or only pretended to believe in Allah
remain in Jahannam after Qiyamat (Judgment Day).
Muslims believe that unfaithful Muslims not true to their religion will be punished in Jahannam. Sunni Muslims believe that such Muslims will eventually be forgiven. Muslims also believe that a disbeliever or non-muslim, for not believing while on Earth, may remain there in Jahannam for eternity—each person is judged according to their own circumstance. However, those who commit shirk, that is, the sin of polytheism, will be condemned to worst punishments in Jahannam for eternity. As well Allah Said: "The one who is not performing his prayer intentionally is truly an unbeliever". Verse 6:128 of the Qur'an states Allah may choose make the punishment of hell temporary if Allah wills it according to Allah's wisdom and knowledge.
The Qur'an and Sunnah offer detailed descriptions of the methods of torture in Jahannam. The Qur'an states the punishments will be: the burning of skin, only to be replaced for reburning; garments of fire will be worn, and boiling water will scald the skin and internal organs; faces on fire; lips burnt off; backs on fire; roasting from side to side; faces dragged along fire; bound in yokes then dragged through boiling water and fire. The sunnah introduces punishments, reasons and revelations not mentioned in the Qur'an, The least-suffering person in Jahannam will have their brain boiling from standing on hot embers; and that 'if somebody commits suicide with anything in this world, he will be tortured with that very thing on the Day of Resurrection' and in Jahannam.
Those who are doomed for Jahannam will eat Zaqqum and drink scalding water. Zaqqum
is a tree that grows in Jahannam. It has fruit, shaped like devil
s' heads, which the damned are compelled to eat to intensify their torment. The Qur'an says:
Other verses in the Qur'an describe different kinds of foods for the doomed in Jahannam, even exclusionary suggestions:
It is said that different people in Jahannam will have to eat any of these three different types of food.
Islamic sources indicate that all evil creatures, both human and jinn
(including Satan (Iblis)
himself) will be tormented by the Angel Maalik
and his Zabaniyah.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
equivalent to Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. The term comes from the Greek Gehenna
Gehenna
Gehenna , Gehinnom and Yiddish Gehinnam, are terms derived from a place outside ancient Jerusalem known in the Hebrew Bible as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom ; one of the two principal valleys surrounding the Old City.In the Hebrew Bible, the site was initially where apostate Israelites and...
, itself derived from the Hebrew geographical name for the Valley of Hinnom
Gehenna
Gehenna , Gehinnom and Yiddish Gehinnam, are terms derived from a place outside ancient Jerusalem known in the Hebrew Bible as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom ; one of the two principal valleys surrounding the Old City.In the Hebrew Bible, the site was initially where apostate Israelites and...
.
Jahannam in the Qur'an
According to the Qur'anQur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
only God Knows who will go to Jahannam (Hell) and who will go to Jannah
Jannah
Jannah , is the Islamic conception of paradise. The Arabic word Jannah is a shortened version meaning simply "Garden". According to Islamic eschatology, after death, one will reside in the grave until the appointed resurrection on . Muslims believe that the treatment of the individual in the life...
(heaven). Those who ignored, or only pretended to believe in Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
remain in Jahannam after Qiyamat (Judgment Day).
Muslims believe that unfaithful Muslims not true to their religion will be punished in Jahannam. Sunni Muslims believe that such Muslims will eventually be forgiven. Muslims also believe that a disbeliever or non-muslim, for not believing while on Earth, may remain there in Jahannam for eternity—each person is judged according to their own circumstance. However, those who commit shirk, that is, the sin of polytheism, will be condemned to worst punishments in Jahannam for eternity. As well Allah Said: "The one who is not performing his prayer intentionally is truly an unbeliever". Verse 6:128 of the Qur'an states Allah may choose make the punishment of hell temporary if Allah wills it according to Allah's wisdom and knowledge.
The Qur'an and Sunnah offer detailed descriptions of the methods of torture in Jahannam. The Qur'an states the punishments will be: the burning of skin, only to be replaced for reburning; garments of fire will be worn, and boiling water will scald the skin and internal organs; faces on fire; lips burnt off; backs on fire; roasting from side to side; faces dragged along fire; bound in yokes then dragged through boiling water and fire. The sunnah introduces punishments, reasons and revelations not mentioned in the Qur'an, The least-suffering person in Jahannam will have their brain boiling from standing on hot embers; and that 'if somebody commits suicide with anything in this world, he will be tortured with that very thing on the Day of Resurrection' and in Jahannam.
Those who are doomed for Jahannam will eat Zaqqum and drink scalding water. Zaqqum
Zaqqum
Zaqqum is a tree that Muslims believe grows in Jahannam . Its dwellers are compelled to eat Adh-Dhari, bitter fruit, to intensify their torment . The Khati'un may eat only the fruit or Ghislin . Its fruits are shaped like devils' heads...
is a tree that grows in Jahannam. It has fruit, shaped like devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
s' heads, which the damned are compelled to eat to intensify their torment. The Qur'an says:
- [44.43] Surely the tree of the Zaqqum,
- [44.44] Is the food of the sinful
- [44.45] Like dregs of oil; it shall boil in (their) bellies,
- [44.46] Like the boiling of hot water.
Other verses in the Qur'an describe different kinds of foods for the doomed in Jahannam, even exclusionary suggestions:
- [88.6] No food will there be for them but a bitter Dhari (thorn-fruit)
- [69.36] Nor hath he any food except the foul pus from the washing of wound,
It is said that different people in Jahannam will have to eat any of these three different types of food.
Islamic sources indicate that all evil creatures, both human and jinn
Jinn
Jinn are supernatural beings in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings.Jinn may also refer to:* Jinn , a Japanese band* Qui-Gon Jinn, a character in the Star Wars universe...
(including Satan (Iblis)
Devil (Islam)
In Islam, the Devil is known as or . According to the Qurʾān, God created Iblis out of "smokeless fire or from the pure flame of fire" and created man out of clay...
himself) will be tormented by the Angel Maalik
Maalik
In Islamic belief, Maalik denotes an angel who guards the Hellfire, assisted by 19 zabaniya or guardians. In the Qur'an, sura 43, 77, Maalik tells the wicked who appeal to him that they must remain in Hell because "they abhorred the truth when the truth was brought to them." It is also noted that...
and his Zabaniyah.