This article will provide a detailed description of hell as found in the Qurʾān. A previous article provides a description of Paradise. Hell is a real place that is prepared for those who reject the truth after it became apparent to them and do evil deeds. Just like the pleasures of paradise are real and experienced with the body, so is the suffering of hell. However, the pain of hell can only be compared to any pain in this world. Because the description of hell is abundant in the Qurʾān, this article will allow the Qurʾān to speak for itself. It will consist of quoting verses that provide certain descriptions of hell. There remains plenty more details in the teachings of the Prophet peace be upon him, but this article will be limited to the Qurʾān.

Names of Hell in the Qurʾān


Jahannam: This name implies a deep pit. Jahīm: A blazing fire. Saʿīr: An ignited or kindled fire. Saqar: It is given this name because of the intensity of its heat. Laẓā: blazing flames. Hāwīya: a deep drop, like someone being dropped from the top to the bottom of a deep place. Ḥuṭama: Debris and broken pieces, because it crushes and breaks everything that is thrown into it.

Eternal Nature of Hell


Hell is an eternal abode for most who enter it. A minority of Muslim scholars hold that hell will eventually end, but a majority maintain that it is eternal. Several verses in the Qurʾān describe hell as eternal:

They will long to leave the Fire, but never will they leave there from; and theirs will be a lasting torment. (Quran 5:37).

…And they will never leave of the Fire. (Quran 2:167).

Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever. (Quran 4:168-169).

Surely, God has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide forever. (Quran 33:64).

And whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever. (Quran 72:23).

Surely, the gates of the Heaven will not be opened for those who deny Our revelations and treat them with arrogance; their admission into paradise will be as impossible as the passing of a camel through the eye of a needle. That is how We shall reward the criminals. Hell shall be their bed and flames shall be their covering. That is how We shall reward the wrongdoers.(Qurʾān 7:40-41).

Gates of Hell


The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds until, when they arrive there, its gates will be opened (Qurʾān 39: 71) And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all. It has seven gates: to each of those gates is a specific class of sinners assigned. (Quran 15: 43-44).

To them will be said, ‘Enter you the gates of Hell to dwell therein. And how evil is this abode of the arrogant.’ (Quran 39: 72).

But those who reject Our signs are the companions of the left hand – on them will be fire vaulted over. (Quran 90:19-20).

Food of Hell


The food of the people of hell is described as only increasing in torment. It does not provide nourishment nor does it relieve hunger.

No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger. (Quran 88:6-7).

There is a special tree in hell called zaqūm that people will it from. This tree is rooted at the bottom of hell and its branches are described as being similar to the heads of devils.

Indeed, the tree of zaqūm is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the boiling of scalding water. (Quran 44:43-46).

Is Paradise better as an abode or the tree of zaqūm?  Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.  Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.  And, indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.  Then, indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.  Then, indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire. (Quran 37:62-68).

Then indeed you, O those astray (who are) deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqūm and filling with it your bellies, and drinking on top of it from scalding water, and will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.  That is their hospitality on the Day of Recompense. (Quran 56:51-56).


Clothes of the Dwellers of Hell


But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire.  Poured upon their heads will be scalding water. (Quran 22:19)

And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire. (Quran 14:49-50)

Drink of Hell


They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces). (Quran 47:15) And if they ask 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. (Quran 18:29)

Before him is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water.  He will gulp it but will hardly (be able to) swallow it.  And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die.  And before him is a massive punishment. (Quran 14:16-17)

A boiling fluid and fluid dark, murky, intensely cold. (Quran 38:57)

They will go around between it and scalding water, heated (to the utmost degree). (Quran 55:44)

They will be given drink from a boiling spring. (Quran 88:5)

Then the inmates of the fire will cry out to the residents of paradise: “Give us some water or some of the food which Allah has provided you.”

They will reply: “Allah has prohibited both of these things to the unbelievers,

Horror of Hell


Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise. (Qurʾān 4:56)

Poured upon their heads will be scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and (their) skins. (Quran 22:19-20)

And We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf.  Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire. (Quran 17:97)

Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness.  The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces (it will be said), ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’ (Quran 54:47-48)

On the Day when the torment (of Hell) will cover them from above them and from underneath their feet. (Quran 29:55)

And brings an evil deed — such will be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said), ‘Are you recompensed for anything but what you used to do?’ (Quran 27:90)

The Fire will burn their faces and they will grin therein, their lips displaced. (Quran 23:104)

The Day their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger.’ (Quran 33:66)

for the rejecters We have prepared iron chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire. (Quran 76:4)

With Us are fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes, and a penalty grievous. (Quran 73:12-13)

We will put yokes on the necks of the unbelievers.  It would only be requital for their evil deeds. (Quran 34:33)

when yokes will be put round their necks and the chains, they will be dragged along. (Quran 40:71)

It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: “Did no warner come to you?” They will say: “Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: ‘Allah never sent down anything (of revelation); you are only in great error.’“ And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!” (Quran 67:8-10)

And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.’  They will say, ‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’  They will say, ‘Yes.’  They will reply, ‘Then supplicate (yourselves), but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error.’ (Quran 40:49-50)

Then be patient or impatient – it is all the same for you.  You are only being recompensed for what you used to do. (Quran 52:16)

conclusion


Hell is a real place full of horror is misery. The Qurʾān provides a very detailed and graphic description of hell as it does for paradise. These descriptions are meant to motivate humans to strive to enter paradise and be saved from hell. Death is the ultimate reality and after that we have only one of two destinations, hell or heaven. The only way to be saved from hell is to follow the religion of Islam, the true and authentic teachings of God.

Every soul will taste death and you will be paid in full only on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted to the Paradise will have indeed triumphed. And the life of this world is only an illusory pleasure. (Qurʾān 3:185).