One of the core beliefs in the Islamic faith is the concept of resurrection on the Day of Judgement, more commonly referred to as “life hereafter.” It is also one of the six articles of faith in Islam. Further, It is a part of the Islamic faith that on this day, people will be awarded punishment or rewards by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, based on the acts and deeds committed by them during their life in this world. On this day, everyone will be accounted for what he/she has done, as narrated in verses 7 and 8 of Surah Az-Zalzala:
Translation
- Whosoever has done even an atom’s weight of good will behold it;
- And whosoever has done even an atom’s weight of evil will behold that
Those whose good deeds are more than the evil acts will be sent to Jannah (Paradise), and those who had committed more sins will be sent to Jahannam (Hell). Hence, in Islam, the life hereafter is a basic belief, and the concepts of Paradise (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam) are clearly defined, which play a vital role in shaping the life pattern of a Muslim. These are the ultimate destinations of mankind, based on their deeds in this worldly life, irrespective of the religion they follow.
The concept of Jannah and Jahannam is mentioned in the Quran more than 140 times in different verses. The repeated descriptions of Jannah and Jahannam in the Quran and Hadith serve as a motivation for righteousness and a warning against sins. It is widely believed by scholars that there are two categories of people who will be sent to Jannah. Those who have a clear account in this life will be sent directly to Jannah. On the other hand, some of the people who have more sins will have to spend a certain amount of time in Jahannam as the punishment for their wrongdoings, after which they will also be sent to Jannah, where they will live for the rest of their afterlife.
Paradise (Jannah)
Jannah is described as a place of supreme beauty, eternal peace, and unending happiness. It is reserved for those who believed in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, followed His Commandments, as transmitted to them by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, through the Quran and Sunnah, and lived righteous lives in this world. It is the reward of their righteous acts and deeds in this world.
The phrase “Jannah” is sometimes also translated as “Heavens”.
Paradise/Heavens (Jannah) in the Quran
The description of Heavens or Paradise (Jannah) is frequently available in the Quran, in different Surahs and verses. These verses also define the eligibility of the people who will be awarded Jannah. Some of these verses are:
The 15th verse of Surah Muhammad describes Paradise as a Garden of Delight, having flowing rivers of water, milk, and honey. Here, a comparison of this Garden is also made with Hell, where the wrongdoers will live and will be forced to drink boiling water.
Translation
The semblance of Paradise promised the pious and devout (is that of a garden) with streams of water that will not go rank, and rivers of milk whose taste will not undergo a change, and rivers of wine delectable to drinkers, and streams of purified honey, and fruits of every kind in them, and forgiveness of their Lord. Are these like those who will live for ever in the Fire and be given boiling water to drink which will cut their intestines to shreds?
Verses 33 to 35 of Surah Fatir, describe Paradise as a place of eternal peace, where there will be no worries, fatigue, fear, or sadness:
Translation
- They will enter the gardens of Eden, where they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and of silk will be their garments.
- They will say: “All praise be to God who has removed all care from us. Indeed our Lord is forgiving and rewarding,
- Who has settled us by His grace in the mansions of eternal rest, where there is no labour for us, nor does weariness come upon us.”
Verses 69 to 72 of Surah Az-Zukhruf mention the eligibility of the persons who will be granted Jannah. Here, the luxurious life in Paradise is also described:
Translation
- For (those of) you on that day who believed in My revelations and submitted.
- (You will) enter the garden, you and your spouses, and be glad.”
- Golden platters and goblets will be passed around, and everything the heart desires and pleases the eye will be there, where you will abide for ever.
- This is the Paradise you will inherit (as meed) for your deeds.
Description of Levels of Paradise (Jannah) in Hadith
There are several Hadiths, available in the authentic Hadith Collections, about the description of Paradise (Jannah). It is mentioned in various Hadiths that Jannah or Paradise consists of 100 levels. Each of these levels has their specific significance. The highest level is Al-Firdous, which is described as the closest level to the Throne of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
Hadith number 7423 of Sahih Al-Bukhari describes the eligibility to enter in Jannah. It also describes different levels of Jannah, with Al-Firdous being the highest level.
Translation
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle offers prayers perfectly and fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah’s cause or stays in the land where he was born.” They (the companions of the Prophet) said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Should we not inform the people of that?” He said, “There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top, there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.”
Hence, the ultimate aim of a Muslim is to attain the highest level of righteousness so that he may be granted the reward of Jannat Al-Firdous, the highest level of Paradise. Some of the other levels of Paradise are as under:
- Jannat Al- Firdous – Paradise
- Jannat Al-Na’im – Garden of Bliss
- Jannat Al-Ma’waa – Garden of Refuge
- Jannat Al-Adn – Garden of Eden
- Dar Al-Khuld – Abode of Eternity
- Dar As-Salam – Abode of Peace
- Dar Al-Jalal – Abode of Glory
Eligibility of Getting a Place in Jannah (Paradise)
In the light of the Quran and Hadith, the eligibility of getting a place in Paradise can be summarized as under:
- All the previous Prophets and their followers will be sent to Jannah. However, after the inception of Islam, only those are eligible to go to Jannah who follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
- Those who maintain Salah (Prayers), give Zakat, fight in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, fast during Ramadan, and repent for their sins.
- Those who believe in Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, (Tawheed).
- Those who did good acts and deeds in this world showed patience and sought forgiveness.
- Those who offered their lives in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, (Martyrs).
- Those who had been truthful, pious, just, and kind in their deeds in this world.
Hell (Jahannam)
Jahannam, or Hell, is just the opposite of Paradise or Jannah, in Islamic theology. Hell is the place of severe punishment for those who did not follow the faith, disobeyed Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, and committed evil without repentance. It is the final destination of the non-believers and wrongdoers in their life hereafter. The Day of Judgement is one of the six articles of faith in Islamic theology.
On this day, the destiny of the entire mankind will be decided on the basis of what they have done in their worldly life. Those who had committed more sins, will be sent to Jahannam (Hell). Jahannam is a symbol of punishment for the evildoers, which includes physical, psychological, and spiritual punishment. Hell is characterized by severe fire, extreme heat, boiling water, and unlivable conditions, the pain of which will be physically experienced by the evildoers.
Hell (Jahannam) in the Quran
There are several verses in the Quran where Hell or Jahannam is mentioned with different names, such as “the fire” (النار, Al-Nar), “the blazing fire” (جحيم, Jaheem), “that which breaks to pieces” (حطمة Hutamah), “the abyss” (هاوية, Haawiyah), “the blaze” (سعير, Sa’eer), and “the place of burning” (سقر Saqar). All these refer to different categories of Jahannam. Sometimes, these are also referred to as the “Gates or Doors of Hell.” It is estimated that Hell is mentioned in the Quran in different contexts more than 500 times.
Some of the Quranic verses about Hell are:
Verses 11 to 13 of Surah Al-Furqan, narrates the torments, which the non-believers will have to face in the Jahannam. It is also mentioned here that those who negate the reality of the Resurrection, are destined to be sent to Jahannam. Hell is described here as a place of blazing fire with intense heat, where people will suffer unimaginable pain.
Translation
- Yet they reject the Hour as untrue. We have prepared a Fire for those who deny the Resurrection.
- When (Hell) appears to them from a distance they will hear it raging and roaring.
- And when they are cast within a narrow space of it chained together, they would plead for death.
Verses 16 and 17 of Surah Ibrahim describe the severeness of the conditions in Hell, where the non-believers will be bound in chains and given boiling water to drink, which would be hard for them to gulp. It is further mentioned that they would desire death but it will not be there for them.
Translation
- Before him is Hell, and he will get putrid liquid to drink.
- He will sip it, yet will not be able to gulp it down. Death will crowd in upon him from every side but die he will not. A terrible torment trails him.
Verses 6 to 10 of Surah Al-Mulk also narrate the torments of Hell. It also describes that the people who will be cast into Hell will express their sorrow on not accepting the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, which was transmitted to them by the Prophet. Here, the psychological torment for the non-believers is also mentioned, as they will feel regret, humiliation, and despair.
Translation
- For those who believe not in their Lord there is the punishment of Hell; and what a wretched destination.
- When they are cast into it, they will hear it roar and raging
- As though it would burst with fury. Every time a crowd is thrown into it, its wardens will ask: “Did no warner come to you?”
- And they will answer: “Surely; a warner came to us, but we denied him and said: ‘God did not send down anything; you are greatly deluded, in fact.'”
- They will say: “If we had listened and been wise, we would not have been among the inmates of Hell.”
Verses 36 to 37 of Surah Fatir also mention the torments of Hell, which is destined for the non-believers:
Translation
- As for the unbelievers, there is the fire of Hell. It will neither consume them wholly that they should die nor will its torment be lessened for them. That is how We requite the ungrateful.
- There they will cry for help: “O Lord, get us out that we may do the right, and not what we used to do.” Did We not give you a long enough span of life so that he who remembered may reflect? And did not the warner come to you? So now taste (the punishment). The iniquitous will have none to help them.
Description of Hell (Jahannam) in Hadiths
Multiple Hadiths explain Jahannam and the severity of punishment for non-believers. Some of such Hadiths are mentioned below.s
Hadith 213b of Sahih Al-Muslim specifically describes the level of punishment that a non-believer would have to face in Hell:
Translation
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Verily the least suffering for the inhabitants of Fire would be for him who would have two shoes and two laces of Fire (on his feet), and with these would boil his brain as boils the cooking vessel, and he would think that he would not see anyone in a more grievous torment than him, whereas he would be in the least torment.
Similarly, Hadith number 3265 of Sahih Al-Bukhari narrates the severeness of the fire and heat of Jahannam:
Translation
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire.” Someone asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers),” Allah’s Apostle said, “The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire.
The People of Jahannam (Hell)
The following categories of people will be sent to Jahannam (Hell):
- The non-believers, including all the non-believers of the previous communities before the inception of Islam, to whom Prophets were sent, did not follow their teachings.
- Those who rejected the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى after the inception of Islam.
- The hypocrites apparently accepted Islam but denied it by their heart.
- Persistent sinners, including those who died without repentance.
- Oppressors and tyrants.
- Those who committed corruption and caused its spreading.
Will Sinful Muslims Ultimately go to Paradise After Completing their Punishment in Hell?
It is a widely discussed matter among Scholars whether sinful Muslims will ultimately be sent to Paradise (Jannah) once they have completed their Punishment in Hell (Jahannam). The majority of scholars are of the view that sinful Muslims will not remain in Hell (Jahannam) forever. They will spend a particular time in Hell and ultimately be sent to Paradise.
Concepts of Hell and Paradise and the Mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى
The concepts of Hell and Paradise form the faith base in Islam. Believers are encouraged to avoid sins and evildoings and live a righteous way of life to be protected from Hell on the Day of Judgement. It serves as a reminder for Muslims to live a life based on faith, righteousness, and accountability. Belief in the life hereafter encourages good deeds, patience in hardships, and sincere repentance. Ultimately, the Mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has no limits. As mentioned in the 133rd Verse of Surah Al-e-Imran, one should always seek the forgiveness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى:
Translation
And hasten for the pardon of your Lord, and for Paradise extending over the heavens and the earth, laid out for those who take heed for themselves and fear God.
 and Hell (Jahannam), their descriptions in the Quran, and their role in guiding moral and spiritual life.){kind=link}