(النار أهلها وأهوالها) للشيخ صالح بن حميد

Summary

1) The situation of those who truly fear the fire.
2) The description of the fire, and the situation of its people.
3) Deeds that cause punishment in the fire.
4) Deeds that rescue from punishment in the fire.

First Khutbah

Praise be to Allah. I praise and thank Him, exalted is He, and I glorify and revere him. Forever does He merit attributes of veneration and perfection. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner and I thus admit His Oneness. I also testify that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger, the selected Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) who is of a better lineage than the entire humanity and is far more honorable than them all. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his righteous companions, people of benevolence and honesty and those who follow the way of Allah’s messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) and his righteous companions.

O People, I advise you and myself to fear Allah, glorified is He, Allah says which translates as: “And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah" (Al-Baqarah: 281). Beware of a Day when you will stand for a long time awaiting a thorough judgment. Fellow Muslims, every soul will be held accountable only for the deeds s/he has committed. No one will be punished for a sin s/he did not commit. On Judgment Day, every soul will stand alone in his/her defense.

Sinful desires lead many people astray. Their faith is not reflected in their deeds. They speak but they never act on what they say. This is the position of the unintelligent persons. Having learned the truth, they then deny it. They declare permissible what Allah and His messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) have decreed as prohibited. Al-Hassan Al-Basri may Allah bless his soul, exclaims: Do they believe in Judgment Day? No, I swear by the Master of the Day of Resurrection, they are liars. No one is admitted to paradise except one who genuinely seeks it and no one will be saved from the Hellfire except one who truly fears it. Entering in to the Hellfire is an indisputable fact, As Allah says which translates as: “There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a decree which must be accomplished" (Maryam: 71) but is salvation from the Hellfire an indisputable fact too?

Who shows signs of real fear from it? Who would be truly delighted to be saved from it? Musa Ibn Sa’d said: Whenever we were in the company of Sufyan, we would feel that we were surrounded by the hellfire because of the look of fear and terror we saw on his face. Whoever honestly fears the Hellfire strives to avoid it and whoever strives to avoid it attains Paradise. As in the Qur’an which translates as: “Saying: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah), But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the fire, Verily, We used to invoke Him (Alone and none else) before. Verily, He is Al-Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful" (At-Tur: 26–28). Truly, Allah guides and has mercy on those who fear Him.

Brothers in Islam, our sermon seeks to remind and warn of the hellfire and fill your hearts with the fear of what was mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an and what Prophet Muhammad, (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), said concerning the punishment of the disbelievers and those who do not abide by Allah’s laws. Our sermon is about the Hellfire, its people, and its terror. We seek refuge in Allah’s mercy from it, as Allah says which translates as: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded" (At-Tahrim: 6).

Al-Hassan Al-Basri, may Allah bless his soul, states: By Allah! It is never that a servant of Allah honestly believes in the Hellfire, but he feels as if the spacious earth has become incredibly narrow, whereas if the Hellfire was right behind a hypocrite, he would still not believe in it until he tumbles into its burning depths. I swear that the servants of Allah have never been warned against anything more horrific.

Allah says which translates as: “Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell); None shall enter it save the most wretched, Who denies and turns away" (Al-Layl: 14- 16). This is the Hellfire, of which those who fear it will never sleep. Fear of the Hellfire torments the righteous. Allah says which translates as: “Verily, it {Hell, or their denial of prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) or the Day of Resurrection} is but one of the greatest calamities. A warning to mankind, To any of you that chooses to go forward (by working righteous deeds), or to remain behind (by commiting sins)" (Al-Muddaththir: 35- 37).

Do you not know that even angels and prophets are warned against the Hellfire? Concerning angels, Allah says which translates as: “And if any of them should say: Verily, I am an Ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah)’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc)" (Al-Anbiya: 29). As regards to the prophets, He says which translates as: “And set not up with Allah any other Ilah (god) lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected, (from Allah’s Mercy)" (Al-Isra’: 39).

O People, avoid the Hellfire by giving away as little as a date. Avoid the Hellfire by saying a good word. Mention the Hellfire repeatedly and seek to be saved from it, as Allah says which translates as: “With this Allah does frighten His slaves: “O My slaves, therefore fear Me!" (Az-Zumar: 16). The Hellfire is the worst abode, its torment is the most horrific of all, its heat is extreme, its pit is bottomless, and its maces are made of iron. A stone may continue to fall for seventy years before if reaches its depth. Its ways are narrow, it is constantly ablaze, terribly drawing its breath, and its gates are locked. Its scorching columns are outstretched. Its heat is continuously increasing. It is the wrath of Al Jabbar and His punishment.

Whole nations will be brought to their knees. Those who were unjust to themselves will realize the consequences of their actions. The disbelievers will be dispatched to a shadow of smoke ascending in three columns, which yields no shade or coolness and is of no use against the fierce blaze. The flames of a blazing fire will surround them. They will hear its exhalations and groaning and witness its rage and fury. They will be called on by the angels of the Hellfire, as the Qur’an says which translates as: “So enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein, and indeed, what an evil abode will be for the arrogant" (An-Nahl: 29). They will be gathered in the Hellfire, with the angels of the punishment crushing them. They will groan in its straits as they tumble downwards. You will see the sinners on that day bound together in fetters, their garments will be made of liquid pitch, and their faces will be covered with fire. Their necks will be shackled and they will be dragged by chains, pulled by the forehead and feet, and then thrown into the Hellfire. A burning fluid will be poured onto their heads and it will melt their skins and their stomachs. Their hands will be shackled with iron fetters, and their foreheads, sides, and backs will be burnt.

“Taste you the touch of Hell" (Al-Qamar: 48). They will be made to eat bitter Zaqqum and Dari, which will neither nourish nor satisfy their hunger. They will be made to drink a boiling fluid and a dark, murky, and intensely cold liquid that will burn their faces and tear up their stomachs. The Qur’an describes which translates as: “He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat" (Ibrahim: 17) “Therein they will cry: “Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do" (Allah will reply): “Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc) there is no helper" (Fatir: 37) “ … As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment … " (An-Nisa’: 56) They will wish to die, only there will be no way out of the Hellfire, nor will there be an escape. The Qur’an describes which translates as: “And they will cry: O Malik let your Lord make an end of us, he will say: Verily you shall abide forever. Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth" (Az-Zukhruf: 77-78). Their inhalation and exhalation will then be heard even louder when they are deprived of what they desire. Their despair will be increased and they will think to themselves, “ … It makes no difference to us, whether we rage, or bear with patience. There is no place of refuge for us" (Ibrahim: 21). We seek refuge in Allah, from His wrath and severe punishment.

Brothers in Islam, these are indisputable facts about the Hellfire which I swear by Allah will be fulfilled. Allah says which translates as: “ … but the Word from Me took effect, that I will fill Hell with Jinn and mankind together" (As-Sajdah: 13).

Woe unto every disbeliever and wicked person who does wrong, prefers worldly life and does not believe in Judgment Day, as Allah says which translates as: “The Mujrimoon (polythiests, idolaters, and disbelievers) will be known by their marks (black faces)" (Ar-Rahman: 41) “And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless. A slanderer, going about with calumnies. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinfull. Cruel, after all that base-born (of illegitimate birth)" (Al-Qalam: 10- 13). Those who do not believe in Allah, the Almighty, nor encourage the feeding of the poor, who never prays nor feeds the poor, joining with the disbelievers in denying Judgment Day. These are the people of the Hellfire. We seek refuge in Allah from them.

Servants of Allah, people of the Hellfire will include wine drinkers, those who sever kinship relations, believe in magic, remind others of the charity they gave them, backbite others, let their garments hang down below their ankles, hoard silver and gold and refuse to spend in the way of Allah. Among the people to be most severely tortured are those who create pictures and statues to imitate Allah’s creation and those who oppress people in this world.

What would be the position of the reciters of the Qur’an, scholars and mujahideen (fighters in Jihad) whose deeds are for showing off, and those who command people to do good deeds yet do not do them themselves, who forbid people from committing sins, yet do not refrain from committing sins themselves, who never practice what they preach, who rebuke when they advice and turn a deaf ear when advised and who judge without knowledge or without justice. These are people of the hellfire.

“A ruler who betrays his people will be condemned to the Hellfire".

“A person who pledged allegiance to the Imam but for the sake of the world (material gains). If the Imam bestowed on him (something) out of that (worldly riches) he stood by his allegiance and if he did not give him, he did not fulfill the allegiance" such a person is condemned".

“Whoever cuts off the right of a Muslim man by his oath, Allah forbids him the Garden an obliges the Fire for him".

“Whoever eats or drinks from gold or silver utensils is indeed filing his stomach with the fire of hell".

Allah says which translates as: “ … Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a fire into their own bellies, they will soon be enduring a Blazing Fire" (An-Nisa’: 10).

Woe to the one who devours usury! The fire is the only worthy punishment for him whose body is nourished by usury or by what is forbidden. There will be two types of people who are destined for the Hellfire: people with whips, like the tails of cows, who beat the people (i.e. tyrannical rulers who are the enemies of their own people), and woman who although clothed, are yet naked, seducing and being seduced, their hair styled like tilted humps of camels. These will not enter the Garden nor will its fragrance even reach them" “If the wailing woman does not repent before she dies, she will be made to stand on the Day of Resurrection wearing a trousers of pitch and a shirt of mange" “Cheat and deceit will be condemned to the fire" “Indecency leads to the Hellfire" “The worst of people in the sight of Allah is he who people avoid due to his indecency, aggressiveness, and vulgarity". Woe unto those who wish that indecency would spread among those who believe, they will be severely tortured in this world and in the Hereafter.

Dear Muslims, may Allah have mercy on you and I, and save us from this horrible torture. These are the various types of punishments in the Hellfire and the different characteristics of the people of the Hellfire. So fear Allah and avoid the Hellfire by shedding tears out of fear of Allah, for no man who cried out of fear of Allah will ever be tortured in the Hellfire. Two eyes will never be touched by the Fire; and eye that sheds tears out of fear of Allah, and a vigilant eye that stayed awake on guard for the sake of Allah (in Jihad). Whoever fasts a day is distanced from the Hellfire by a space to be covered in seventy years. Seek refuge with Allah from the Hellfire, for this is one of the characteristics of the righteous, who constantly remembers Allah.

The angels will pass by those who remember Allah in parties and Allah will say, “From what do they seek refuge?" The angels reply: ‘They seek refuge from the hellfire Allah says, “Did they see it? The angels say: ‘No by Allah, O Lord! They did not see it, Allah says: ‘How it would have been if they saw it? The angels say: ‘If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it. Then Allah says, ‘I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them".

In another narration: Whenever a Muslim prays to be admitted to paradise three times, paradise says: O Allah, admit him to paradise. Whenever a Muslim seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times, The Hellfire seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times for that Muslim, The Hellfire says: O Allah, grant him refuge from me. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from the Hellfire. As in the Qur’an, which translates as: “ … Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the fire" (Al-`Imraan: 16). “ … our Lord, avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment. Evil indeed it is as an abode and as a place to dwell" (Al-Furqan: 65, 66). May we all benefit from the Glorious Qur’an.


Second Khutbah

Praise be to Allah, the Originator, the restorer, who effects all He wills, I praise and thank Him. Exalted is He, for it is with gratitude that one’s blessings last and are increased. I testify that there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His Servant and Messenger who has warned all people, be they near or far. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his household, his wives, his companions, and those who piously follow their example until Judgment Day.

O People, the mention of the Hellfire terrifies the hearts of those who are afraid of it and dispels sleep from the eyes of worshippers.

Fellow Muslims, contemplate the Day of Resurrection with your hearts, think of the destination of the two kinds of people, either to paradise or to the Hellfire, and determine which of the two you want and ponder with your imagination. Make your hearts and your bodies sense the heat of the Hellfire, its fetters, its depths, its fuel, its rocks, its chains and shackles, its boiling fluid, its dark murky fluid. Think of the Blazing fire and its severely intolerable heat. Cry and call on one another to cry. Visualize in your hearts the image of the wrongdoers being tormented in the flames of the Hellfire. Allah says which translates as: “They shall have coverings of fire, above them and covering beneath them … " (Az-Zumar: 16). “ … whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the fire" (Al-Isra’: 97). “Seize him and fetter him. Then throw him in the blazing fire. Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits" (Al-Haqqah: 30-32). “In fierce hot wind and boiling water. And shadow of black smoke. Neither cool, nor good" (Al-Waqi`’a: 42-44).

So, fear Allah so that He may have mercy on you. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from Hellfire, and from any word or deed that may bring us near to it. Avoid the Blazing Fire, that Abode that has been reserved for the disbelievers.