A Glimpse of The Companions of Hell

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We can go about busy ourselves with the dunya (material world), vie for power and recognition, and pretend like there is no Day of Judgment. But death will soon overtake you and it would be too late to repent for your sins or do any good deed that will benefit you in the Hereafter.

We are permitted to draw benefits of eating, drinking and living from the earth, but we are reminded at the same time not to be neglectful of death and life-after-death. Eventually, we will have to leave this world for the Hereafter. Whilst living on the earth, we must prepare for life-after-death.

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ‌ ﴿٢

[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is better in deeds - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - (2)

[Qur'an, Al-Mulk 67:2]

It should be noted here that Allah did not say 'which of you does more deeds', but said 'which of you is better in deeds'. This indicates that it is not the quantity of actions that counts, but rather the quality of actions, that is, their being righteous and acceptable in the sight of Allah. That is why a person's actions will not be counted on the Day of Judgement, but they will be weighed. In some instances, the weight of one action would be heavier than a thousand actions.

Sayyidna Ibn 'Umar (radhiAllahu anhum) said that once the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) recited the above verse and when he reached the words " better in deeds", he stopped and explained that 'better in deeds' is the person who abstains most from the things Allah has forbidden and is always ready to obey Him. [Qurtubi]

Here is a glimpse of the companions of Hell depicted in the Qur'an.

وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا۟ بِرَ‌بِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ‌ ﴿٦﴾ إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ‌ ﴿٧﴾ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ‌ۭ ﴿٨﴾ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ‌ۭ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ كَبِيرٍ‌ۢ ﴿٩﴾ وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ‌ ﴿١٠﴾ فَٱعْتَرَ‌فُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ‌ ﴿١١

And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. (6) When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. (7) It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?" (8) They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'" (9) And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (10) And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. (11)

[Qur'an, Al-Mulk 67:6-11]

May Allah grant us righteous deeds and save us from the punishment of Hell. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam