The Names of Hell in Islam – Islam teaches us to believe in heaven and hell as the final
destination of life in the afterlife. Muslims certainly know the reward for deeds that have
been done in the world.
Hell in Islam is interpreted as a place of reward for those who have bad deeds heavier than good deeds.
The word hell is etymologically derived from the Arabic “al-nar” which means heat, shot, and
fire.
In terms, the word “al-nar” means a terrible place that is provided for people to commit sins and crimes.
Basically, the afterlife means a life of spiritual elevation for man.
Hell is not solely a place of torture by Allah SWT, but a place of healing. Hell is presented
to punish disobedient people, namely disbelievers, polytheists, wicked, hypocrites, and the like.
The people who were considered disobedient earlier will live eternally in hell. Then the
disobedient believer will serve a period of punishment and live temporarily in hell. After
that, they will be issued again by Allah SWT.
The Koran as the holy book of Muslims states that hell has seven different names, namely Jahannam ,
Lazha , Hutamah , Sa’ir , Saqar , Jahim , and
Hawiyah . Each hell is believed to have different torments.
Thorny trees or al-dari and al-zaqum are food for the inhabitants of hell.
While al-hamim, al-ghaslin, and al-ghassaq are the
drinks of the inhabitants of hell. These foods and drinks will not provide any benefits and
enjoyment for the inhabitants of hell.
Hell as a place of torture for those who commit sins and mistakes is known as death al-‘azab. The
term has the meaning of “place of application of torture”. Creatures of Allah who disobey
the Shari’a and deny the Prophet Muhammad are classified as people who commit sins.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Ali-Imran verse 116 regarding the existence of hell which reads:
اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ اَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَآ اَوْلَادُهُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ شَيْـًٔا ۗ
وَاُولٰۤىِٕكَ اَصْحٰبُ النَّارِ ۚ هُمْ فِيْهَا خٰلِدُوْنَ
Meaning: Verily, those who disbelieve, neither their wealth nor their children, cannot resist the
punishment of Allah in the least. They are the inhabitants of hell (and) they will abide
therein.
In accordance with the words of Rasulullah SAW from HR. At-Tirmizi which means:
Meaning: “There are three judges, two in hell and one in heaven. Judges who know the truth and
decide cases with it, then in heaven; judge who does not know the truth, but he punishes with
stupidity, then he is in hell.”
In accordance with the words of Rasulullah SAW from HR. Bukhari which means:
Meaning: “Every Muslim who liberates a Muslim, surely Allah will free one of His servants from hell.”
Names of Hell in Islam
Hell with its level has a difference of 70 times hotter than the level above it. This level is
adjusted to the bad deeds of humans while living in the world. Check out the full review
below.
1. Hell of Jahannam
Jahannam hell is classified as hell with the highest level and is filled with people who
commit major sins. The word hell jahannam is of Arabic origin and has many
meanings.
Hell jahannam literally means having an evil or gloomy face. Why is it called as hell
jahannam? Because this hell is dark, black, and has a very deep bottom.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Hijr verse 43 regarding the existence of hell , it
reads:
وَاِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ اَجْمَعِيْنَۙ
Meaning: And indeed, Hell is really the (place) that has been promised to them (followers of Satan) all.
In accordance with the words of Rasulullah SAW from HR. Muslim which reads:
Meaning: “We were once with Rasulullah SAW, suddenly there was a sound of something falling.
The Prophet Muhammad SAW then asked, “Do you know what that is?” The companions
answered, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” Prophet Muhammad SAW then explained, “This is
a stone that was thrown into hell since 70 years ago and the stone has only reached the bottom of hell at
this time.” (HR. Muslim)
The inhabitants of Jahannam Hell include people who are big sinners, hypocrites, people who like to follow
Satan’s steps, people who are disobedient to Him, to people who are curmudgeonly or stingy.
2. Hell Lazha
Lazha hell is defined as a hell that is blazing great and burning. Lazha
hell is for people who turn away from the treatise of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, turn their
backs on monotheism, and are reluctant to give charity.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Ma’rij verses 15-16 regarding the existence of hell, reads:
Meaning: Absolutely not! Truly, hell is a turbulent fire, which sloughs off the scalp.
3. Hutamah Hell
The word hutamah means the destruction of something. Hutamah hell will make
its inhabitants experience destruction with fire that breaks and burns from the legs, bones, to the
heart, and throws sparks as big as palaces. This hell will be inhabited by people who like
to criticize, swear, refuse to give alms, and count on others.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Humazah verse 7 which reads:
الَّتِيْ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْاَفْـِٕدَةِۗ
Meaning: that (burns) to the heart.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Mursalat verses 32-33 which reads:
30
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Meaning: Indeed, (hell) spits out sparks (as big and as high as) palaces, like a yellow camel caravan.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Humazah verses 5-6 regarding the existence of hutamah hell
, reads:
Meaning: And do you know what Hutamah (Hell) is? (That is) the fire (punishment) of Allah
which is ignited.
4. Hell Sa’ir
The word sa’ir comes from the Arabic word which means burning, something that is blazing, and has not been
extinguished since it was created. Sa’ir hell can be interpreted as a hell
with a blazing and burning fire. In the sa’ir hell there are ropes,
chains, snakes, scorpions, and fetters.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Mulk verse 5 regarding the existence of hell sa’ir ,
reads:
وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السient
Meaning: And indeed, We have decorated the near sky with stars and We made them (the stars) as tools for throwing
Satan, and We have prepared for them the punishment of a burning hell.
The presence of hell sa’ir is a reminder from Allah SWT to humans who do not pay zakat, eat the wealth of
orphans, oppose the da’wah of the prophets and apostles, eat property that is not their right (corruption),
and deny the Day of Judgment.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah An-Nisa verse 10 regarding the existence of hell sa’ir ,
reads:
اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَأْكُلُوْنَ اَمpet
Meaning: Indeed, those who unjustly eat the property of orphans, in fact they swallow fire in their stomachs and
they will enter into a blazing fire (hell).
5. Hell of Saqar
The Koran as the book of Muslims has explained the existence of a hot and burning hell
. Then the Saqar Hell will be inhabited by people who are arrogant, never pray, never
feed the poor, and deny the Koran. Why is it called Saqar Hell ?
Because the hell of saqar only eats the flesh without the bones.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Mudatsir verses 26-29 regarding the saqar hell which
scorches human skin, reads:
Meaning: Later, I will put it in (Hell) Saqar. And do you know what (Hell) Saqar is?
He (Saqar) does not forsake and does not let, which scorch human skin.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Mudatsir verses 42-47 regarding the existence of hell, reads:
Meaning: “What caused you to enter (Hell) Saqar?” They replied, “In the past we were not among
those who prayed, and we (also) did not feed the poor, even we used to talk (for vanity purposes), with
people who talked about it, and we denied the Day of Judgment. until death comes upon us.”
6. Jahim’s Hell
The word jahim comes from Arabic and means a very hot place with very large burning coals.
Jahim hell is hell with a big fire in a ravine or hole. The hell
of ignorance will be inhabited by polytheists, such as liars of His verses, disobeying
Him, and forgetting about the afterlife because of worldly activities.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Hajj verse 51 regarding the existence of hell and its
inhabitants, reads:
وَالَّذِيْنَ سَعَوْا فِيْٓ اٰيٰتِنَا مُعٰجِزِيْنَ اُولٰۤىِٕكَ اَصْحٰبُ الْجَحِيْمِ
Meaning: But those who try to contradict Our verses with the aim of weakening (the will to believe), they are the
inhabitants of the Hell of Jahim.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Koran Surah As-Syura verses 91-92 regarding the existence of an evil hell ,
reads:
Meaning: And Hell of Jahim is shown clearly to those who go astray. And it was said to them,
“Where are the idols that you used to worship.
7. Hell Hawiyah
The word hawiyah comes from Arabic which means falling from the highest place to the lowest place.
Hawiyah hell can be interpreted as anything that is unknown to its crust or
bottom.
In the Qur’an, hawiyah hell has another designation “nar hamiyah” which means hot and blazing
fire. It can be interpreted that the hawiyah hell is a very hot place with a deep
bottom of hell. Hawiyah hell is filled with people whose scales of good
deeds are light.
As the word of Allah SWT in the Qur’an Surah Al-Qariah verses 8-11 regarding the existence of hell hawiyah
and its inhabitants, reads:
Meaning: And as for those whose scales (goodness) are light, then the place of return is the Hawiyah Hell.
And do you know what the Hawiyah Hell is? (That is) a very hot fire.
That is a description of the names of hell in Islam. May we all be spared from the fires of
hell and reach the best place in the hereafter.
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