HOW DO WE KNOW HEAVEN AND HELL EXIST IF WE CANNOT SEE IT? DOES IT MATTER?
The Heaven and the Earth, the great firmament that we see and benefit from each single day, cannot be run on their own. There is extreme order, precision, details that it can run on its own. There MUST be Creator. There cannot be more than ONE Creator. If there were, the entire universe would collapse because each would want his own way of doing things.
I did not create myself, nor did I choose the timing, gender, parents, siblings or organs when I came to this world. The Creator who Created the Heavens and the Earth which is running in excellent balance also created me, in perfect shape, proportion and continuous growth. First the hearing, then vision, then the heart – in that specific order.
Why was I born? What purpose do I have in this world? Why does life end after a limited cycle and not endless? Who controls time? There must be a reason WHY I was created. My creation depended neither on my deeds nor choice. I simply appeared and was announced to the world. With each birth comes a different set of challenges. Are you healthy? Born into a Muslim family? Born to parents who are well off? Educated? What kind of upbringing will they provide for you? THIS is the starting point, which is different in each case. And from then onwards the record keeping begins. So do the testing of the senses.
Nothing stays the same. Nothing. The heavy weight boxer one day has difficulty lifting his hands due to Parkinsons. The sprint runner who won Olympics one day has difficulty standing still on his own two feet. The mighty powerful ruler who was feared during his heyday will one day gasp for a bit of air to go into his lungs. The great general who controls an army of 100, 000 men at one point has difficulty controlling his own feces. This points to the fact that our capabilities are for limited time only – to test what we do with those capabilities – good or bad? And with what intent?
It is inconceivable that the one who created me will leave me without any guidance and purpose. It is simply not possible that there is no mission in life: for each and every individual. That mission is as unique as the fingerprints in each person’s hands. Because each person has his unique set of environmental resources that is given to him without even asking for it.
There is a harmony in the entire universe. Everything has a purpose. Everything fits in place. The sun, the moon, the stars, the animals, the jellyfish. Jupiter is a massive planet that is 11 times wider than Earth. If Earth were the size of a nickel, Jupiter would be about as big as a basketball. Saturn has seven main rings around it that make up an enormous, complex structure. Beautiful to watch for those who want to see. Who is the designer?
Nobody is breaking any law or order. If they did, there would be chaos all over. Only humans have that ability, with limited capabilities to do damage.
The Qur’an is the word of Allah, in its entirety, unchanged, in its flawless form. It is the perfect guidance. Anyone who reads the Qur’an can tell this cannot be the word of man. After 1500 years, there is not a single discrepancy in the Qur’an. Sura Ibrahim verse 1 Alif-Lãm-Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you O Prophet so that you may lead people out of darkness and into light, by the Will of their Lord, to the Path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy—
It is not possible that death is for one time only and there is no raising up again. The one who created us the first time can create us again. We came into this world not knowing anything at all. Allah gave us hearing, eyesight and heart. And reasoning. And strength. And we used our faculty of reasoning and strength – either as a rebel or as a devoted servant of Allah.
There cannot be no accountability. A man kills 100,000 people with a single action of a pen. He must be killed 100,000 times in order that justice is done to him. This is not possible in this world. Another world is needed where death can be multiplied many times. Man cannot be not held accountable for his deeds. Similarly, someone creates a life-saving drug that saves thousands of lives – it is not possible to give him reward in this lifetime.
In the Qur’an, Allah describes Heaven and Hell to the minutest details. From the time of death to gates of Heaven to living there eternally. And in between when people enjoy life therein. From the torment at the time of death to gates of Hell to living there eternally. And in between where people try to get out and ask the angel Malik to get them out.
The last Prophet (PBUH) ascended the Heavens and he saw Jannah and Jahannam with his own eyes. He actually saw people in Jannah and Jahannam.
Believe completely or you don’t believe. Nobody will force you to believe. Use your logic and common sense. Use the limited time in this world wisely. Once the time is up – there is no turning back the clock. Once the angels become visible time up!
Consequences of bad deeds and living in the fire of Hell:
SKIN WILL BE BURNED, AND THEN IT WILL BE BACK TO THE SAME SKIN SO IT CAN BE BURNED AGAIN, AND THIS WILL CONTINUE
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, Allāh is ever Exalted in Might and Wise. Sura Nisaa 4:56
HOT WATER WILL BE POURED ON THE FACE
And say, “The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.” Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call 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. Sura Kahf 18:29
PEOPLE OF JAHANNAM WILL BE GIVEN CLOTHES OF FIRE TO WEAR
And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in irons, Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire Sura Ibrahim 49-50
PEOPLE WILL BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE OF JAHANNAM AND THE TOP WILL BE CLOSED ON THEM LIKE A LID OF A JAR
Woe to every scorner and mocker
Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.
He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
It is the fire of Allāh, [eternally] fueled,
Which mounts directed at the hearts.
Indeed, it [i.e., Hellfire] will be closed down upon them
In extended columns. Sura Al Humazah 104 1-9
FIRE WILL RISE AS HUGE AS FORTRESS
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
[They will be told], “Proceed to that which you used to deny.
Proceed to a shadow [of smoke] having three columns.
[But having] no cool shade and availing not against the flame.”
Indeed, it throws sparks [as huge] as a fortress,
As if they were yellowish [black] camels. Sura Al-Mursalat 28-33
IN JAHANNAM THERE IS NEITHER LIFE NOR DEATH
So ˹always˺ remind ˹with the Quran˺—˹even˺ if the reminder is beneficial ˹only to some˺.
Those in awe ˹of Allah˺ will be mindful ˹of it˺.
But it will be shunned by the most wretched,
who will burn in the greatest Fire,
where they will not ˹be able to˺ live or die. Sura Al A’la 9-13
FOOD OF PEOPLE OF JAHANNAM: ZAQQUM
Is that [i.e., Paradise] a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqūm?
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.
Sura As-Saffat 37:62-68
Indeed, the tree of zaqqūm
Is food for the sinful.
Like murky oil, it boils within bellies
Like the boiling of scalding water.
[It will be commanded], “Seize him and drag him into the midst of the Hellfire,
Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water.”
[It will be said], “Taste! Indeed, you are the honored, the noble!
Indeed, this is what you used to dispute.”
Sura Ad-Dukhan:44-50
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
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 accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
Sura Al-Waqi’ah 56:51-56
HELL WILL LIE IN AMBUSH
Indeed, Hell is lying in ambush
as a home for the transgressors,
where they will remain for ˹endless˺ ages.
There they will not taste any coolness or drink,
except boiling water and ˹oozing˺ pus—
a fitting reward.
For they never expected any reckoning,
and totally rejected Our signs.
And We have everything recorded precisely.
˹So the deniers will be told,˺ “Taste ˹the punishment˺, for all you will get from Us is more torment.”
Sura As-Naba 78:21-30
JAHANNAM IS FOREVER, NOT FOR HUNDRED OR TWO HUNDRED YEARS
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, “Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say, “Yes, but the word [i.e., decree] of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.”
[To them] it will be said, “Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.”
Sura Az-Zumar 39:71-72
TIE HIM INTO A CHAIN WHOSE LENGTH IS SEVENTY CUBITS
[Allāh will say], “Seize him and shackle him.
Then into Hellfire drive him.
Then into a chain whose length is seventy cubits insert him.
Indeed, he did not used to believe in Allāh, the Most Great,
Nor did he encourage the feeding of the poor.
So there is not for him here this Day any devoted friend
Nor any food except from the discharge of wounds;
Sura Al-Haqqah 69:30-36
The matter would have been settled if we were able to see Jannah and Jahannam with our eyes and the purpose of test would be defeated.
May Allah protect us from the fire of Hell and admit us into eternal Jannah.
