THE IDEAL MUSLIMAH

Those who will enter the Hellfire and then come out of it are the people of Tawheed - who do not associate anything with Allaah. However, they would have accumulated many sins; their evil deeds would have exceeded the limit and their good deeds would have become light on the scale. These individuals will enter the Hellfire because of their sins. Afterwards, they will come out of it due to the intercession of the interceders. By the mercy of Allaah, groups of people who never produced good deeds will be extracted from the Hellfire.

I will mention here some of the sins, which there is evidence for, informing us that those who commit them will be punished by means of the Hellfire.  (For full references please refer to the series by Dr. Umar Sulaymaan Al-Ashqar.)

Splitting Into Groups

Aboo Sufyaan narrated: "The Messenger of Allaah stood among us one day and said: 'Indeed those before you from the People of the Book divided into seventy-two groups. And this group ( Muslims) will divide into seventy-three. Seventy-two groups will be in the hellfire and one of them will be in Paradise. And it [the one group who will enter the Paradise] is the Jamaa'ah.'"^{This is an authentic hadeeth. Al-Haakim, after checking its chains of narration, said about it. "These chains present evidence in favor of the authenticity of the hadeeth." Shaykh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyah said. "It is a well known authentic hadeeth." Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee gathered its routes of narration, discussed their chains, and clarified that it is an authentic hadeeth, there being not doubt concerning its authenticity.}

Those Who Don’t Migrate [Do Hijrah]

It is not permissible for the Muslim to reside in the lands of the disbelievers when there are Muslim lands that exist. This is especially so if his residence in the lands of disbelief will involve him in fitnah [trouble for his religion]. Allaah does not accept the excuse of those refrain from making Hijrah (migration). Thus,  Allaah informs us that the angels will reproach this group of people at the time of death and they will not accept their excuses when they plead to them saying that they were oppressed in the land.

Allaah says (which means): “Verily as for those who the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves, they say to them: "In what state were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed in the land." They (angels) say: "Was not Allaah's earth spacious enough for you to migrate?" Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil destination! Except the weak among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they able to make their way.”^{Surat An-Nisaa (4:97-98)}

Allah does not accept excuses from such individuals, except for those who are weak and can not find the method to leave, and they are not able to make away by which they will be directed to the land of Islaam.^{Note from the editors: this is a general rule that has been under-explained here. One is encouraged to see what the great wise scholar Ibn'Uthaymeen explained about related guidelines in the book "Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islaam" (al-Hidaayah Publishing).}

Injustice In Passing Judgement

Allaah has revealed His Sharee'ah (Divine Law) for passing judgement between mankind with equity. And He has commanded His servants with justice and fairness. Allaah says (which means): “Verily Allah enjoins al-adl (justice) and al-ihsaan (beneficence).” ^{Surat An-Nahl (16:90)}

Thus He has made it obligatory upon the rulers and the judges that they rule with justice and avoid injustice.

Allaah says (which means), “Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those who they are due, and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. How excellent is the teaching that He (Allaah) gives you! Truly, Allaah is the Hearer of all, the Seer of all.”^{Surat An-Nisaa (4:58).}

Allaah threatens those who do not judge in truth with the Hellfire. Buraidah Bin Haseeb has narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said, “The judges are of three types: One in Paradise and two in the Hellfire. As for the one in Paradise, he is the one who knows the truth and judges by it. For the one who knows the truth and does not do justice in his ruling, then he is in the Fire. And as for the one who passes judgement between people out of ignorance, then he also is in the Fire."

Lying Upon The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).

Ibn al-Atheer has compiled a chapter in his book ‘Jaami'al-Usool’ in which he lists many ahaadeeth [Prophetic Narrations] which warn against lying upon the Messenger of Allaah. Among them, is that which has been recorded by lmaams at-Bukhaaree, Muslim and at-Tirmidhee on the authority of 'Alee who said that the Messenger of Allaah said, "Do not lie upon me. For indeed, the one who lies upon me will be tormented by the Hellfire."

In another hadeeth the Prophet said, “Whoever attributes a statement to me of which I did not say, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire.”

Also, the Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever lies upon me intentionally, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire.”

Among the other hadeeths is the one where Allaah's Messenger said: “Indeed a lie upon me is not like a lie upon anyone else. So whoever lies upon me intentionally then let him find his seat in the hellfire, then let him find his seat in the hellfire." The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) repeated the phrase ‘then let him find his seat in the hellfire' twice out of emphasis.

Pride

Among the major sins is pride. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said, Allaah said, "Pride is my cloak and greatness is my lower garment. Whoever disputes with me regarding any of these will be cast into the Fire." And the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "The one who has a speck of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise." So a man said to him, "Indeed a man likes to have nice clothes and nice sandals." He said, "Allaah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Pride is disregarding the truth and belittling the people."

Killing An Individual Without Due Right

Allaah says (which means): “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the wrath and the curse of Allaah are upon him, and the great punishment is prepared for him." The killing of an individual Muslim is not permissible in Islaam except for one of three cases, as has been stated in the following hadeeth, in which the Messenger of Allaah said, “The blood of an individual who testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship besides Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah, is not lawful, except for one of three cases. They are: A life for a life, a married person who commits adultery, and the one who abandons his religion and breaks away from the Jamaa'ah [The main body of the Muslims]." The Prophet also said, "The believer will remain within the margins of his religion, as long as he does not spill blood illegally."

Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said,

"Of those dilemmas which there is no way out for the one who fails, is the shedding of blood without a due reason."

The Messenger has warned the Muslims from killing one another. And he has informed us that the killer and the one killed are both in the Fire. Aboo Bakrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said, “When two Muslims face each other with their swords, then the killer and the one killed unjustly are (both) in the Fire.” I said, "I understand the killer, but what of the one who is killed?" He said, “Indeed, he was intent upon killing his companion.” Due to this, the righteous servant refrains from killing his brother, fearing that he might be of the dwellers of the Fire. And so the killer will attain his sin and the sin of the one he is killing.

Allaah says (which means): “And recite to them the story of the two sons of Aadam in truth; when each offered a sacrifice to Allaah. It was accepted from one but not from the other. The latter said to the former; "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Allaah accepts only from those who give Him due reverence. If you stretch your hand against me to kill me, I shall never stretch my hand against you to kill you: for I fear Allaah the Lord of the worlds. I intend to let you draw my sin on yourself as well as yours, then you will be one of the dwellers of the Fire. And that is the recompense of the wrong doers."

Consuming Usury

Among the sins that destroy the individual performing it is usury. Concerning those who take interest after knowledge has reached them of its prohibition, Allaah says (which means), “But whoever returns to ribaa [interest/usury], such are the dwellers of the Fire-they will abide therein.” And He says. (which means): “0 you who believe! Do not consume ribaa, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allaah that you may be successful. And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers.” The Prophet has counted ribaa as one of the seven sins that destroy the one performing it. It is recorded in Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim that the Messenger of Allaah said, “Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They said, "And what are they, 0 Messenger of Allaah?" He said, "To associate partners with Allaah (shirk), magic, killing an individual which Allaah has forbidden except with due right, consuming interest, taking the wealth of the orphan, running away from the battlefield, and slandering chaste believing women.”

Taking the Wealth of the People Unjustly

Among the greatest forms of oppression bringing a guarantee of the Hellfire is the consumption of people's wealth unjustly. This is as Allaah says (which means), “O you who believe! Do not consume property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade among you by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allaah.”

One who unjustly consumes the wealth of people also takes the wealth of the orphan unjustly. Allaah has specifically mentioned their wealth, due to their frailty, the ease at which their wealth can be consumed, and the detestableness of such a crime. Allah [az] says, “Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat only fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the Blazing Fire!”

The Picture-Makers

The people who will receive the worst on the Day of Judgement are the picture-makers.^{Editor's note: There are a number of crimes in addition to this one, for which the Prophet mentioned they would warrant the worst punishment.} They are the ones who compete with Allaah's ability to create.

Ibn Mas'ood reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, “The people with the worst punishment according to Allaah are the picture-makers.” lbn 'Abbaas said that he heard the Prophet say, “Every picture-maker is in the Hellfire. A soul will be placed for him into every picture that he fabricated, and Allaah will punish him (by it) in the Hellfire.”

Aa'ishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said concerning a cushion that had pictures on it, “Indeed the makers of these pictures will be tormented on the Day of Judgement. It will be said to them: 'Bring life to that which you have created." The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) also said, “The people who will receive the worst torment are those who try to imitate the creation of Allaah.” Aboo Hurayrah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say that Allaah said, “And who is worse than he who tries to create the likes of My creation. Then let them create a seed, or let them create a kernel or grain."

Those Who Rely On Evil Doers (Dhaalimoon)

From among the means that cause the entrance into the Hellfire, is the reliance on evildoers, the enemies of Allaah, and befriending them. Allaah says (which means), “And incline not towards those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you and you have no protectors other than Allaah, nor will you then be helped.”

The Women Who Will Be Clothed Yet Naked And The Ones Who Will Whip The Backs Of People

Among the types of people that will enter the Hellfire, are the evil women who display their beauty indecently. They put the servants of Allaah to trial and also, themselves, do not abide in the obedience of Allaah. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said, “There are two types of people from the dwellers of the Fire that I have never seen before. A people who have whips like the tails of cows by which they will be beating the people. And women who will be clothed yet naked, swaggering and bent over, their heads will be like the slanted humps of the bukht camel. They will not enter Paradise, nor will they sense its odor, even though its odor can be sensed from such and such distance.”

Concerning those with whips like the tails of cows al-Qurtubee said,

"The description of the ones with whips is visible among us even now, in Morocco."

Commenting on the words of al-Qurtubee, Sideeq Hasan Khaan said,

"Rather, they are present in every time at every place, increasing day by day among the leaders and the notables. Thus, we seek refuge from all that Allaah hates."

I say, we can still see this type of people in many of the lands, whipping the backs of people. May they and their likes perish! And the women who appear naked in spite of their being clothed are many in our time. Perhaps their evil wasn't so widespread before as it is these days. They are just as the Messenger of Allaah has described them, clothed yet naked, bent-over and swaggering, and upon their heads is the hump of the bukht camel.

Those Who Torture Animals

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Hellfire was presented to me and I saw in it a woman from the tribe of Israa'eel who was being punished for a cat she had. She tied it up and would not feed it, nor did she let it go so that it may eat the rodents of the earth, until it died of starvation.”

If this is the condition of the one who tortures a cat, then how is it for the one who tortures the servants of Allaah? And how much more is it, if the torture is only because of their eemaan [faith] and their Islaam?

The Lack of Sincerity in Seeking Knowledge

Al-Haafidh al-Mundhiree cited many hadeeths which warn against seeking knowledge for other than Allaah's sake; I have chosen only some of them.

The Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever acquires knowledge, by which the Face of Allaah is sought, and he does not learn it except to attain honour by it in this world, he will not perceive the odor of Paradise on the Day of Judgement.” Jaabir reported that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Do not acquire knowledge in order to compete with the scholars, nor to argue with the ignorant, nor to gain mastery over the gatherings. So whoever does that, then: The Fire, the Fire!” Ibn Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever acquires a knowledge for other than Allaah's sake, or desiring other than that, then let him find his seat in the Hellfire."

Those Who Drink From Gold And Silver Vessels

Umm Salamah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said, “One who drinks from a gold or silver vessel is only gulping the fire of Jahannam into his stomach.”

Huthayfah reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) say, “Do not wear silk garments nor silk brocade. And do not drink from gold and silver vessels, nor eat from such bowls. For indeed, they are for them (disbelievers) in this world, and they are for you in the next.“

The One Who Cuts Down The Lote Tree Which Shades The People

The Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever cuts down a lote-tree, Allaah will pour Fire on his head.”

Aa'ishah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said, “Indeed, the ones who cut down the Lote-tree a molten Fire will be poured on their heads.“

The Recompense of Suicide

It has been confirmed in Saheeh Muslim and Saheeh Bukhari that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever kills himself with a weapon, then that weapon will be in his hand, stabbing him in the stomach in the Hellfire eternally. And whoever kills himself with poison, then the poison will be in his hand, he will be sipping it in the Hellfire eternally. And whoever throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, then he will be falling down in the Hellfire eternally.”

Aboo Hurayrah said that he heard the Messenger of Allaah say, “The one who strangles himself will be strangling himself in the Hellfire And the one who stabs himself will be stabbing himself in the Hellfire."