Bismillah.
Reminders of the akhirah can have a great effect on our hearts and bring us out of the ghaflah (heedlessness) we are in. By looking at two words, Jahannam and Jaheem from the Qur’an, we are able to see what the real life is, the real ending and the real punishment. May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make our best deeds our last and may He (سبحانه وتعالى) make us among those who will enter Jannah without reckoning or punishment. Ameen!
So how scary is Jahannam?
Jahannam (جهنم) is from jeem haa meem, and contains many meanings. Of those meanings are:
- the literal meaning, to meet with a frowning face and to have a stern look. When you look at a person who has “jahm,” you become fearful.
- Darkness: and jahm is used for the darkest part of the night. Aren’t you scared in darkness? Jahannam is a dark place where you don’t want to be alone.
- A waterless cloud
Put these meanings together–Jahannam is a place when you look at it you’re scared–you want to run away and stay away from it because it has that frowning look and it is waterless. When Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an about the disbelievers, “fahasbahu jahannam,” meaning “then Jahannam is sufficient for him”–THIS is what they deserve, a waterless, scary, dark punishment that will break their ego.
And what about Al-Jaheem?
Al-Jaheem (الجحيم) is from jeem haa meem, and contains many meanings. Of those meanings are:
- The literal meaning, to light and stir up a fire–you add fuel and ensure it keeps burning.
- The word Jahama means to stare with sharp eyes, and refers to the way a lion stares at it’s prey.
- The word “ajham,” also from the same root, means someone who has red eyes.
- Jaheem is also used to mean a pit with blazing fire–and not just any fire, but an extremely hot, intense, and fiercely-buring fire.
Next time Shaytan whispers to you and you are inclined to commit a sin, remember this description of Hellfire … like a lion staring at its prey.
Contrast this horrible resting place with Jannah! Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says about the Companions of Jannah, “la khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanoon,” they will have no fear (of the future) and they will not grieve (the past)–unlike the companions of Hellfire, who will be utterly terrified when they see the punishment, nevermind when they enterit.
May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make us among the Companions of the Paradise, ameen!
Indeed, Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) spoke the truth when he said, “O Allah, there is no life except for the life of the Hereafter, and there is no good except for the good of the Hereafter.” [Saheeh Muslim]
Reference
Al-Huda Institute Canada. Ta’leem Al-Qur’an Course for Women. Al-Huda Islamic Centre of Canada. Mississauga, Ontario. October 2007. www.alhudainstitute.ca
Subhanallah, how amazing the Arabic language! One of the other names of Hellfire is “Naar-al-Kubara”; any idea what that means/implies?
AA
Ilm seeker, I thought you knew Arabic!
“Naar-al-Kubara” means the great fire. I guess you were asking for a more detailed linguistical analysis!
[...] at Ilm Fruits analyzes the meaning of Jahannam and Jaheem to describe the fearful consequences of disobedience. Next time Shaytan whispers to you and you are [...]
Naar-ul-Kubara looks like an idaafa (possessiveness) case, because naar has singular tanween …
Allah knows best, kubara looks like ism tafdiyl (superlative) on the same pattern as husna; if that’s true, maybe it means “the greatest fire”?
JazaakiAllahu khayr ukhtee.
SubhaanAllah, the Arabic language truly does leave you in awe.
I confirmed with my teacher about an-Naar al-Kubraa, it is mawsoof (noun described by an adjective) and sifah (adjective) so Kubraa is describing an-Naar.
When an naar is used in the Quran usually it is referring to jahannam. And Allah says an naar ul kubraa because this fire is greater than the fire of this dunya, greater than this dunya’s fire in it’s vastness and its intensity. and the fire of this dunya is only 1/70th of the fire of hellfire subhanAllah, so it’s the greatest fire. so Allah uses al kubra. the following aayah describes it more, how it’s naarul kubra. one can neither live in it nor die in it. oh and al is prefixed to naar because it’s “the” fire, meaning the ultimate greatest one.
Also, it is ism tafdeel, if An-Naar was just great, it would be Kabeer. And for greatest it is Akbar. But Akbar is masculine form and An-Naar is feminine so there’s an alif maqsurah at the end, so it’s kubraa.
may Allaah protect us from annaarulkubraa. Ameen.
[...] الله عليه وسلم) said: “My ummah will split into 73 groups, and all will guide to Hellfire, EXCEPT one.” The companions asked, who is that one group? He (صلي الله عليه وسلم) [...]
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[...] and you commit an act of shirk? Does it destroy all your good deeds? Are you doomed to enter Jahannam, may Allah protect us all from [...]