insides, it will tear them apart. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:
“And they will be given boiling water to drink that will tear apart their intestines” [Muhammad: 15].
Thus, they derive no benefit from it, either outwardly or inwardly. Outwardly, it provides no coolness to soothe their faces; inwardly, it does not quench their thirst. Rather—may Allah protect us—it is with this water that their pleas for relief are answered. Hence He says, “They will be given drink from a boiling spring.”
Someone may ask: How can this spring exist within Hellfire when water normally extinguishes fire?
The answer is, first, that the conditions of the Hereafter cannot be compared to those of this world. Were they comparable, we could not conceive how these things could occur. Does the sun not draw near to people’s heads on the Day of Resurrection until it is only one mīl away? The word mīl may mean either the kohl applicator—which measures half a finger—or the unit of distance, approximately one and a third kilometres. Even if the latter is intended, were the Hereafter like this world, the sun would utterly roast people. But the Hereafter cannot be compared to this world.
Likewise, people will be gathered in a single place on the Day of Resurrection, yet some will be in intense darkness while others will be in light: “Their light will stream ahead of them and to their right” [al-Tahrīm: 8]. They will be gathered in one place and will perspire, yet the sweat will reach the ankles of some, the knees of others, and the waists of still others. Nevertheless, they will all be in the same place. The conditions of the Hereafter, therefore, must not be compared to those of this world.
Second, Allah has power over all things. Even now, we find that fire may be kindled from a green tree, as Allah Most High says:
“Who made fire for you from the green tree, and behold, from it you kindle fire” [Yā Sīn: 80].
A green tree is moist. Nevertheless, when parts of it are struck against one another, or it is struck with a firestick, it sparks and produces a hot, dry fire, though the tree itself is moist and cool. Allah has power over all things. They will therefore be given drink from a boiling spring within the Fire, and this is in no way incompatible with the power of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.