and what can make you grasp the strength of the angels? Their strength is unlike that of human beings or the jinn; indeed, it is vastly greater. Thus, when a powerful jinn said to Solomon concerning the Queen of Sheba’s throne, ﴿I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and I am indeed strong and trustworthy for this. The one who possessed knowledge of the Scripture said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” Then he saw it set before him﴾ [al-Naml: 39, 40].
The scholars said that this was because the man supplicated Allah, whereupon the angels carried the throne from Yemen and brought it to Solomon in the Levant. The angels possess tremendous strength. They will draw this Fire by 70,000 reins, each rein drawn by 70,000 angels. It is therefore immense. When this Fire sees those who will inhabit it from afar, they will hear its raging and roaring. Its roar is unlike that of aircraft or machinery; it is a roar that makes hearts leap from their places. ﴿Every time a group is cast into it, its keepers will ask them, “Did no warner come to you?”﴾ [al-Mulk: 8]. Allah—Glorified and Exalted is He—also says: ﴿It almost bursts apart with fury.﴾ That is, it nearly tears itself apart because of its intense fury against its inhabitants.
Allah Most High has therefore warned us of it. These are three matters, each of which serves as a warning: the coming of the Lord—Glorified and Exalted is He—the ranks of the angels, and, third, the bringing forth of Hell. ﴿On that Day man will remember, but how will remembrance avail him?﴾ That is, when Allah comes on the Day of Resurrection, the angels come rank upon rank and surround creation, and the horrors and terrors occur, man will remember. He will remember that he had been promised this Day and had previously been informed of it through the messengers—peace and blessings be upon them—who warned people and made them fear it. Yet whoever has become deserving of the decree of punishment will not believe, even if every sign were to come to him.
He will remember then, but Allah—Glorified and Exalted is He—says: ﴿But how will remembrance avail him?﴾ How could remembrance benefit him on that Day, when he has seen with certainty what he had been told about? How can he then take heed? The opportunity has passed! Faith that comes only after seeing does not benefit, because everyone believes what they see. Beneficial faith is faith in the unseen: ﴿those who believe in the unseen﴾ [al-Baqarah: 3], and therefore believes in what