the punishment.’ (49) The keepers of Hell will ask them, ‘Did not your messengers come to you with clear proofs?’ They will answer, ‘Indeed they did.’ The keepers will say, ‘Then supplicate—yet the supplication of the disbelievers is only in vain.’” (Q 40:49–50)

The Exalted also says: “But the most wretched will keep away from it, (11) he who will roast in the Great Fire, (12) where he will neither die therein nor live.” (Q 87:11–13)

It has already been authentically reported: “As for the people of the Fire who truly belong to it, they will neither die there nor live.” (1)

And in the previously cited ḥadīth about slaughtering death between Paradise and Hell, a herald will proclaim: “O people of Paradise—eternity and no death! O people of the Fire—eternity and no death!” (2)

How could anyone sleep while undergoing an unbroken torment that is never relaxed (3) for a single hour—indeed, not even for a moment? Rather, whenever their fire subsides (4) Allah only intensifies its blaze. He, Most High, says: “Whenever they wish to escape from it out of anguish, they will be driven back into it: ‘Taste the punishment of the burning!’” (Q 22:22)

Imām Aḥmad reported: Ibrāhīm related to us; Ibn al-Mubārak related to us, from Saʿīd ibn Yazīd, from Abū al-Samḥ, from Ibn Ḥujayrah, from Abū Hurayrah, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said:

“Scalding water will be poured over their heads until it pierces the skull, then flows down into the body, stripping away (5) what is inside until it passes out (6) through their feet.” (7)

Al-Tirmidhī and al-Ṭabarānī—this being the wording of the latter—also transmitted, through the chain of Quṭbah ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, from al-Aʿmash, from Shimr ibn ʿAṭiyyah, from Shahr ibn Ḥawshab, from Umm al-Dardāʾ, from Abū al-Dardāʾ, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared:

“Hunger will be hurled upon the inhabitants of the Fire, matching the torment they are already suffering. They will plead for food, whereupon they will be given a food that catches in the throat. Remembering that in the world they used to wash such food down with drink, they will beg for drink. Then they will be presented with boiling water in vessels of Fire; when it is brought near their faces it will sear them, and when it reaches their bellies it will shred their intestines and everything inside them. In their anguish they will cry out, and it will be said to them: ‘Did not your messengers come to you with clear proofs?’ They will reply, ‘Indeed they did.’ They will be told, ‘Then supplicate, but the supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but misguided.’” (Q 40:50)

They will then say, ‘Pray for us to Mālik,’ and they will call out, ‘O Mālik, let your Lord finish us off!’ He will answer, ‘You are to remain…’” (Q 43:77)

Next they will say, ‘Our Lord, misery overwhelmed us and we were a people astray.’” (Q 23:106) It will be said to them, ‘Be despised therein, and do not speak to Me.’” (Q 23:108)

Al-Tirmidhī also narrated this ḥadīth.