advancement, in which man shall continue to rise to higher and higher places. Nor shall man ever grow weary in the attainment of these high stages of which even a conception cannot be now formed, for “therein toil touches us not nor does fatigue afflict us therein” (35:35); “Nor shall they be ejected from it” (15:48). The joys of Paradise are thus really the true joys of advancement.

Different names of Hell

Hell is described by seven different names in the Holy Qur’ān, and these are supposed by some to be the seven divisions of Hell. The most frequently occurring is Jahannam, which is, as it were, a proper name for Hell.32 Its meaning signifies a great depth. Another name for Hell which bears a similar significance, but which occurs only once in the Holy Qur’ān,33 is hāwiya, meaning an abyss or a deep place of which the bottom cannot be reached (LA.).34 Four names of Hell are taken from the analogy of fire, viz., jaḥīm, derived from jaḥum, signifying the burning or blazing of fire, but this word is applied to the fury of war as well as of fire, while tajaḥḥama, another measure from the same root, means he burned with vehemence of desire or covetousness and niggardliness, also he became strained in disposition (LL.); sa‘īr from sa‘r which means the kindling of fire and is metaphorically applied to the raging of war (R.);35 saqar from saqara which means the heat of the sun scorched a man (R.); lazā which means the flame of the fire, and in one form (talazza) is metaphorically used for “burning with anger” (LA). The seventh name ḥuṭamah, which occurs only twice in the same context, (104:4, 5), is derived from ḥaṭam which means the breaking of a thing, also breaking or rendering infirm or weak with age, while ḥuṭamah means a vehement fire, and ḥuṭmah sterility (LL.).36

Hell, a manifestation of spiritualities

It will be seen from the above that the different names of Hell convey three different ideas, the idea of falling down to a great depth, the idea of burning and the idea of being broken down. Thus as the idea of rising higher and higher is connected with Paradise, that of falling down to abysmal depth is essentially connected with Hell; and as the ideas of contentment and happiness are associated with