Paradise, the idea of burning is associated with Hell which is itself but the result of burning with passion in this life; and lastly, as the idea of a fruitful life is associated with Paradise, life in Hell is represented as an unfruitful life. All this is the result of man’s own deeds. Because he follows his low desires and baser passions, he makes himself fall into the depths; the burning caused by worldly desires and passions changes into a flaming fire after death; and since the only end in view is some sort of gain in this life, such deeds can bear no fruit after death. Just as the blessings of Paradise are a manifestation of the hidden realities of this life, so are the depths, the fire and unfruitfulness of the next, the Day of Resurrection being the day of the manifestation of the hidden realities37 when the veil shall be removed from the eyes of man so that he shall see clearly the consequences of the deeds of which he took no heed in this life.38 In other words the spiritual torments and mental pangs, that are generally felt almost imperceptibly in this life, assume a palpable shape in the life after death. The answer to the question, what is Hell? is unequivocally given as “Fire kindled by Allāh which rises over the hearts” (104:6, 7). Now the fire which consumes the hearts is that caused by inordinate passions. Regret for the evil done is also spoken of as fire: “Thus will Allāh show them their deeds to be intense regret to them, and they will not escape from the fire” (2:167). The low desires of this life (ahwā), that are so often a hindrance in man’s awakening to a higher life and nobler aims, become the abysmal depth (hāwiyah or jahannam), to which the evil-doer makes himself fall. Even so, in the Holy Qur’ān we are told: “So shun the filth of the idols and shun false words, being upright for Allāh, not associating aught with Him; and whoever associates (aught) with Allāh, it is as though he had fallen from on high” (22:30-31). And of the people whose exertions are all limited in this world’s life, it is said: “Those whose efforts go astray in this world’s life and they think that they are making good manufactures. Those are they who disbelieve in the messages of their Lord and meeting with Him, so their works are in vain. Nor shall We set up a balance for them on the Day of Resurrection. That is their reward — Hell” (18:104-106).
Though fire is so frequently mentioned as the consequence of evil, reasons for which will be given later on, yet there are a number of
37 86:9.
38 50:22.