other aspects of the evil consequences of evil deeds. For example, it is said: “For those who do good is good (reward) and more (than this). Neither blackness nor ignominy will cover their faces. These are the owners of the Garden; therein they will abide. And those who earned evil, the punishment of an evil is

the like thereof, and abasement will cover them — they will have none to protect them from Allāh — as if their faces had been covered with slices of the dense darkness of night. These are the companions of the fire; therein they will abide” (10:26, 27). Blackness of the face is again mentioned as the chastisement of Hell: “On the Day when some faces turn white and some faces turn black. Then as to those whose faces are black: Did you disbelieve after your belief? So taste the chastisement because you disbelieved” (3:106). So, too in the earlier revelation: “And faces on that day will have dust on them, darkness covering them. Those are the disbelievers, the wicked” (80:40-42).

Disgrace is mentioned as the chastisement of evil-doers in many other places: “Then on the Resurrection Day, He will bring them to disgrace … Surely disgrace this day and evil are upon the disbelievers” (16:27); “… that We might make them taste the chastisement of abasement in this world’s life. And the chastisement of the Hereafter is truly more abasing, and they will not be helped” (41:16). Again, those in Hell are sometimes spoken of as asking for water and sustenance from those in Paradise: “And the companions of the fire call out to the owners of the Garden: Pour on us some water or some of that which Allāh has provided for you” (7:50). The water they have is “boiling and intensely cold” (78:25). On other occasions, however, it is light that they cry for: “On the day when the hypocrites, men and women, will say to those who believe: Wait for us that we may borrow from your light. It will be said: Turn back and seek a light” (57:13).

Remedial nature of Hell

Hell, therefore, only represents the evil consequences of evil deeds, but still it is not a place merely for undergoing the consequences of what has been done; it is also a remedial plan. In other words, its chastisement is not for the purpose of torture but for purification; so