The Punishment of the People of Hell: The Intensity of the Suffering of the People of Hell

 

The Fire
is an intense punishment, in which there are different types of
torment, to escape which people would give the dearest possessions
that they own:

"As for those who reject Faith, and die rejecting -
never would be accepted from any such as much gold as the earth
contains, though they should offer it for ransom. For such is [in
store] a penalty grievous and they will find no helpers".
(3:91)

"As to those who reject faith - if they had everything
on earth and twice repeated, to give as ransom for the Penalty of
the Day of Judgement, it would never be accepted of them. Theirs
would be a grievous Penalty." (5:36)

Muslim reports from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of
Allah (saw) said: "One of the people of Hell who found the
most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the
Day of Resurrection, and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then
he will be asked: O son of Aadam, have you ever seen anything good?
Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?" He will say, "No, by Allah
(swt), O Rabb"" (Muslim, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh,
3/102).

Just a few short moments will make the kuffaar forget all
the good times and pleasure that they had enjoyed. al-Bukhaari and
Muslim report from Anas ibn Maalik that the Messenger of Allah
(saw) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will say to
one whose punishment in the Fire is the lightest, "If you had
whatever you wanted on earth, would you give it up to save
yourself?" He will say, "Yes". Allah (swt) will say, "I wanted less
than that from you: when you were still in the loins of Aadam, I
asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you
insisted on associating others in worship with Me"".
(al-Bukhaari, in Kitaab ar-Raqaaq, Baab Sifaat al-Jannah wan-Naar,
Fath al-Baari, 11/416, See also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh,
3/102)

The horror and intensity of the Fire will make a man lose
his mind, and he would give up everything he holds dear to escape
it, but he will never be able to:

"..the sinner's desire will be: would that he could
redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by [sacrificing] his
children, his wife and his brother, his kindred who sheltered him,
and all, all that is on earth, so that it could deliver him. By no
means! For it would be the Fire of Hell! Plucking out [his being]
right to the skull". (70:11-16)

This horrendous ongoing punishment will make the life of
these evildoers one of continual sorrow and pain.