Part 7 (a): The First Supplication (Morning/Evening)-The Divine Protection

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“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell-fire , and from the punishment of the grave.”

Punishment of Hell-Fire

The punishment of hell-fire will last forever for those who rejected Allah as their Lord.

The intensity of the fire of Hell will be such that people will be willing to pay everything they own to escape it. They will eis that they have the capacity of earth in gold and that it will be accepted from them, so they can be saved from the punishment of hell.

Allah says:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.”  (Al Imran: 91)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: One of the people of Hell who found 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 Ada, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say, ‘ No by Allah, O Lord.” (Muslim)

• He was someone who lived a life of luxury and indulgence.
• He was affluent; he had a plentiful supply of material goods and money. He enjoyed a great wealth.
• This man will be just dipped one time into the fire of hell and then he will forget about all the pleasures of this dunya.

The Names of Hell-Fire

In our aqeedah, Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of mind or spiritual entity. Hell is the ultimate humiliation and loss, and nothing is worse than it.

Hell-fire has different names in the Qur’an and sunnah. Each name offers a separate description.

1. Al-Jaheem (fire), because of its blazing fire.
2. Jahannam (hell), because of the depth of its pit.
3. Lathaa , which means the blazing fire.
4. Sa’eer (blazing flame), because it is kindled and ignited.
5. Saqar, because of the intensity of its heat.
6. Al Hotamah, which means broken pieces or debris because it breaks and crushes everything that is thrown into it.
7. Al Haawiyah, which means abyss, because the one who is thrown into it is thrown from the top to bottom,

The Qur’an speaks of Hell in the past tense and stated that it has already been created. Allah says:

“And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers.” (Al Imran:131)

A Call for every Believer

Allah says:

“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.” (Al Tahrim: 6)

These are the keepers of Hell-fire and they are 19 angels as it is mentioned in surah Al Muddathir

“And We have not made the keepers of the Fire except angels. And We have not made their number except as a trial for those who disbelieve – that those who were given the Scripture will be convinced and those who have believed will increase in faith and those who were given the Scripture and the believers will not doubt and that those in whose hearts is hypocrisy and the disbelievers will say, “What does Allah intend by this as an example?” Thus does Allah leave astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him. And mention of the Fire is not but a reminder to humanity.”  (Al Muddathir: 31)

What do we know about the punishment of the grave?

Allah says: “The Fire, they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], “Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.” (Ghafir:46)

Ibn Katheer says, “that this ayah is the main evidence regarding their belief in the torment of Al Barzakh, or the punishment of the grave.”

Allah says: “And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], “Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.” (Al An’am:93)

The Sunnah confirms

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) commanded the believers to recite the following dua after tashahhud and before salam in our prayers

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ،

وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and from the punishment of Hell-fire, and from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah.” (Muslim)

Othamn bin Affan (RA) in front of the Grave

Othamn bin Affan (RA) used to cry and weep whenever he stands up before a grave, but when he is reminded of Paradise and Hell, he does not cry!

He was asked: When you remember Paradise and Hell, you do not cry, but when you stand up in front of a grave, you start crying. He said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying, “The grave is the first among the stages of Al Akhirah, if someone is saved from it, what comes after it will be easy to bear, but if one is not saved from it, then what comes after will be very difficult.”

Note: If we keep reciting this first supplication every morning and every evening, along with the other du’a before salam in every prayer, then it is hopefully expected that Allah will protect us with His mercy from the punishment of the grave.

The next Part 8: The Second Supplication (Morning/Evening) shall be published soon, Insha Allah…