What do we mean by the gates of Hell?

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Introduction The gates of Hell and its stages

The first verse speaks about the followers who have been discussed in the earlier verses. It says:

“Verily! Hell is the promised abode for all of them. It has seven gates and a class of sinners is assigned to each gate.”

What does the term “gates of Hell” mean? The commentators have given various interpretations about it.

The first is that it speaks about the entrance into Hell and they all open at the same venue just like the many doors in the buildings of this world. Actually it speaks about the multitude that will enter this center of God’s punishments but this seems far fetched we see the literal meanings of the verses.

Secondly, it speaks about the many tiers or stations of Hell which are different to each other in the terms of punishments that they contain. So each gate opens into a different level, tier or station. The explanations given by the Ahlul Bait and the Sunni Ulema confirm this.

Durre Manshur quotes Imam Ali:

“Do you know the des c r i p tion of the gates of Hell?” We answered, “Like these gates” He said, “No. they are like this” and he kept one hand on top of the other and then removed it.

(This tells us that they are one on top of the other in different tiers) (1)

He is quoted to have said in another hadith:

“There are seven gates of Hell each on top of another.” (2)

In another hadith after confirm the above statement he named them as:

“ The lowest is Jahannam, above it is “Lazza” over which is “Hutama” and above it is “Saqar”, which is topped by “Jahiim” above which is “Saeer”, then is “Haawiya” and above all Jahannam” (3)

Thirdly these gates will be because of the different nations who will enter from them. Tafsir Ruhul Ma’ani gives some details as follows:

The first gate is for the monotheist Muslims, the second is for the Jews, the third is for the Christians, the fourth is for the star worshippers, the fifth is for the Zoroastrians, the sixth is for the polytheists and the last is for the hypocrites.(4)

Fourthly these gates represent the deeds and sins that cause a person to enter Hell. This is clearly understood by the des c r i p tion of the gates given above. One of the gates of Paradise is termed as “Jihad” or that a gate is named “Baab-ol-Mujahideen” the gate of the Mujahids. (5) In another hadith the gates have been described as “Sabr” and “Shukr” for perseverance and thankfulness.

Then there are those hadiths that tells us about the gate through which will enter, the Pharaoh, Haaman, Qaruun, and another through which will enter the polytheists and from some others will enter the enemies of the holy Messenger and the enemies of the Ahlul Bait. (6)

This is also a proof of the different sins being connected to the different gates of Hell.

The last three interpretations can be merged together because each level of Hell will be more painful and terrifying than the other and the sinners will be greater comparatively so will their deeds be worse than those of the others relatively.

So the interpretations can be merged because they say the same thing. Just as the deeds of the sinners and the disbelievers are different so will be their stations, their gates of entry and their punishments.

The disbelievers are addressed in the second verse for they have been unjust to themselves by adopting the wrong path. It is said:

“So enter the gates of Hell to live in it. Evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant.”

The point to note that the verse speaks of the “gates of Hell” in plural when every group will enter from a separate gate and through many gates (Reflect)

It may be because the verse addresses a numerous amount of people and when any one group wants to enter a place with many gates it will do so through one only. Collectively they will enter through many gates or each group through a separate gate. It may also be said that the verse is addressed to the sinners of the lowest depth of Hell who will have to go through different stages and different gates to reach it.

Anyway, only the gates of Hell have been discussed in this verse but nothing is mentioned about their numbers. In other words Hell is like a terrifying prison with many barracks interlinked so that to enter one a person will have to cross the others. Those who are the greatest sinners consigned to the lowest depth will have to go through many levels and gates to reach it.

The third verse say that Hell will know about their arrival and the gates will open once they reach there. This scene will terrify them more and the same des c r i p tion has been given for the dwellers of Paradise but who will be very happy to see the gates of paradise ajar for them. We once again find the discussion about the gates of hell though their numbers have not been mentioned. Here once more the verse speaks about the opening of the gates and each group will enter from one and this may be due to the reason already cited above.

The fourth verse does not discuss the gates but only the lowest level of Hell which tells us that there are various levels in it.

“The hypocrites will have the lowest level of Hell and you will find no helpers for them” says the verse.

The ladder or path that took you up is called “Darja” in Arabic and the stair that lead you down to the basement etc are called “Darka’ and it is derived from the word “Darak” which means to reach something. So the rope that takes a person down into the well is called “Darak” or to the lowest level of the oceans, rivers or seas. Here the word “Darak” is connected to “Asfal” the lowest level to enhance the meaning.

This is the only verse that speaks about the level of Hell and the verses that mention the various gates can be merged with it and the result will be the same as was derived from the previous verses. The gates of Hell are not on the same horizontal level but vertically one on top of another.

Fakhr Razi first explains Darak as reaching the farthest or the lowest point and then says: “ This Verse of the Qura’n tells us that there are certain levels in Hell and the most painful is the lowest one.(7)

The notable point is that the lowest depth has been linked with the hypocrites and this tells us that hypocrisy is the worst sin that leads to the lowest level of Hell. The proof is evident and that is the danger that is evident from the hypocrites to the Islamic society is far greater than the dangers posed by the disbelievers and other enemies though they express their opposition in no hidden terms.

There is a hadith about the wayward Ulema:

“There are some among the Ulema who want to secret or hoard their knowledge so that no one can gain from it. They will be in the lowest level of the fire.” (8)

As we have said some verses also tells that each gate of Hell is assigned to a particular group e.g. The Pharaoh, Haaman, Qaruun etc will enter from a particular gate, the Banu Ommaiyya from another and the polytheists from yet another etc. (9)

It should be noted that the entries of these people in this way will be according to their beliefs and deeds and those who followed them or still follow their teachings will enter with them through those gates. The link between the gates of hell and the beliefs and deeds of people is now clear to us.

 


 

1. Tafsir Durre Manshur vol.4 page 99
2. Tafsir Nurus Saqlain vol.3 page 18 hadith 62
3. Tafsir Nurus Saqlain vol.3 page 19 hadith 64
4. Tafsir Ruhul Ma’ani vol. 14 page 48; Tafsir Qartabi vol. vol.5 page 3646
5. Usul Kafi vol.5 page 2 hadith 2
6. Behar-ol-Anwar vol.8 page 285 hadith 11
7. Tafsir Kabeer vol. 11 page 87
8. Behar-ol-Anwar vol.8 page 31 hadith 76
9. Behar-ol-Anwar vol.8 page 285 hadith 11.

 

Introduction The gates of Hell and its stages
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