37/38. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4318 — Fire of Hell Compared
Description of Hell
Hellfire One-Seventieth Hadith: A Warning Through Worldly Fire
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4318
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4318
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَيَعْلَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، عَنْ نُفَيْعٍ أَبِي دَاوُدَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ نَارَكُمْ هَذِهِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَوْلاَ أَنَّهَا أُطْفِئَتْ بِالْمَاءِ مَرَّتَيْنِ مَا انْتَفَعْتُمْ بِهَا وَإِنَّهَا لَتَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لاَ يُعِيدَهَا فِيهَا " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “This fire of yours is one-seventieth part of the fire of Hell. Were it not that its heat has been reduced by water twice, you would not have been able to benefit from it. And it is praying to Allah, asking Allah not to return it (to its original level of heat).”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4318In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 219English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4318
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4318
This Hadith about Hellfire one-seventieth gives a strong warning using something people know: fire. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says that this fire of ours is one-seventieth part of the fire of Hell. He also says that if its heat had not been reduced by water twice, people would not have been able to benefit from it. The Hadith adds that this fire prays to Allah, asking not to be returned to its original level of heat. The text is about the description of Hellfire and the difference between worldly fire and the fire of Hell. It should lead a person to reflect, fear Allah, and remember that even useful worldly fire points to a greater reality.
What we learn from this hadith
- Worldly fire is described as one-seventieth part of Hellfire.
- The Hadith says its heat was reduced so people could benefit from it.
- The narration reminds us to take the reality of Hellfire seriously.
