37/38. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4320 — Hellfire Black Like Night
Description of Hell
Description of Hellfire Hadith: Black Like the Darkest Night
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4320
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4320
حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " أُوقِدَتِ النَّارُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ فَابْيَضَّتْ ثُمَّ أُوقِدَتْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ فَاحْمَرَّتْ ثُمَّ أُوقِدَتْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ فَاسْوَدَّتْ فَهِيَ سَوْدَاءُ كَاللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Hell-Fire was kindled for one thousand years and turned white. Then it was kindled for another thousand years and it turned red. Then it was kindled for another thousand years and it turned black. So it is black like the darkest night.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4320In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 221English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4320
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4320
This Hadith gives a description of Hellfire through stages of kindling. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says the Hell-Fire was kindled for one thousand years and turned white. Then it was kindled for another thousand years and turned red. Then it was kindled for another thousand years and turned black. The final description is that it is black like the darkest night. The core topic is the description of Hellfire. The Hadith does not mention who enters it or how long people remain in it; it focuses on the color and intensity described by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The message is a serious reminder of the Hereafter and the reality of punishment.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith describes Hellfire through three stages of kindling.
- Its final description is black like the darkest night.
- The narration is a direct warning about the reality and intensity of Hellfire.
