53/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2844a — Depth of Hellfire
About Hell - May Allah Protect Us From It
Hellfire Hadith About the Depth of Jahannam
Sahih Muslim : 2844a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2844a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، حَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي، حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ سَمِعَ وَجْبَةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَدْرُونَ مَا هَذَا " . قَالَ قُلْنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ . قَالَ " هَذَا حَجَرٌ رُمِيَ بِهِ فِي النَّارِ مُنْذُ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا فَهُوَ يَهْوِي فِي النَّارِ الآنَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى قَعْرِهَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
We were in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that we heard a terrible sound. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Do you know what (sound) is this? We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he said: That is a stone which was thrown seventy years before in Hell and it has been constantly slipping down and now it has reached its base.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2844aIn-book reference : Book 53, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 40, Hadith 6813
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2844a
This hadith about the depth of Hellfire describes a moment when Abu Huraira and others were with Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and heard a terrible sound. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked if they knew what it was. They replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He then explained that it was a stone thrown into Hell seventy years before, and it had kept falling until it reached the base of Hell at that moment. The core topic is the depth and seriousness of Jahannam. The hadith does not tell us to guess beyond the stated sound or the stated explanation. It simply gives a powerful sign through the Prophet's words: Hell is not a light matter, and the unseen punishment described in revelation deserves deep attention.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions heard a sound and asked no claim beyond what they knew.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained the sound as a stone reaching the base of Hell.
- The seventy-year fall points to the great depth of Jahannam.
- The hadith teaches a serious attitude toward the Hereafter.
