Thread by @aaolomi

In Islam, heaven and hell are part of the Muslim's akhirah or afterlife. The conception of paradise and hell mirror some of the traditions found in Christianity and Judaism, but are also distinct.

A thread on heaven and hell in Islam -1/19

Both heaven and hell are alluded to in the Qur'an, but in vague terms. Heaven is gardens and water, hell is fire and bitterness. Most of the descriptions and conceptions of both are found outside the Qur'an in the hadiths, interpretations, and exegesis. -2/19

Hell or jahannam is described as a place of regret, bitterness, & of chastisement. It is minded over by a Lord of Fire, the angel Malik the Unsmiling

A fierce angel, he the guardian of Hell. He's both at its gate and sitting upon a high throne in the center -3/19

It is said the denizens of hell will cry out for mercy saying, "Malik let your Lord be finished with us." Upon which the unmoved Malik will respond, "you shall linger" (Q43:77). -4/19

Hell is also said to contain a tree, Zaqqum. A terrifying plant whose fruits are devil's heads and whose nourishment is bitter oils.

Hell is minded by Malik's attending angels, the Zabaniyya. They are infernal angels who are reputed to number either 19 or are countless -5/19

But the most interesting description of Hell is as beast. A monster that on the Day of Judgement will appear with gaping maw, chained by 70,000 chains each held with 70,000 hellish angels known as the Khazana

Hell will salivate and groan in eagerness to consume the wicked-6/19

So eager will the Hell beast be that at one point it will tear away from the chains holding it back and rush forth only to be stopped by Muhammad who will rebuke it. Chastened it will withdraw to the left side of the Throne of God. -7/19

Normally, Hell is described as having levels, with each assigned a particular type of sinner or wicked. These depictions are myriad and debated.

Heaven is similarly described as having levels. -8/19

There are said to be seven heavens which some say literally means seven and others interpret as simply "many."

Like Hell, Heaven or Jannah is alluded in vague terms, but extra-Quranic sources details each of the seven heavens. -9/19

The first Heaven is said to be fashioned of cool waters.
The second of pearls
The third of dazzling gems and metals, where the angel of death, Azrail resides.
The fourth is made of brass
The fifth of silver
The sixth of gold
and the seventh of light -10/19

Each of the heavens is organized as gardens and courts with prophets and mighty angels residing within. The seventh is said to have a mighty tree, a mirror of Zaqqum in Hell.

The heavenly tree is Shajarat al-Kholoud, a lote tree. -11/19

Like Hell, Heaven has a guardian, the angel Ridwan. It is said there are eight gates minded over by angels and that each heaven is composed of a multitude of degrees.

Similarly, the counterpart of the terrifying Zabaniyya are the Houri-12/19

Mistranslated by some as the 72 virgins, the Houri are actually not distinguished by any one gender, but rather are pure companions to the denizens of paradise.

In all the depictions of Heaven, running waters and coolness are the most common attributes. -13/19

Some say there are four running rivers sourced from Rahma and Al Kawthar, Mercy and Abundance.

This concept of mercy is reflected further in the idea that eventually even the people of Hell, after doing their time, will be permitted to enter Heaven -14/19

Both Heaven & Hell reflect the nature of Late Antique religion--the idea of the hell beast for example is found elsewhere as are the depictions of Heaven

They also reflect the anxieties and aspirations of the interpreters and there are some very clear gendered depictions -15/19

It is also true that some will interpret Heaven and Hell as more figurative. Despite sumptuous descriptions, they are allegorical. Sufi's in particular will hold to an understanding of heaven and hell that reflect proximity and distance to God's Oneness. -16/19

Indeed, one can see the theme of loneliness, regret, and hyper-individualization in Hell while communalness and togetherness in Heaven.

Still further Heaven and Hell are eschewed for oneness with God. -17/19

In an apocryphal account, the mystic Rabia is said to have claimed, "If I worship God for fear of Hell cast me into the flames, if I worship God for desire of Heaven deny me entry, but if I worship God for love of Him, do not deny me Your Face." -18/19

I'll expand further on Islamic eschatology, the end of times, and other themes in future threads-fin