Abu Ayyub told that a nomadic Arab came to the Prophet and said, "Messenger of God, I am fond of horses. Are there any horses in paradise?" He replied, "If you are granted entrance into paradise, you will be brought a winged horse made of a ruby and will be mounted on it, then it will fly with you wherever you wish." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong, that Abu Saura its transmitter is declared to be a weak traditionist, and that he had heard Muhammad b. Isma'il, i.e., Bukhari say this Abu Saura's traditions were rejected, he being one who transmitted dis acknowledged traditions.

Buraida reported God's messenger as saying, "The inhabitants of paradise will be in a hundred and twenty rows, eighty of them from this people and forty from the rest of the peoples," Tirmidhi, Darimi and Baihaqi, in Kitab al-ba'th wan nushur, transmitted it.

Salim quoted his father (Abdullah bin Umar) who reported God's messenger as saying. 'The breadth of the gate by which my people will enter paradise will be a three years[*] journey for a fine rider, yet they will be so crushed that they will almost lose their shoulders." *The noun le not specified in the text. From the form of the numeral, it might be either nights or years. Mirqat 5, 207. expresses a preference for years, as that conveys better the idea of huge extent. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a weak tradition, and that when he asked Muhammad b. Ismail about this tradition he did not know it, adding that Yakhlud b.Abu Bakr transmitted dis acknowledged traditions.

'Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there is a market in which there is no buying or selling, but only the forms of men and women; and when a man desires a form, he enters it." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told that he met Abu Huraira who said, "I ask God to bring us together in the market of paradise." Sa'id asked if it contained a market and he replied that it did, for God's messenger had informed him that when the inhabitants of paradise enter it they will alight in it by virtue of their deeds. They will then be granted permission for the period of a Friday in this world and will visit their Lord whose throne will be shown to them, and He will appear to them in one of the gardens of paradise. Pulpits of light, pulpits of pearls, pulpits of rubies, pulpits of chrysoprase, pulpits of gold and pulpits of silver will be placed for them, and the humblest of them, for there is no one worthless among them, will sit on mounds of musk and camphor, not considering that those who are on the chairs are in a more excellent position than they. Abu Huraira told that he asked, "Messenger of God, shall we see our Lord?" to which he replied, "Yes, are you in doubt about seeing the sun and the moon on the night when it is full?" On receiving the reply that they were not, he said, "Similarly you will have no doubts about the vision of your Lord, and no man will remain in that assembly without God conversing with him, till he says to one of them, `So and so son of so and so, do you remember the day you said such and such?' and He will remind him of one of the dishonest things he did in the world. He will say, `0 my Lord, hast Thou not forgiven me?' and He will reply, `Yes; by the wideness of my forgiveness, you have reached this station of yours.' While that is taking place a cloud will overshadow them from above and rain on them perfume whose fragrance will be such as they have never experienced my thing to compare with, and our Lord will say, `Get up and go to the honour I have prepared for you, and take what you desire.' We shall then come to a market surrounded by angels containing such things as eyes have never seen, ears have never heard, and hearts have never thought of. What we desire will be conveyed to us, there being no buying or selling in it, and in that market the inhabitants of paradise will meet one another. A man of exalted station will come forward and meet one who is humbler than he, though there is no one worthless among them, who will be charmed by the clothing he sees him wearing, but before their talk comes to an end, he will imagine that he has something more beautiful than the other. That is because it is not fitting for anyone to ...

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "The lowliest of the inhabitants of paradise will be he who has eighty thousand servants, seventy-two wives, and for whom a round pavilion of pearls, chrysoprase and rubies as large as the distance between al-Jabiya[1] and San'a'[2] will be set up." By the same isnad he said, "Those who are to go to paradise who die whether young or old will come into paradise aged thirty and never grow older. The same applies to those who will go to hell." By the same isnad he said, "They will wear crowns the smallest pearl of which will illuminate the space between the east and the west." By the same isnad he said, "When a believer in paradise wishes a child, its conception, delivery and growth to full age will be accomplished in a moment as he wishes." Ishaq b. Ibrahim said regarding this tradition that when a believer in paradise wishes a child it will come in a moment, "But he will not wish one." To the NE of the Lake of Tiberias. Capital of the Yemen. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition. Ibn Majah transmitted the fourth part, and Darimi the last statement.

`Ali reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there is a meeting-place for the large-eyed maidens who will raise voices such as created beings have never heard and say, `We are the women who live forever and do not pass away, we are the women in affluent circumstances who will not be destitute, we are the women who are pleased and not displeased. Blessed are those who belong to us and to whom we belong!" Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hakim b. Mu'awiya reported God's messenger as saying, "In paradise there are a great river of water, a great river of honey, a great river of milk and a great river of wine; then the smaller rivers will be divided off." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from Mu'awiya. (Mirqat, 5, 301 says this is most probably Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan because Hakim's father is not known to have been a Companion of the Prophet.)

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "A man will recline in paradise on seventy pillows before he turns round. A woman will then come and strike him on the shoulder and he will see his face in her cheek clearer than a mirror. The smallest pearl she wears will illuminate the space between the east and the west. She will give him a salutation to which he will respond, and when he asks her who she is she will reply that she is some of the extra[*]. She will be wearing seventy garments through which his eye will pierce so that he will see the marrow of her leg through them, and she will be wearing crowns the smallest pearl of which will illuminate the space between the east and the west." *Quran, 1, 35. Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that one of the people of the desert was with the Prophet when he was telling that one of the inhabitants of paradise will ask his Lord's permission to cultivate crops, and He will reply, "Do you not have what you have wished for?" He will say, "Yes; but I should like to cultivate crops." He will then sow seed and in less than the twinkling of an eye it will appear, grow to maturity and be reaped, like mountains in magnitude. God most high will then say, "There you are, son of Adam, for nothing will satisfy you." Then the desert Arab said, "I swear by God that we shall find him belonging to Quraish or to the Ansar, for they are agriculturists; but as for us, we are not agriculturists." Thereupon God's messenger laughed. Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir told that when a man asked God's messenger whether the inhabitants of paradise would sleep, he replied, "Sleep is the brother of death, and the inhabitants of paradise do not die." Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Jarir b. 'Abdallah reported God's messenger as saying, "You will have ocular vision of your Lord." In a version he told that when they were sitting with God's messenger, he looked at the moon on the night when it was full and said, "You will see your Lord as you see this moon and have no doubts about seeing Him. If, therefore, you can keep from being prevented from prayer before the sun rises and before it sets, do so." He then recited, "Celebrate the praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting[*]." *Quran; 20:130 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Suhaib reported the Prophet as saying, "When the inhabitants of paradise enter it God most high will ask, `Do you wish me to give you anything more?' and they will reply, `Hast Thou not whitened our faces, hast Thou not brought us into paradise and saved us from hell?' The veil will then be removed, they will look at God's face, and will not have been given anything dearer to them than looking at their Lord." He then recited, "Those who do good will have the best reward and something more[*]." *Quran; 10:26 Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying. "The lowest in station among the inhabitants of paradise will be he who looks at his gardens, his wives, his bliss, his servants, and his couches stretching a thousand years' journey, and the one who will be most honoured by God will be he who looks at His face morning and evening." He then recited, "Faces on that day will be bright, looking at their Lord[*]." *Quran; 75:22 f. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Razin al-`Uqaili told that he asked, "Messenger of God, will each one of us see his Lord, being alone with Him, on the day of resurrection?" and received the reply, "Certainly." He asked, "What sign is there of that in His creation?" and received the reply, "Abu Razin, does each one of you not see the moon on the night when it is full, being alone with it?" When he agreed, he said, "It is only a part of God's creation, but God is more glorious and greater." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Dharr told that he asked God's messenger whether he had seen his Lord and received the reply, "He is Light; how can I see Him?" Muslim transmitted it.

Malik b. Anas was asked about the words of God most high, "Looking towards their Lord[1]," and told that some people said it referred to His reward. To this Malik replied, "They lie. How do they explain His words, `Nay, on that day they shall be veiled from their Lord'[2]?" Malik said men would look at their Lord with their eyes on the day of resurrection, adding, "If the believers were not to look at their Lord on the day of resurrection God would not have reproached the infidels with being veiled saying, `Nay, on that day they shall be veiled from their Lord'." Quran; 75:23 Quran; 83:15. This verse refers to unbelievers. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "While the inhabitants of paradise are in their bliss a light will shine out to them, and raising their heads they will see that their Lord has looked down on them from above. He will then say, `Peace be to you, inhabitants of paradise,' the proof of that being the words of God most high, `Peace, a word from a merciful Lord[*].' He will then look at them and they will look at Him, and they will not turn aside to any of their bliss as long as they are looking at Him till He veils Himself from them and His light remains." *Quran; 36:58 Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The fire you have is one-seventieth part of the fire of Jahannam." Someone suggested that if it were ordinary fire, it would be enough, but he replied, "It has sixty-nine parts in excess of fires in this world, each of them being equivalent to their heat." (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari's.) Muslim's version has "Your fire which the son of Adam kindles," and uses the feminine singular pronoun instead of the feminine plural. (This is a matter which makes no difference to the translation, but is purely connected with different forms of expression allowable in Arabic grammar.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, "Jahannam will be brought on that day having seventy thousand halters, each being pulled by seventy thousand angels." Muslim transmitted it.

An-Nu`man b. Bashir reported God's messenger as saying, "The inhabitant of hell who will have the lightest punishment will be he who has two sandals and two sandal-straps of fire from which his brain will bubble like a pot, and he will think that no one is having a more severe punishment than he, although he is having the lightest punishment." (Bukhari and Muslim;)

Ibn `Abbas reported God's messenger as saying, "The inhabitant of hell who will have the lightest punishment will be Abu Talib, and he will be wearing two sandals from which his brain will bubble." Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "The one among the inhabitants of hell who had the pleasantest life in the world will be brought on the day of resurrection and dipped once in hell. Then will be said, `Son of Adam, have you ever experienced any good? Has any pleasantness come your way?' to which he will reply, `No, my Lord, I swear by God.' Then the one among the inhabitants of paradise who had the most miserable life in the world will be brought and dipped once in paradise. Then will be said, `Son of Adam, have you ever experienced any misfortune? Has any distress come your way?' to which he will reply, `No, my Lord, I swear by God, no misfortune has ever come my way, and I have never experienced any distress'." Muslim transmitted it.

He quoted the Prophet as stating that on the day of resurrection God will say to the inhabitant of hell who has the lightest punishment, " If you had everything the earth contains would you seek to ransom yourself with it? " and when he replies that he would, He will say, "I desired less than that from you when you were in Adam's loins, viz. that you should associate nothing with Me[*], but you insisted on associating others with Me." *The reference here is to what is mentioned in Quran, 7:172, regarding the covenant with the descendants of Adam. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Samura b. Jundub reported the Prophet as saying, "There will be some to whose ankles the fire will reach, some to whose knees the fire will reach, some to whose waist the fire will reach, and some to whose collar-bone the fire will reach." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "The distance between the shoulders of an infidel in hell will be a three days' journey for a swift rider." A version says the molar tooth of an infidel will be like Uhud and the thickness of his skin a three nights' journey. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported the Prophet as saying, "The inhabitants of hell will become huge in hell so that the space between the lobe of the ear and the shoulder of one of them will be a journey of seven hundred years, the thickness of his skin will be seventy cubits, and his molar tooth will be like Uhud."

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "Hell was kindled for a thousand years till it became red, then it was kindled for a thousand years till it became white, then it was kindled for a thousand years till it became black, and it is black and dark." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "On the day of resurrection the molar tooth of an infidel will be like Uhud, his thigh like al-Baida'[1], and his abode in hell a three nights' journey like ar-Rabadha[2]." There are various places with this name. Mirqat, 5, 314, quotes the vague statement that it is a mountain. It is the name of an acclivity near Mecca leading to at-Tanim. Cf. Yaqut, Mu'jam, 1, 792 ff., for different explanations. A place not far from Madinah. There is another in Najd. Cf., Yaqut, Mu'jam, 2, 749. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "The thickness of an infidel's skin will be forty-two cubits, his molar tooth will be like Uhud, and his seat in Jahannam will be like the distance between Mecca and Medina." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "The infidel will drag his tongue a league and two leagues with people treading on it." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Sa`id reported God's messenger as saying, "The ascent[*] is a mountain in hell up which people will be made to climb for seventy years and down which they will be made to fall a like distance, and so on forever." *Quran; 74:17. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet as saying about God's words, "Like molten copper[*]," that it is like the sediment of olive-oil, and that when it approaches one's face the skin of one's face will fall into it." *Quran; 18:29; 44:45; 70:8 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, "The hot water[1] will be poured over their heads and the hot water will penetrate till it comes inside a man. It will scour what is inside him till it comes out at his feet; and that is the melting[2]. He will then be restored as he was[3]." Quran; 22:19 Quran; 22:20 Quran; 4:56 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying about God's words, "He will be given to drink some liquid pus which he will gulp[1]," that it will come near his mouth and he will dislike it, then when it is brought near him it will scald his face and the skin of his head will fall away. Then when he drinks it, it will cut his entrails to pieces till it comes out at his posterior. God most high says, "They will be given to drink a boiling liquid and it will cut their entrails to pieces[2]." He also says, "And if they ask for help, they will be helped with a liquid like molten copper which will scald their faces. How evil a drink it is[3]!" Quran; 14:16 f. Quran; 47:15 Quran; 18:29 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported the Prophet as saying, "The awnings of hell have four thick walls, each wall a distance of forty years." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He reported God's messenger as saying, "If a bucket of the pus of the inhabitants of hell were poured into the world, the people in the world would have an offensive stench." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Abbas told that God's messenger recited this verse, "Fear God as He ought to be feared, and die only as Muslims[1]," after which he said, "If a drop of az-Zaqqum[2] were to fall on this world it would corrupt the people's means of livelihood, so what about those whose food it is?" Quran; 3:102 A tree growing in the bottom of hell. Cf. Quran; 37:62, 44:43; also 17:60. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet as saying regarding "And they in it will be showing their teeth[*]," that the fire will roast a person and his upper lip will retract till it reaches the middle of his head, and his lower lip will hang down till it strikes his navel." *Quran; 23:104 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas reported the Prophet as saying, "O people, weep, but if you are unable to do so, then pretend to weep, for the inhabitants of hell will weep in hell till their tears flow on their faces as though they were streams, and when the tears stop blood will flow and the eyes will be made sore. If ships were blown along in them, they could sail." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Abud Darda' reported God's messenger as saying, "Hunger will be cast upon the inhabitants of hell and will be equal to the punishment they are experiencing. They will cry for help and will be helped with food of dari' [1] which neither fattens nor satisfies hunger. They will then call for food and will be fed with food which chokes[2]. So, remembering that they helped down choking food with drink when they were in the world they will ask for drink and the scalding drink[3] will be presented to them on iron flesh-hooks. When they approach their faces they will scorch their faces, and when they enter their bellies, they will cut in pieces the contents of their bellies. They will then ask the guards of Jahannam to be called and they will say, `Did your messengers not bring you the clear signs?' and when they reply, `Yes,' they will say, `Then make supplication, but the supplication of the infidels is only in error[4].' They will then ask Malik to be called and will say, `0 Malik, would that your Lord might put an end to us!' He will reply to them, `You are remaining'[5] (al-A`mash[6] saying he had been informed that the period between their appeal and Malik's reply to them would be a thousand years). They will then say, `Call your Lord, for no one is better than your Lord,' and they will say, `0 our Lord, our adversity was too much for us and we were a people who were astray. 0 our Lord, bring us out of it; then if we return to evil, we shall indeed be wrongdoers.' He will then answer them, `Retreat into it in shame and do not speak to Me[7].' They will then despair of all good and will begin to sigh, grieve and bemoan themselves." `Abdallah b. `Abd ar-Rahman[8] said that people do not trace this tradition back to the Prophet. 1. Cf. Qur'an, 88:6. The name of a thorny plant which animals avoid. It is used in the Qur'an of some substance which, as Taj al-'arus says, is more bitter than aloes, more offensive than a corpse, and hotter than fire. 2. Cf. Qur'an, 73:13. 3. Cf. Qur'an, 22:19 f. 4. Qur'an, 40:50. 5. Qur'an, 43:77. Malik is the angel in charge of hell. 6. One of the transmitters of the tradition. 7. Qur'an, 23:106 ff. 8. i.e., Darimi, whose Musnad is frequently quoted. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I heard God's messenger say, "I have warned you of hell, I have warned you of hell," and he kept on saying it so loudly that if he had been where I am just now the people in the street would be able to hear it. He went on till a cloak he was wearing fell down at his feet. Darimi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr b. al-`As told that God's messenger pointed to something like a bowl and said, "If a piece of lead like this were sent from heaven to earth, which is a journey of five hundred years, it would reach the earth before night; and if it were sent from the top of the chain[*] it would travel forty years night and day before reaching its foot (or, its bottom)." *Quran; 69:32 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Burda told on his father's authority that the Prophet said, "In jahannam there is a wadi called Habhab which every oppressor will inhabit." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Al-Hasan said Abu Huraira told him that God's messenger said, "The sun and the moon are two oxen which will be cast away into hell on the day of resurrection." Al-Hasan asked what sin they had committed, and on receiving the reply, "I am telling you on the authority of God's messenger," al-Hasan said no more. Baihaqi transmitted it in Kitab al-ba'th wan nushur.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Only he who is miserable will enter hell." He was asked to whom that referred and replied, "He who has not done an act of obedience for God's sake, or left an act of disobedience undone." Ibn Majah transmitted it

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Paradise and hell had a dispute and hell said, `I have been distinguished by the proud and mighty ones.' Paradise said, `What is the matter with me that only weak, lowly and inexperienced people enter me?' God then said to paradise, `You are only my mercy by whom I show mercy to those of my servants whom I wish;' and He said to hell, `You are only my punishment by whom I punish those of my servants whom I wish. Both of you will be full.' Hell will not be filled till God puts down His foot. `It will say, `Enough, enough, enough,' and at that time it will be full with all its parts collected together, and God will not wrong any of His creatures. For paradise God will create people." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported the Prophet as saying, "Hell will continue to have people thrown into it and ask if there are any more[*] till the Lord of might puts down His foot on it and its parts are collected together. It will then say, `Enough, enough, by Thy might and generosity.' In paradise there will continue to be more room till God creates people for it and causes them to dwell in the extra space in paradise." *Quran; 1:30 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "It is not fitting for a man to say I am better than Jonah son of Matta." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari he said, "Whoever says I am better than Jonah son of Matta has lied." Bukhari

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as telling that when God created paradise, He said to Gabriel, "Go and look at it." He went and looked at it and at what God had prepared in it for its inhabitants, then came and said, "0 my Lord, by Thy might, no one who hears of it will fail to enter it. He then surrounded it with disagreeable things and said, "Go and look at it, Gabriel." He went and looked at it, then came and said, "0 my Lord, by Thy might, I am afraid that no one will enter it." When God created hell He said, "Go and look at it, Gabriel." He went and looked at it, then came and said, "O my Lord, by Thy might, no one who hears of it will enter it." He then surrounded it with desirable things and said, "Go and look at it, Gabriel." He went and looked at it, then said, "0 my Lord, by Thy might, I am afraid that no one will remain who does not enter it." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.