Definition of “Jahannam”: Jahannam is what Hell-Fire called in Islam, described in the Quran as an afterlife punishment and unhappiness. Wrongdoers and unbelievers will be punished with eternal fire and pain.
Jahannam is derived from the Arabic word, which has several meanings, including “darkness” and “a stern look,” “thunder cloud”. Therefore, Jahannam is a place that is scary, dark and unfriendly.
The Qur’an describes Jahannama using vivid images as a warning to those who do not believe in God (Allah). It is described strictly as a blazing fire, fueled by “men and stones”, with boiling water for drinking and poisonous food that settles in the stomach, like molten lead. People will ask for more time, return to earth and live again so that they can correct themselves and believe in the truth about the afterlife. Allah says in the Qur’an that it will be too late for such people.
“And for those who disbelieve in their Lord (Allâh) is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination. When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath as it blazes forth. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: “Did no warner come to you?”(Quran 67: 6-8).
“Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom themselves thereby from the torment on the Day of Resurrection, it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be a painful torment. ”(Quran 5: 36-37).
Islam teaches that unbelievers will spend eternity in Jahannam, while believers who have made mistakes in their lives will “taste” from punishment, but ultimately will be forgiven by Allah the Merciful. People are judged only by Allah, and they will know their fate on the day known as Yawm Al-Qiyamah (Day of Reckoning).
Pronunciation
jah-heh-nam
Also known as
Hell, hell fire
Alternative spellings
Jehennam
Examples
The Qur’an teaches that unbelievers will be eternally punished by God in Jahanam.
