The Seven Gates of Hell | Which Gate Will You Walk?

Jahannam, often referred to as Hell, is a place created by Allah to punish evildoers in the afterlife. The severity of punishment in Jahannam depends on the gravity of one’s sins. In Islamic belief, Jahannam is thought to have seven levels, similar to the seven levels of heaven. These levels are sometimes described as the gates to hell and are associated with various forms of punishment, both physical and spiritual.

Prophet Muhammad, who is highly respected by Muslims, is considered Allah’s chosen Messenger. It is believed that his followers, known as the Ummah, will eventually enter Jannah (paradise) after serving their punishments in Jahannam. In the afterlife, death doesn’t exist as we know it, and those in Jahannam, whether human or jinn, are reduced to ashes only to be restored to their original form to continue their punishment. This cycle continues until Allah grants them forgiveness.

Jahannam is thought to be an eternal, blazing inferno. The flames there burn intensely and appear black. It’s a place that serves as a stern warning to both humans and jinn, urging them to avoid sinful behavior. In this fiery realm, non-believers and those who engage in hurtful gossip face unending punishment, while for Muslims, the severity of punishment is determined by the sins they’ve committed.

Jahannam is like a stacked building with seven floors, each one meant for different kinds of sinners. The top floor, level one, is the least painful, while the deepest levels are the harshest. As you go down, it gets hotter, and the punishments get tougher. Each level is designed for specific types of sinners and their corresponding punishments. Let’s take a look at these levels.

1. Jahannam, or the first level of hell

This level of Hell is a place of punishment for Muslims who have sinned in the world. It is the least hot of all the levels of Hell and has the least painful punishments for the sinners. As the sinners enter through its gates, their faces will be burned and the fire will eat their flesh. However, Allah will renew their flesh every time they are burned. This is a reminder that even those who have sinned will be punished for their deeds, but they will also be given a chance to repent and be forgiven. 2. Ladah, the second gate to hell Ladah is a level of Hell that is below Jahannam. It is for people and Jinn who did not believe in Allah, rejected the Prophet’s messages and did not believe in them as the messengers of Allah. The main punishment in Ladah is that fire will eat away one’s organs one by one, both externally and internally. This means that the fire will burn the sinner’s body from the inside out, until their body is destroyed. This is a very painful punishment, and it is a reminder of the consequences of disbelieving in Allah and His Prophet. 3. Saqar, the third level of Jahannam It is a place of punishment for those who did not perform Salah (prayer), did not offer food to the poor, used to talk vainly, and refused to believe in the Day of Reward and Resurrection (Qayamat). In Saqar, the fire will eat away at the sinner’s flesh, but not their bones. This is a very painful punishment, and it is a reminder of the consequences of disobeying Allah’s commands. Here are the four reasons why people end up in Saqar:

• Not performing Salah
• Not feeding the poor
• Talking vainly
• Refusing to believe in Qayamat

4. Al-Hutamah, the fourth level of Hell Al-Hutamah is the fourth level of Hell, and it is situated below Saqar. It is a place of extreme punishment, where the fire will burn the sinners’ bodies to the bones and even their inner organs. The fire will start from their feet and work its way up to their heart. The punishment in Al-Hutamah is so severe that the sinners will cry to the point where their tear glands, blood, and even their bodies will dry out. Their tears will be so abundant that a ship could easily sail in a pool of their tears.

5. Jaheem, the fifth level of Hell Jaheem is the fifth level of Hell, and it is situated below Al-Hutamah. It is a place of immense punishment, where sinners are thrown for three reasons:

• Not believing in Allah correctly
• Not giving the rights of Allah’s creations
• Did not encourage feeding the poor.

The punishment in Jaheem is so severe that it is described as a huge piece of coal that is bigger than the lowest level of Hell. Sinners will be thrown into this coal and burned for their sins.

6. Saeer, the sixth level of Hell Saeer is the sixth level of Hell, and it is situated below Jaheem. It is a place of unimaginable and unbearable punishment. Saeer is divided into 300 castles, each with 300 huts, and each hut with 300 rooms. In each room, there are 300 different types of punishment. This means that there are a total of 27,000,000 different types of punishment in Saeer. In addition to the many different types of punishment, Saeer also has a pit of Agony, which is the most painful punishment in the whole of Hell.

7. Al-Hawwiyah, the seventh level of Hell Al-Hawwiyah is the lowest and most severe level of Hell. It is a place of pitch darkness and unbearable punishment. Backbiters and non-believers are punished here. The sinners in Al-Hawwiyah are crushed under mountains and their hands and necks are bound. They are beaten by the angels of Hell with their bare hands. The fire in Al-Hawwiyah is so hot that it embraces the sinner like a mother embraces her son. It is a reminder of the severity of Allah’s punishment for those who disobey His commands. It is also a reminder of the importance of repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. May Allah guide us on the straight path and protect us from Jahannam.