Hell has both kinds of punishment: the severest heat and the severest cold

⦁ Hell has both kinds of punishment: the severest heat and the severest cold

and the severest cold All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger. Maybe our questioner means to ask if there is a punishment of cold in Hell as that of heat. There is no doubt that torture in Hell is of different kinds and grades as the scholars of Tafseer pointed out regarding the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait. For the transgressors, a place of return.} [Quran 78:21-22]
Consequently, it is legally and reasonably possible that there will be different kinds of punishments such as that of intense cold.
It was narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Hell complained to its Lord saying, ‘O Lord! My parts are eating (destroying) one another.’ So Allah Allowed it to take two breaths, one in winter and the other in summer. The breath in summer is at the time when you feel the severest heat and the breath in winter is at the time when you feel the severest cold.”
Accordingly, Hell has the severest cold as it has the severest heat. May Allah The Almighty Guard us against it. Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar in Al-Fat-h said, “The Zamhareer is the severest cold.” Some people disagree that it is in Hell. In fact, there is no reason for this disagreement for the term ‘Hell’ is a general term for a specific location that has different kinds of punishment including that of the severest cold.
In conclusion, Hell has the punishment of the severest cold as it has the punishment of the severest heat. May Allah The Almighty Guard us against it. Allah Knows best.

CONCEPT OF HELL

Qur’an

“Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers.” (Qur’an 3:192)
“Know they not that whoever opposes God and His Messenger (Muhammad), certainly for him will be the Fire of Hell to abide therein? That is the extreme disgrace.” (Qur’an 9:63)

Hadith

Narrated Ibn `Umar(R):The Prophet; said, "The people of Paradise will enter Paradise, and the people of the (Hell) Fire will enter the (Hell) Fire: then a call-maker will get up (and make an announcement) among them, 'O the people of the (Hell) Fire! No death anymore ! And O people of Paradise! No death (anymore) but Eternity." Sahih al-Bukhari 6544 (Vol.8:552)
Narrated Rafi` bin Khadij: I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saying, "Fever is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so cool it with water." Sahih al-Bukhari 3262 (Vol.4:484)
Narrated Abu Huraira(R):Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire." Someone asked, "O Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers)," Allah's Apostle said, "The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire." Sahih al-Bukhari 3265 (Vol.4:487)
Narrated Anas(R): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "Some people who will be scorched by Hell (Fire) as a punishment for sins they have committed, and then Allah will admit them into Paradise by the grant of His Mercy. These people will be called, 'Al-JahannamiyyLin' (the people of Hell). Sahih al-Bukhari 7450 (Vol.9:542)

The Names of Hell

Hell Fire has different names in Islamic texts. Each name gives a separate description. Ibn Abi Hatim from Ibn Abbas(R) said, It has 7 gates.

Some of its names are

Jahannam- Hell - because of the depth of its pit.

Sa’eer- blazing flame - because it is kindled and ignited.

Ladthaa- blazing fire - because of its flames.

Hatamah- broken pieces or debris - because it breaks and crushes everything that is thrown into it.

Saqar- because of the intensity of its heat.

Jaheem– fire - because of its blazing fire.

JHawiyah- chasm or abyss - because the one who is thrown into it is thrown from top to bottom

Paradise and Hell Presently Exist and are Eternal

Hell exists at the present time and will continue to exist forever. It will never die down, and its inhabitants will remain in it forever. No one will come out of Hell except sinful believers who believed in the Oneness of God in this life and believed in the specific prophet sent to them (before the coming of Muhammad). The polytheists and unbelievers will reside in it forever. This belief has been held from classical times and is based on clear aayaat of the Qur’an and confirmed reports from the Prophet of Islam. The Qur’an speaks of Hell in the past tense and states that it has already been created: “And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers.” Qur’an 3:131
The Prophet said: “When any of you dies, he is shown his position (in the Hereafter) morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise, he is shown the place of the people of Paradise. If he is one of the people of Hell, he is shown the place of people of Hell. He is told, ‘this is your position, until God resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.” Sahih Al-Bukhari 3240, Saheeh Muslim 2866
In another report, the Prophet said: “Surely, the soul of a believer is a bird hanging on the trees of Paradise, until God returns it to his body on the Day of Resurrection.” Classed as sahih by sheikh Alani in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1641
These texts make it clear that Hell and Paradise exist, and that souls may enter them before the Day of Resurrection. Speaking of Hell’s eternity, God says: “They will wish to get out of the Fire, but never are they to emerge therefrom, and for them is an enduring punishment.” (Qur’an 5:37)
“…And they will never leave of the Fire.” (Qur’an 2:167)
“Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever.” (Qur’an 4:168-169)
“Surely, God has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide forever.” (Qur’an 33:64)
“And whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.” (Qur’an 72:23)

The Keepers of Hell

Mighty and stern angels stand over Hell who never disobey God. They do precisely as ordered. Allah says:
“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are (appointed) angels, stern and severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands they receive from God, but do (precisely what) they are commanded.” (Qur’an 66:6)

They are nineteen keepers of Hell as Allah says:
“Soon I will cast him into Hell Fire. And what will explain to you what is Hellfire? Nothing does it allow to endure, and nothing does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of man! Over it are nineteen (angels as keepers of Hell).” (Qur’an 74:26-30)

One should not think that the inhabitants of Hell will be able to overcome the keepers of Hell because there are just nineteen of them. Everyone of them has the strength to subdue all humanity by himself. These angels are called the Guards of Hell by God in the Qur’an: “And those in the Fire will say to the Guards of Hell, ‘Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!’” (Qur’an 40:49)

The name of the chief angel guarding over Hell is Malik, as mentioned in the Qur’an: “Surely, the disbelievers will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever. (The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein. We wronged them not, but they were the wrongdoers. And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He will say: ‘Surely, you shall abide forever.’ Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Qur’an 43:74-78)

Its Location

There is no exact mention from the Qur’an or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad(S) which pinpoint the location of Hell. No one knows its exact place except Allah.

Its Size

Hell is huge and immensely deep. First, innumerable people will enter Hell, each, as described in a hadith, with the molar teeth as large as Uhud (a mountain in Medina) Jami at Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Book 13, Hadith 2579 The distance between the shoulders of its inhabitants has also been described as being equivalent to three days of walking Hell will house all the unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and there will still be room for more. God says: “On the Day when We will say to Hell: ‘Are you filled?’ It will say, ‘Are there any more (to come)?’” (Qur’an 50:30)
The Fire of Hell is likened to a mill that grinds thousands and thousands of tons of grain and then waits for more to come. Second, a stone thrown from the top of Hell will take a very long time to reach the bottom. One of the companions of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, describes how they were sitting with the Prophet and heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed their lack of knowledge, he said: “That was a stone thrown into Hell seventy years ago and it is yet in the way (the other side) of Hell until now.”Sahih Muslim 2844
Haakim reports from Abu Hurayrah, and Tabaraani from Mu'aadh and Abu Umamah (ra) that the Prophet (Saw) said, "If there was a huge stone as big as seven khalifaat stones, and it was thrown from the edge of Hell it would fly through it for seventy years before it reached the bottom". (Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 5/58, no. 5124, Its isnaad is saheeh).
Third, a great many angels will bring Hell on the Day of Resurrection. God speaks of it:“And Hell will be brought near that Day…” (Qur’an 89:23)
The Prophet said: “Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels.” Sahih Muslim 2842
Fourth, another report that indicates the vast size of Hell is that the sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell on the Day of Resurrection. Sheikh Nasir ud-Deen al-Albaani narrated this hadith in Silsilah al-ahaadeeth as-Saheehah, 1/32, hadith no:124)

Its Levels

Hell has various levels of heat and punishment, each is reserved according to the extent of their disbelief and sins of those being punished. God says: “Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.” (Qur’an 4:145)
The lower the level of Hell, the greater is the intensity of heat. Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, so will they be in the lowest part of Hell.
God refers to the levels of Hell in the Qur’an: “For all will be (ranked) by degrees according to what they did.” (Qur’an 6:132)
“Is one who seeks the good pleasure of God then like the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His abode is Hell – and worst, indeed, is that destination! They are in varying grades with God, and God is All-Seer of what they do.” (Qur’an 3:162-163)

The Gates of Hell

God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in the Qur’an: “And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class of sinners assigned.” (Qur’an 15:43-44)
Each gate has an allotted share of the damned who will enter through it. Each will enter according to his deeds and assigned a level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought to Hell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it forever:
“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say, ‘Yes, but the word (meaning the decree) of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’” (Qur’an 39:71)
They will be told after admission: “Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein, and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.” (Qur’an 39:72)
The gates will be shut and there will be no hope of escape as God says: “But those who reject Our signs, they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (meaning the gates will be locked).” (Qur’an 90:19-20)
Ibn 'Abbas said, "vaulted" (literally: "shut over them") means that the gates will be locked". al-Mujaahid pointed out that the word used (mu'sadah) is the word used in the dialect of Quraysh to mean "locked" or shut" (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 7/298)
Furthermore, Allah says in the Qur’an: “Woe to every scorner and mocker, who collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, Which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed down upon them in extended columns.” (Qur’an 104:1-9)
Allah (swt) states that the gates of Hell will be locked behind them. Ibn Abbas said, "In columns outstretched" means that the gates will be stretched out". 'Atiyah said, "It is a pillar of iron". Muqaatil said, "The gates will be closed firmly behind them and locked with a bolt of iron, so that the pain and heat will be intensified. The expression "stretched forth" applies to the "pillar", meaning that the bolts with which the gates are locked will be very long, because a long bolt is stronger than a short one" (Ibn Rajab, at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.61)

Its Fuel

Stones and stubborn unbelievers make the fuel of Hell as God says: “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones...” (Qur’an 66:6)
“…then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.” (Qur’an 2:24)
What is meant by the people who will be fuel for the Fire is the disbelievers and polytheists. As for the type of stone that will fuel the Fire, Allah (swt) knows best what it really is. Some of the pious predecessor thought that this stone was brimstone or sulphur. 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'oud said, "It is a stone of sulphur which Allah (swt) created in the first heaven the day He created the heavens and earth and prepared it for the disbelievers". This was reported by Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abi Hatim and Haakim in al-Mustadrak. Ibn 'Abbas, Mujaahid and Ibn Jurayj were also of this opinion. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/107)
Another source of fuel for Hell will be the pagan gods that were worshipped besides God: “Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.” (Qur’an 21:98-99)

The Clothing of its Inhabitants

God tells us that the dress of the people of Hell will be garments of fire tailored for them: “…But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water.” (Qur’an 22:19)
“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Qur’an 14:49-50)

Its Heat

Allah says: “And the companions of the left – what are the companions of the left? (They will be) in scorching fire and scalding water and a shade of black smoke, neither cool nor beneficial.” (Qur’an 56:41-44)
Everything people use to cool down in this world – air, water, shade – will be useless in Hell. The air of Hell will be hot wind and the water will be boiling. The shade will not be comforting or cooling, the shade in Hell will be the shadow of black smoke as mentioned in the ayath: “And shadow of black smoke.” (Qur’an 56:43)
In another passage, God says: “But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be light, will have his home in a (bottomless) pit. And what will explain to you what this is? (It is) a Fire blazing fiercely.” (Qur’an 101:8-11)
God describes how the shade of Hell’s smoke will rise above the Fire. The smoke that rises from Hell will be divided into three columns. Its shade will neither cool nor offer any protection from the raging Fire. The flying sparks will be like huge castles similar to string of marching yellow camels:
“Proceed to a shadow (of smoke) having three columns (but having) no cool shade and availing not against the flame. Indeed, it throws sparks (as huge) as a fortress, as if they were yellow camels (marching swiftly).” (Qur’an 77:30-33)
The Fire consumes everything, leaving nothing untouched. It burns skin reaching all the way to the bones, melting the contents of the stomach, leaping up to the hearts, and exposing the vital organs. God speaks of the intensity and effect of the Fire:
“I will drive him into Hellfire. And what can make you know what is Hellfire? It lets nothing remain and leaves nothing (unburned), altering the skins.” (Qur’an 74:26-29)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و سلم) as saying: The fire which sons of Adam burn is only one-seventieth part of the Fire of Hell. His Companions said: By Allah, even ordinary fire would have been enough (to burn people). Thereupon he said: It is sixty-nine parts in excess of (the heat of) fire in this world each of them being equivalent to their heat. Sahih Muslim 2843
The Fire never extinguishes: “So taste you (the results of your evil deeds). No increase shall We give you except in torment.” (Qur’an 78:30)
“…Whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” Qur’an 17:97 The torment will never be reduced and the unbelievers will not have any break: “…Their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.” (Qur’an 2:86)

The Food of its Inhabitants

The food of the people of Hell is described in the Qur’an. God says: “No food will there be for them except from a bitter, thorny plant which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.” (Qur’an 88:6-7)
The food will neither nourish nor taste good. It will only serve as a punishment to the people of Hell. In other passages, God describes the tree of zaqqum, a special food of Hell. Zaqqum is a repulsive tree, its roots go deep into the bottom of Hell, its branches stretching all over. Its ugly fruit is like the heads of the devils. He says: “Indeed, the tree of zaqqum is food for the sinful, like murky oil, it boils within bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.” (Qur’an 44:43-46)
“Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. And, indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies. Then, indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. Then, indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.” (Qur’an 37:62-68)
“Then indeed you, O those astray (who are) deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqum and filling with it your bellies, and drinking on top of it from scalding water, and will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels. That is their hospitality on the Day of Recompense.” (Qur’an 56:51-56)
People of Hell will get so hungry that they will eat from the obnoxious tree of zaqqum. When they will fill their bellies with it, it will start to churn like boiling oil causing immense suffering. At that point they will rush to drink extremely hot water. They will drink it like thirsty camels, yet it will never quench their thirst. Rather their internals will be torn. God says: “…They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Qur’an 47:15)
The thorny bushes and zaqqum will choke them and stick in their throats because of their foulness: “Surely, with us are fetters (to bind them) and a raging Fire (to burn them), and a food that chokes and a penalty grievous.” (Qur’an 73:12-13)
The Prophet said: “‘If a drop of Zaqqum were to be dropped on the earth, it would ruin the livelihood of the people of this world, so how about those who have no food other than it (i.e. Zaqqum)?’Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 37, Hadith 4325
Another food served to the people of Hell will be festering pus that oozes out of their skin, the discharge that flows from the private parts of adulterers and the decaying skin and flesh of those being burnt. It is the “juice” of the people of Hell. God says: “So no friend has he here this Day, nor has he any food except filth from the washing of wounds which none do eat but those in sin.” (Qur’an 69:35-37)
“This – so let them taste it – is scalding water and (foul) purulence. And other (punishments) of its type (in various) kinds.” (Qur’an 38:57-58)
Lastly, some sinners will be fed fire from Hell as a punishment. God says:“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire.” (Qur’an 4:10)
“Indeed, they who conceal what God has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price – those consume not into their bellies except the Fire.” (Qur’an 2:174)
Its Drink Allah tells in the Qur’an about the drink of people of Hell: “They will be given to drink boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces).” (Qur’an 47:15)
“…And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds (their) faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.” (Qur’an 18:29)
“Before him is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water. He will gulp it but will hardly (be able to) swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.” (Qur’an 14:16-17)
“A boiling fluid and fluid dark, murky, intensely cold.” (Qur’an 38:57)

The types of drink people of Hell will get to drink are as follows:
⦁ Extremely hot water as God says:
“They will go around between it and scalding water, heated (to the utmost degree).” (Qur’an 55:44)
“They will be given drink from a boiling spring.” (Qur’an 88:5)
⦁ Flowing puss from the flesh and skin of an unbeliever. The Prophet said: “Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabal. They asked, ‘O Messenger of God, what is the mud of khabal?’ He said, ‘The sweat of the people of Hell’ or the ‘juice of the people of Hell.’” Sunan an-Nasa'i Vol 6: 5709
⦁ A drink like boiling oil described by the Prophet as:
“It is like boiling oil, when it is brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi Vol. 4, Book 13, Hadith 2581)
The intensity of the fire of Hell will be such that people will be willing to give up their dearest possessions to escape it:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers – never would the (whole) capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would (seek to) ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.” (Qur’an 3:91)
The Prophet said: “One of the people of Hell who found most pleasure in the life of this world will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection and will be dipped into the Fire of Hell. Then he will be asked, ‘O son of Adam, have you ever seen anything good?’ Have you ever enjoyed any pleasure?’ He will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord.”
Few moments in Hell and the person will forget all the good times they had. The Prophet of Islam informs us:
“On the Day of Resurrection, God will ask the one whose punishment in the Fire is lightest, ‘If you had whatsoever you wanted on earth, would you give it to save yourself?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ God will say, ‘I wanted less than that from you when you were still in the loins of Adam, I asked you not to associate anything in worship with Me, but you insisted on associating others in worship with Me.’”
The horror and intensity of the Fire is enough to make a man lose his mind. He would be willing to give up everything he holds dear to saved from it, but he never will be. God says:
“The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife and his brother, and his nearest kindred who shelter him, and all – all that is on earth – so it could save him. No! Indeed, it is the Flame (of Hell), plucking out (his being) tight to the skull!” (Qur’an 70:11-16)

Levels of punishment

The punishments of Hell will vary in degree. The torment of some levels of Hell will be greater than others. People will be put in a level according to their deeds. The Prophet said: “There are some whom the Fire will reach their ankles, others up to their knees, others up to their waists, and yet others up to their necks.”
He spoke of the lightest punishment in Hell: “The person who will receive the least punishment among the people of Hell on the Day Resurrection will be a man, a smoldering ember will be placed under the arch of his foot. His brains will boil because of it.” Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.8: 6561
This person will think no one else is being punished more severely than himself, even though he will be the one receiving the lightest punishment. Many aayaat of the Qur’an speak of various levels of punishment for the people of Hell:
“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire.” (Qur’an 4:145)
“and on the Day that Judgment will be established (it will be said to the angels): Cast the people of Pharaoh into the severest penalty!” (Qur’an 40:46)
The Fire kindled by God will burn the skin of the people of Hell. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the site of sensation where the pain of burning is felt. God will replace the burnt skin with a new one to be burnt again, and this will keep on repeating:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 4:56)
Another punishment of Hell is melting. When super-heated water will be poured on their heads, it will melt away the internals:
“…poured upon their heads will be scalding water by which is melted that within their bellies and (their) skins.” (Qur’an 22:19-20)
Prophet Muhammad said: “Super-heated water will be poured onto their heads and will dissolve through it until it cuts up their innards, expelling them; until it comes out of their feet, and everything is melted. Then they will be restored as they were.”
One of the ways God will humiliate the sinful in Hell is by gathering them on Judgment Day on their faces, blind, deaf, and dumb.
“and We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.” (Qur’an 17:97)
“And brings an evil deed — such will be flung down on their faces into the Fire, (and it will be said), ‘Are you recompensed for anything but what you used to do?’” (Qur’an 27:90)
“The Fire will burn their faces and they will grin therein, their lips displaced.” (Qur’an 23:104)
“The Day their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger.’” (Qur’an 33:66)
Another painful punishment of unbelievers will be getting dragged on their faces into Hell. God says:
“Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness. The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces (it will be said), ‘Taste the touch of Hell.’” (Qur’an 54:47-48)
They will be dragged on their faces while they are tied in chains and fettered:
“Those who deny the Book (the Qur’an) and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know, when the shackles are around their necks and the chains; they will be dragged in boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled (with flame).” (Qur’an 40:70-72)

Conclusion

The descriptions of Hell in the Islamic scripture are clear and graphic, as are the descriptions of the people who deserve their fate therein. Such is the clarity that any person who believes in Judgment Day and the eternal destinies of the Hereafter must be motivated to at least try not to be of the people thrown inside. The best, and really only, way of avoiding this fate is to seriously search into the true religion God has mandated for humanity. A person should never follow a religion merely because it was that which he was “born into”, nor should they take religion to be a new age fashion. Rather, they shoulConclusiond look into the truth about this world and the life to come, and be sure that they have prepared for that judgment from which there is no return, by living a life and system of belief revealed and unchanged from the One High Above. References Reference Link Reference Link Reference Link

Meaning of 'ahqaab' in verse 78:23

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The verse in reference is about the people of Hellfire, may Allah safeguard us all from it. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {In which they will remain for ages (unending).} [Quran 78:23] Scholars of Tafseer (exegesis) commented on the verse, saying:
"The verse means that the inhabitants of Hellfire shall abide therein eternally. The Arabic word 'ahqaab' is the plural of 'huqub', which means a period of time. Thus, ahqaab means an endless time, since every time one huqub ends, another huqub starts. In reference to ahqaab, it has no specific amount of time other than its general meaning of eternity in Hellfire."
Al-Qurtubi said, "The verse means that the people of Hellfire shall reside therein forever. It is that which has no end to it. Whenever one period comes to an end, a new one follows it. Ahqaab means ages."
Allah knows best.
Referene Link

A DESCRIPTION OF HELLFIRE (PART 1 OF 5): AN INTRODUCTION

Islam teaches that Hell is a real place prepared by God for those who do not believe in Him, rebel against His laws, and reject His messengers. Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of mind or a spiritual entity. The horrors, pain, anguish, and punishment are all real, but different in nature than their earthly counterparts. Hell is the ultimate humiliation and loss, and nothing is worse than it:
"Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers." (Quran 3:192) "Know they not that whoever opposes God and His Messenger (Muhammad), certainly for him will be the Fire of Hell to abide therein? That is the extreme disgrace." (Quran 9:63)

Paradise and Hell Presently Exist and are Eternal Hell exists at the present time and will continue to exist forever. It will never die down, and its inhabitants will remain in it forever. No one will come out of Hell except sinful believers who believed in the Oneness of God in this life and believed in the specific prophet sent to them (before the coming of Muhammad). The polytheists and unbelievers will reside in it forever. This belief has been held from classical times and is based on clear verses of the Quran and confirmed reports from the Prophet of Islam. The Quran speaks of Hell in the past tense and states that it has already been created: "And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers." (Quran 3:131)

The Prophet of Islam said:

"When any of you dies, he is shown his position (in the Hereafter) morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise, he is shown the place of the people of Paradise. If he is one of the people of Hell, he is shown the place of people of Hell. He is told, ‘this is your position, until God resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
In another report, the Prophet said:
"Surely, the soul of a believer is a bird hanging on the trees of Paradise, until God returns it to his body on the Day of Resurrection." (Muwatta of Malik)
These texts make it clear that Hell and Paradise exist, and that souls may enter them before the Day of Resurrection. Speaking of Hell’s eternity, God says:
"They will long to leave the Fire, but never will they leave there from; and theirs will be a lasting torment." (Quran 5:37)
"…And they will never leave of the Fire." (Quran 2:167)
"Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever." (Quran 4:168-169)
"Surely, God has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide forever." (Quran 33:64)
"And whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever." (Quran 72:23)