filled with fire, guarded by an angel. Whenever someone tried to escape, the angel pursued and threw him back into it.’”

The Holy Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  was then informed of the reality of all these terrifying scenes: The first man whose head was crushed with a stone, so that his brain was flung to one side and the stone to the other, was the one who did not offer the Isha Salah, and performed the other prayers after their appointed times. He will be struck in this manner until he is thrown into Hell. The second man, whose cheeks were torn with iron rods, was among those who spread mischief among Muslims and indulged in tale-bearing. His punishment will continue until he is cast into Hell.  The third man, into whose mouth stones were thrown, was a usurer (one who dealt in interest). His torment will persist until he is placed in Hell. The fourth scene, where naked people were burning, these were fornicators, and the foul stench was that of their private parts. They, too, will remain in this punishment until they are thrown into Hell. And (in the fifth scene) the mad people you saw were those who committed and caused others to commit filthy acts like the people of Loot; they too will remain afflicted by this torment until they are cast into Hell, and (in the sixth place) that underground prison filled with fire was Hell.^[1]

Painful Punishments

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Khudri رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  narrated: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: “I passed by a table spread (dastarkhwan) upon which roasted meat was placed, but there was no one. Then, in front of it, I saw another table spread upon which decayed and foul-smelling meat lay, and many people were eating from it. I asked, ‘O Jibreel, who are these people?’ He said, ‘These are those from your Ummah who abandoned the lawful and turned towards the unlawful.’ Then I moved on and saw people whose stomachs were enormous like cottages. Whenever one of them tried to stand up, he fell flat on his face and cried, ‘O my Lord! Do not establish the Day of Judgment!’ I asked, ‘Who are they?’ Jibreel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied, ‘They are the usurers (those who consume interest).’ Then I saw people whose lips were like camels' lips. Their mouths were being forced open, and burning embers were fed into them. I asked,