Hell can Speak and See

 Whoever reads the descriptions of Hell in the Qur'aan and hadiths will discover that it is a creation that can see, speak and complain. The Qur'aan tells us that Hell will be able to see its people from afar when they are coming towards it, and it will start to utter terrifying cries that will indicate how much anger and hatred it feels towards these evildoers: "When it [Hell] sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and roaring". (25:12) Ibn Jareer reports that Ibn 'Abbaas said: "A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will shrink into itself. Allaah (swt) will say: "What is the matter with you?" It will say, "He is seeking refuge with you from me". He will say, "Release My slave". Another man will be dragged towards Hell and it will send out a gust of air like a mule snorting at a camel, then it will take in a gust of air and there will be no-one left except it will terrify him". (Ibn Katheer quoted this report in anNihaayah, 2/21, and said that its isnaad is saheeh). Imaam Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi report from Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said: "On the Day of Resurrection a neck will stretch forth from Hell; it will have two eyes to see, two ears to hear, and a tongue to speak. It will say, "I have been appointed to take care of three types of people: every arrogant tyrant, every person who called on some deity other than Allaah (swt) and those who made pictures" (at-Tirmidhi stated that this hadith was saheeh - at-Takhweef min anNaar, p.179, See also Jaami' al-Usool, 10/518, the editor said its isnaad is hasan). Ibn 'Umar's Vision of Hell al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Ibn 'Umar said, "I saw in a dream that two angels came to me. Each of them was holding a whip of iron in his hand. Then I met (another) angel who was also holding a whip of iron in his hand. They said, "Do not worry, you are a good man; we just wish that you prayed more at night". They took me to the edge of Hell, which looked like a well with horns: between every two horns stood an Page 12 al-Jannah wa an-Naar – In the Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah angel holding a whip of iron. I saw men hanging upside-down, held with chains, and I recognised some men of Quraysh. Then they led me away, towards the right. I told Hafsah about my dream, and she told the Messenger of Allaah (saw) who said, "Abdullaah is a righteous man". (at-Takhweef min an-Naar, p.51)