The noble Shaykh
al-‘Uthaymeen was asked: Is Hell Fire in the heaven or on earth?
He replied: It is
on the earth. However, some of the people of knowledge said it is [under] the
sea. Yet others said it is in the interior of the earth. What is apparent is
that it is in the interior of the earth. However, we do not know where it is on
earth. We believe that it is on the earth and not in the heaven; but we do not
know the specific place it is. The proof that Hell Fire is on the earth is the
following:
Allaah the most
High said: “No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen”
[Al-Muttaffeen: 7]. The word sijjeen refers to the lower earth. In
addition, it is recorded in the hadeeth that those who die among the
disbelievers, the gates of heaven will not be open for them; and Allaah the
most High will say: ‘Write the record of My slave in sijjeen and return him to
the earth.’
If Hell Fire were to be in the
heaven, the gates of heaven would have been opened for them in order to enter
it, for the Prophet saw his Companions being punished therein. So if it were to
be in the heaven, it would have been necessary for them (that is, the
disbelievers) to enter the Hell Fire that is in the heaven or the gates of
heaven be opened for them.
However, some people are doubtful,
saying: How can the Messenger see Hell Fire on the night he ascended to heaven
while it is on earth? I am amazed at this doubt. When we
are in the plane, we can see and grasp the earth beneath us and far away; so how
can the Prophet not see Hell Fire while in the heaven?
In summary, it is
on the earth. There are a number of ahaadeeth
reported concerning this but they are weak. Some Aathaar have been related from the pious predecessors like Ibn
Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood in regard to this, and it is the apparent meaning of the
Qur’aan: “Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them -
the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until
a camel enters into the eye of a needle. And thus do We recompense the
criminals.” [Soorah al-A’raaf: 40] There is no doubt that those who deny
the verses and arrogant towards them will go to Hell Ffire.
Source: Fataawaa al-‘Aqeedah, pp. 242-243 by Shaykh
Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)
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