Is hell real ?

[Scorpion]

Love-Fear-Hope, Thanks for your well considered post.I can see you put a lot of time and thought into it. I am not disputing if there is a God or not, as I tend to think there is.

My problems is can God be capable of the things it says in the Quran about eternal hell.
See the following example.


22.19 These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: But those who deny (their Lord),- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water.

22.20 With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins.

22.21 In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them.

22.22 Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said), "Taste ye the Penalty of Burning!"

[abdulwahhab]

Why can God not be capable of these punishments and much worse than them? The Qur'an repeats over and over that God is capable of everything. He is capable of the pinnacle of mercy and He is capable of the extremes of wrath. The punishments of the hellfire are a warning to all those who live this life without heeding His warnings and His words.

God may grant us in paradise things that we cannot comprehend and provide us pleasure beyond what we could possibly imagine. Similarly, God may punish us with hellfire with severity we cannot fathom and provide us pain beyond what we thought possible. If God willed it so, He could destroy the entire universe. To say that God cannot be able to do this or that is imposing a limit on the capabilities of God when He has not done so. For example, God has forbidden upon himself injustice as we see from the hadeeth qudsi (narrations where the Prophet would reveal what God had told him besides the Qur'an). So, we can expect God to be completely just. This is not to say that God can be unjust if He wills but since He has forbidden it upon Himself and that His words and orders never change, it is impossible for God to be unjust.

But, as far as the hellfire is concerned, God has never made a promise that He would be merciful to the belligerent, arrogant denier in the hereafter.

[Love-Fear-Hope]

Love-Fear-Hope, Thanks for your well considered post.I can see you put a lot of time and thought into it. I am not disputing if there is a God or not, as I tend to think there is.

My problems is can God be capable of the things it says in the Quran about eternal hell.
See the following example.


22.19 These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: But those who deny (their Lord),- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water.

22.20 With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins.

22.21 In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them.

22.22 Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said), "Taste ye the Penalty of Burning!"

You know what? The Hell is something that scares me so so much I feel anxious everytime I think about.. but then I remember that God created even paradise and Hope.. so be hopeful, and if you believe in him just obey him.. there are things I am not able to understand too.. but since I know theres a God I try to submit myself to him.. indeed that's what he asks us to do.. and remember that God is Just.. and his justice is not like what we intend but what he intend and if we can't understand it as justice it doesnt meant it isn't just because we can't figure it out.. so just have faith in him.. this are things I remember myself everyday.. trust me.. just ask him to make you accept his lows. and maybe you'll be able then to accept everything he asks us to accept and believe.. I wish you the best and May Allah guide you to the right path and even me. and all those seekers who are looking for the right path. amin.

[Ahmed-Hani]

Ive gone through your comments Scorpion and to be frank I don't see what you are trying to get out of this thread. You have already established that the hell fire is terrible and no one wants to go there, but you believe that God could never do such a thing. If you think of it logically if someone tells you not to do something, but you do it anyways are you expecting to be rewarded or even pardoned from that? It makes no sense for that to happen. The terrifying descriptions of hell fire is a reminder for all of us to stay away from sin. Since you are so worried about the punishments of hell fire think about the next time you sin let it push you to do more good. Let it push you to find the real truth as you said you have already tried doing.

You say you believe that there is a God but that us as humans cant understand God (which is true) and hence all religions are a failure. If this is the case then one day when you are alone and your mind is clear make a prayer to God, believing that there is one, as you have stated before, that he guides you to the right path and keeps you on it. Thats all I'm asking you to do for yourself and take it from there. Otherwise start looking at other revelations in the Quran to understand how it is true divine revelation. Look at the scientific, linguistic, and historical miracles of the Quran and realize that it wasn't made by man. Then you will see that it is the word of God and that you will learn to love it. May I also suggest listening to the Quran in Arabic. Even though you don't understand Arabic I promise you that just listening to it will have an effect on you.

Ramadan is coming up I suggest you visit the Mosques often during this time and inshAllah Allah will guide to the true straight path during this holy month. Ameen