Fatwa ID: 05574

Answered by: Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Question

Is it true that hell is situated on earth?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Allah says: “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)

There are two opinions about the location of Hell. Imam Abu Haneefah  said, “Paradise and Hell have been created.” [see: The Islamic Creed in The Light of The Quran and Sunnah by Dr Khandaker Abdullah Jahangir with the reference of ‘Sharhul Fiqhil Akhbar by Mulla Ali Qari]

Abush-Shaykh mentioned in his “Azma” and Bayhaqi mentioned on the authority of Abu Zara that Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA) said:

‘Paradise is in the seventh-highest heaven and Hell is in the seventh-lowest earth.’

Imam Bayhaqi also mentioned in his book “Dalaailun Nabouwah” that Abdullah ibn Salaam (RA) said: ‘Paradise is in the heaven and Hell is in the earth.’

Ibn Jarir mentioned from Muaz bin Jabal (RA) that it was asked to the Prophet of Allah ‘ from where the Hell will be presented on the day of Qiyamah?’ He (SWS) replied: “Jahannam will be presented from seventh lowest earth.” [see: Tafseer-e-Mazhari by Qazi Thanaullah Panipathi, Sura: Mutaffifin, Ayath:7, publisher: Islamic Foundation Bangladesh]

However, Imam Suyuti’s opinion is “Do not discuss Hell, i.e., do not discuss where it may be located, for no one knows this except Allah, and I know of no hadith that I could rely on with regard to this issue.”

Shah Waliullah ad-Dehlawi says, “There is no clear text which states their location (I.e. the location of Paradise and Hell). They are wherever Allah wishes them to be. And we cannot comprehend all the universes created by Allah.” [see: Paradise and Hell by Dr Umar S. al-Ashqar, page:39, with the reference of Siddeeq Hasan Khan, Yaqazatuli al-Itebaar]

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham