He reported God's messenger as saying, "If a bucket of the pus of the inhabitants of hell were poured into the world, the people in the world would have an offensive stench." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Abbas told that God's messenger recited this verse, "Fear God as He ought to be feared, and die only as Muslims [1] ," after which he said, "If a drop of az-Zaqqum [2] were to fall on this world it would corrupt the people's means of livelihood, so what about those whose food it is?" Quran; 3:102 A tree growing in the bottom of hell. Cf. Quran; 37:62, 44:43; also 17:60. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Abu Sa'id reported the Prophet as saying regarding "And they in it will be showing their teeth [*] ," that the fire will roast a person and his upper lip will retract till it reaches the middle of his head, and his lower lip will hang down till it strikes his navel." *Quran; 23:104 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas reported the Prophet as saying, "O people, weep, but if you are unable to do so, then pretend to weep, for the inhabitants of hell will weep in hell till their tears flow on their faces as though they were streams, and when the tears stop blood will flow and the eyes will be made sore. If ships were blown along in them, they could sail." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Abud Darda' reported God's messenger as saying, "Hunger will be cast upon the inhabitants of hell and will be equal to the punishment they are experiencing. They will cry for help and will be helped with food of dari' [1] which neither fattens nor satisfies hunger. They will then call for food and will be fed with food which chokes [2] . So, remembering that they helped down choking food with drink when they were in the world they will ask for drink and the scalding drink [3] will be presented to them on iron flesh-hooks. When they approach their faces they will scorch their faces, and when they enter their bellies, they will cut in pieces the contents of their bellies. They will then ask the guards of Jahannam to be called and they will say, `Did your messengers not bring you the clear signs?' and when they reply, `Yes,' they will say, `Then make supplication, but the supplication of the infidels is only in error [4] .' They will then ask Malik to be called and will say, `0 Malik, would that your Lord might put an end to us!' He will reply to them, `You are remaining' [5] (al-A`mash [6] saying he had been informed that the period between their appeal and Malik's reply to them would be a thousand years). They will then say, `Call your Lord, for no one is better than your Lord,' and they will say, `0 our Lord, our adversity was too much for us and we were a people who were astray. 0 our Lord, bring us out of it; then if we return to evil, we shall indeed be wrongdoers.' He will then answer them, `Retreat into it in shame and do not speak to Me [7] .' They will then despair of all good and will begin to sigh, grieve and bemoan themselves." `Abdallah b. `Abd ar-Rahman [8] said that people do not trace this tradition back to the Prophet. 1. Cf. Qur'an, 88:6. The name of a thorny plant which animals avoid. It is used in the Qur'an of some substance which, as Taj al-'arus says, is more bitter than aloes, more offensive than a corpse, and hotter than fire. 2. Cf. Qur'an, 73:13. 3. Cf. Qur'an, 22:19 f. 4. Qur'an, 40:50. 5. Qur'an, 43:77. Malik is the angel in charge of hell. 6. One of the transmitters of the tradition. 7. Qur'an, 23:106 ff. 8. i.e., Darimi, whose Musnad is frequently quoted. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

An-Nu'man b. Bashir said:I heard God's messenger say, "I have warned you of hell, I have warned you of hell," and he kept on saying it so loudly that if he had been where I am just now the people in the street would be able to hear it. He went on till a cloak he was wearing fell down at his feet. Darimi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. `Amr b. al-`As told that God's messenger pointed to something like a bowl and said, "If a piece of lead like this were sent from heaven to earth, which is a journey of five hundred years, it would reach the earth before night; and if it were sent from the top of the chain [*] it would travel forty years night and day before reaching its foot (or, its bottom)." *Quran; 69:32 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Burda told on his father's authority that the Prophet said, "In jahannam there is a wadi called Habhab which every oppressor will inhabit." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported the Prophet as saying, "The inhabitants of hell will become huge in hell so that the space between the lobe of the ear and the shoulder of one of them will be a journey of seven hundred years, the thickness of his skin will be seventy cubits, and his molar tooth will be like Uhud."

`Abdallah b. al-Harith b. Jaz' reported God's messenger as saying, "In hell there are snakes like Bactrian camels, one of which can give a sting the effect of which will be felt for forty years; and in hell there are scorpions like saddled mules, one of which can give a sting the effect of which will be felt for forty years." Ahmad transmitted both traditions.