Hell is Forever

A prominent concept in Hadith is that Hell is not eternal for all its inhabitants. This understanding contradicts the clear verses in the Quran that Hell is eternal and that there is no intercession on the Day of Ressurection. The Quran warns of such false claims.

[2:80] Some have said, “Hell will not touch us, except for a limited number of days.” Say, “Have you taken such a pledge from GOD—GOD never breaks His pledge—or, are you saying about GOD what you do not know?”

 وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

[3:24] This is because they said, “The hellfire will not touch us, except for a few days.” They were thus deceived in their religion by their own fabrications.

 ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ وَغَرَّهُمْ فِى دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ

The Quran is very explicit that Hell is eternal and not temporary. There are typically two words in Arabic used in conjunction with the concept of eternity. One is khaladan ( خلدا ), the other ‘abad ( أبد ). The difference between these two words is similar to the English words eternity and forever. Both these terms are persistently used in reference to Hell in the Quran.

[2:39] As for those who disbelieve and reject our revelations, they will be dwellers of Hell, wherein they abide forever.

 وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

1	wa-alladhīna	وَٱلَّذِينَ	“And those who
2	kafarū	كَفَرُوا۟	they disbelieved
3	wakadhabū	وَكَذَّبُوا۟	and they rejected
4	biāyātinā	بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ	in our revelations,
5	ulāika	أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ	those (are)
6	aṣḥābu	أَصْحَـٰبُ	(the) companions (of)
7	l-nāri	ٱلنَّارِ	the Fire;
8	hum	هُمْ	they
9	fīhā	فِيهَا	in it
10	khālidūna	خَـٰلِدُونَ	[ones] abiding forever.”

[2:162 & 3:88] Eternally they abide therein. The retribution is never commuted for them, nor are they reprieved.

 خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ

1	khālidīna	خَـٰلِدِينَ	[Ones] abiding forever
2	fīhā	فِيهَا	in it.
3	lā	لَا	Not
4	yukhaffafu	يُخَفَّفُ	it will be lightened / commuted
5	ʿanhumu	عَنْهُمُ	for them
6	l-ʿadhābu	ٱلْعَذَابُ	the retribution
7	walā	وَلَا	and not
8	hum	هُمْ	they
9	yunẓarūna	يُنظَرُونَ	[they] will be respited / reprieved.

[41:28] Such is the requital that awaits GOD’s enemies. Hell will be their eternal abode; a just requital for discarding our revelations.

 ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ أَعْدَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّارُ لَهُمْ فِيهَا دَارُ ٱلْخُلْدِ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ

1	dhālika	ذَٰلِكَ	That (is)
2	jazāu	جَزَآءُ	(the) requital (of)
3	aʿdāi	أَعْدَآءِ	(the) enemies
4	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	(of) God –
5	l-nāru	ٱلنَّارُ	the Fire;
6	lahum	لَهُمْ	for them
7	fīhā	فِيهَا	therein (is)
8	dāru	دَارُ	(the) abode (Hereafter)
9	l-khul’di	ٱلْخُلْدِ	(of) the eternity
10	jazāan	جَزَآءًۢ	(as) requital
11	bimā	بِمَا	for what
12	kānū	كَانُوا۟	they used to
13	biāyātinā	بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا	in our verses / revelations,
14	yajḥadūna	يَجْحَدُونَ	they reject.

[10:52] It will be said to the transgressors, “Taste the eternal retribution. Are you not requited precisely for what you have earned?”

 ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْخُلْدِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْسِبُونَ

1	thumma	ثُمَّ	Then
2	qīla	قِيلَ	it (will be) said
3	lilladhīna	لِلَّذِينَ	to those who
4	ẓalamū	ظَلَمُوا۟	[they] did wrong / transgressed,
5	dhūqū	ذُوقُوا۟	“Taste [you all]
6	ʿadhāba	عَذَابَ	retribution
7	l-khul’di	ٱلْخُلْدِ	the eternity.
8	hal	هَلْ	Would
9	tuj’zawna	تُجْزَوْنَ	you [all] will be requited
10	illā	إِلَّا	except
11	bimā	بِمَا	for what
12	kuntum	كُنتُمْ	you [all] used to
13	taksibūna	تَكْسِبُونَ	[you all] earn?”

[33:64] GOD has condemned the disbelievers, and has prepared for them Hell.

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ سَعِيرًا

[2:81] Indeed, those who earn sins and become surrounded by their evil work will be the dwellers of Hell; they abide in it forever.

بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

1	balā	بَلَىٰ	Indeed,
2	man	مَن	whoever
3	kasaba	كَسَبَ	[he] earned
4	sayyi-atan	سَيِّئَةً	evil / sins
5	wa-aḥāṭat	وَأَحَـٰطَتْ	and [it] encompassed / fully surrounded
6	bihi	بِهِۦ	[in] him,
7	khaṭīatuhu	خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ	his sins / faults / evils –
8	fa-ulāika	فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ	[so] those (are)
9	aṣḥābu	أَصْحَـٰبُ	(the) companions (of)
10	l-nāri	ٱلنَّارِ	the Fire;
11	hum	هُمْ	they
12	fīhā	فِيهَا	therein
13	khālidūna	خَـٰلِدُونَ	[ones] abiding forever.

[33:65] Eternally they abide therein forever. They will find no lord, nor a supporter.

 خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا لَّا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

1	khālidīna	خَـٰلِدِينَ	[Ones] eternally abiding
2	fīhā	فِيهَآ	therein
3	abadan	أَبَدًا	forever,
4	lā	لَّا	not
5	yajidūna	يَجِدُونَ	they will find
6	waliyyan	وَلِيًّا	a protector / lord
7	walā	وَلَا	and not
8	naṣīran	نَصِيرًا	a helper / supporter.

[4:168] Those who disbelieve and transgress, GOD will not forgive them, nor will He guide them in any way;

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَظَلَمُوا۟ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا

[4:169] except the way to Hell, wherein they eternally abide therin forever. This is easy for GOD to do.

 إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا

1	illā	إِلَّا	Except,
2	ṭarīqa	طَرِيقَ	(the) way
3	jahannama	جَهَنَّمَ	(to) Hell,
4	khālidīna	خَـٰلِدِينَ	[ones] eternally abiding
5	fīhā	فِيهَآ	in it
6	abadan	أَبَدًا	forever.
7	wakāna	وَكَانَ	And it was
8	dhālika	ذَٰلِكَ	[that]
9	ʿalā	عَلَى	for
10	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God
11	yasīran	يَسِيرًا	easy.

[72:23] “I deliver GOD’s proclamations and messages.” Those who disobey GOD and His messenger incur the fire of Hell, eternally they abide therein forever.

 إِلَّا بَلَـٰغًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِسَـٰلَـٰتِهِۦ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا

1	illā	إِلَّا	“But
2	balāghan	بَلَـٰغًا	(the) proclamation
3	mina	مِّنَ	from
4	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God
5	warisālātihi	وَرِسَـٰلَـٰتِهِۦ	and His messages.”
6	waman	وَمَن	And whoever
7	yaʿṣi	يَعْصِ	he disobeys
8	l-laha	ٱللَّهَ	God
9	warasūlahu	وَرَسُولَهُۥ	and His messenger,
10	fa-inna	فَإِنَّ	then indeed,
11	lahu	لَهُۥ	for him (is)
12	nāra	نَارَ	(the) fire
13	jahannama	جَهَنَّمَ	(of) Hell,
14	khālidīna	خَـٰلِدِينَ	[ones] eternally abiding
15	fīhā	فِيهَآ	therein
16	abadan	أَبَدًا	forever.

In addition, the below verse explains that the people in Hell will never exit and that the punishment is everlasting “muqīmun” ( مُّقِيمٌ ). See also: 9:68, 11:39, 39:40, and 42:45.

[5:37] They will want to exit Hell, but alas, they can never exit therefrom; their retribution is eternal.

 يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنْهَا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ

1	yurīdūna	يُرِيدُونَ	They will wish
2	an	أَن	that
3	yakhrujū	يَخْرُجُوا۟	they come out / exit
4	mina	مِنَ	from
5	l-nāri	ٱلنَّارِ	the Fire
6	wamā	وَمَا	but not
7	hum	هُم	they (are)
8	bikhārijīna	بِخَـٰرِجِينَ	ever ones coming out
9	min’hā	مِنْهَا	of it.
10	walahum	وَلَهُمْ	And for them (is)
11	ʿadhābun	عَذَابٌ	a punishment / retribution
12	muqīmun	مُّقِيمٌ	everlasting.

The following verse, 11:107, often gets cited to justify that Hell is not eternal because it states that it will only last as long the heavens and earth endure.

[11:107] Eternally they abide therein, for as long as the heavens and the earth endure, in accordance with the will of your Lord. Your Lord is doer of whatever He wills.

 خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ رَبُّكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ

1	khālidīna	خَـٰلِدِينَ	[Ones] abiding forever
2	fīhā	فِيهَا	therein
3	mā	مَا	as long as
4	dāmati	دَامَتِ	[it] remained / endured
5	l-samāwātu	ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ	the heavens
6	wal-arḍu	وَٱلْأَرْضُ	and the earth,
7	illā	إِلَّا	except
8	mā	مَا	what
9	shāa	شَآءَ	[He] willed
10	rabbuka	رَبُّكَ	your Lord.
11	inna	إِنَّ	Indeed,
12	rabbaka	رَبَّكَ	your Lord (is)
13	faʿʿālun	فَعَّالٌ	Doer
14	limā	لِّمَا	of what
15	yurīdu	يُرِيدُ	He wishes / wills.

Since the Quran has no contradictions, 4:82, we know that the heavens and earth in the Hereafter will endure for all of eternity because this is what God willed, and God never breaks His promise.

[35:41] GOD is the One who holds the heavens and the earth, lest they vanish. If anyone else is to hold them, they will most certainly vanish. He is Clement, Forgiving.

 إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

[30:6] Such is GOD’s promise—and GOD never breaks His promise—but most people do not know.

 وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ