Page 126 - Death Resurrection Hell

DEATH, RESURRECTION, HELL

lessons from it, ask for pardon and turn to Allah before they are
caught by death. The being which is idolized is not, necessarily, a
human being. People have different things they cannot resist.
Possessions, money, fortune, fame, in brief, anything or any concept
being worshipped besides Allah may well be idolized.

The pain the loss of these idols inflicts on one's heart in this
world is but a glimpse of the great torment one would undergo in
hell. In essence, it is a warning. In hell, the real and non-ending form
of this pain awaits an idolater. Sometimes, this spiritual torment be-
comes so intense that, one would prefer physical torture. Even, sui-
cide is considered a salvation. This spiritual aspect of torment in hell
is stressed in the Qur'an and described as a "fire reaching right into
the heart":

Woe to every faultfinding backbiter who has amassed wealth
and hoarded it! He thinks his wealth will make him live for-
ever. No indeed! He will be flung into the Shatterer. And
what will convey to you what the Shatterer is? The kindled
Fire of Allah reaching right into the heart. It is sealed in above
them in towering columns. (Surat al-Humaza: 1-9)
Even the severest pain in this world disappears in time. Its
traces may remain for a while, but time eventually erases its most
hurtful traces. In hell, however, an even more bitter pain penetrates
the hearts of unbelievers like a fury and remains there eternally.
Apart from this, the spiritual torment produces a sensation
somewhat between hopelessness and humiliation, rage and hatred.
No less than physical pain, unbelievers are also subjected to an in-

sufferable spiritual pain.

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