The Keepers of Hell

 

The Keepers of Hell

  Standing over Hell are MIGHTY and STERN angels who never disobey
Allah subhaanahu wa ta'ala Who has created them. They do whatever He
commands them, as Allah subhaanahu wa ta'ala says:

 

"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a
Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are [appointed] angels stern
[and] severe, who flinch not [from executing] the Commands they receive
from Allah, but do [precisely what] they are commanded."
(66:6)

Their number is nineteen as Allah (swt) says:

"Soon I will cast him into Hellfire. And what will explain
to you what Hellfire is? Naught does it permit to endure, and naught does
it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man! Over it are
nineteen [angels as guardians and keepers of Hell]"
(74:26-30)

This number was a challenge to the kuffaar who thought that
they would easily overcome such a small number, but they did not realise
that one of these angels has the strength to confront the whole of mankind
on his own. For this reason, Allah (swt) said in the next
aayah:

"And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire,
and We have fixed their numbers [19] only as a trial for the
disbelievers.." (74:31)

Ibn Rajab said, "What is known and well-established among
the earlier and later generations (as-Salaf wal-Khalaf) is that the trial
came about when the number of angels was mentioned and the kuffaar thought
that it was possible to kill them. They thought that they would be able to
fight and resist them. They did not know that humankind in its entireity
would not be able to resist even ONE of them." (at-Takhweef min
an-Naar, p.174)

These angels are the ones whom Allah subhaanahu wa ta'ala
called the guardians of Hell:

"Those in the Fire will say to the keepers [angels] of Hell:
"Call upon your Rabb to lighten for us the torment for a day!"
(40:49)

 

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The Location of Hell

  The
scholars differ as to where Hell is located at present. Some say that it
is in the lower earth, other say that it is in the heavens, and yet others
refrain from discussing the matter at all. This last group is correct,
because there are no sound and clear reports that define the location of
Hell. One of those who prefer not to discuss the matter at all is
al-Haafidh as-Suyuti who said, "Do not discuss Hell, i.e. do not discuss
where it is located, for none knows this except Allah (swt) and I know of
no hadeeth that I could rely on with regard to this issue". (Siddiq Hasan
Khan, Yaqazah uli al-I'tibar, p.47)

 

 

Sheikh
Waliullaah ad-Dahlawee says in, his 'Aqeedah, "There is no clear text
which states their location (of Paradise and Hell). They are wherever
Allah (swt) wishes them to be, and we cannot comprehend all the universes
created by Allah (swt)" (ibid, p.47). Siddeeq Hasan Khan says, commenting
on these words, "I say, that is the best and most cautious of opinions,
inshaa'Allah" (ibid).