In
Islam, the place of punishment for unbelievers and other
evildoers in the
afterlife is an "integral part of Islamic theology".
[1] It is often called by the proper name
Jahannam (
Arabic: جهنم,
jahannam), but other names include "the fire" (
النار,
al-nar),
[2] "blazing fire" (
جحيم,
jaheem),
[3] "that which breaks to pieces" (
حطمة
hutamah),
[4] "the abyss" (
هاوية,
haawiyah),
[5] "the blaze" (
سعير,
sa’eer),
[6] "place of burning" (
سقر
Saqar), which are also often used as the names of different gates to
hell.
[7] It is also sometimes referred to as the Islamic hell.
[1]
The punishments there are carried out in accordance with the degree of
sin one has done during their life.
[8] Just like
Jannah (the Islamic heavens), the common belief holds that
Jahannam coexists with the temporal world.
[9]
The importance of Hell in Islamic doctrine is that it is an essential element of the
Day of Judgment, which in turn is one of
the six articles of faith (belief in God, angels, books, prophets, the Day of Resurrection and providence) "by which the Muslim faith is traditionally defined."
[10] Suffering in hell is physical, psychological and spiritual, and varies according to the
sins of the condemned,
[11] and its excruciating pain and horror described in the Quran often parallels the pleasure and delights of heaven (
Jannah).
[12][13]
It is widely believed Hell has many levels (each one more severe than the one above it),
[14] the Quran specifically refers to "seven gates", and that "for every gate there shall be a specific party" of sinners.
[15][16][17][18] Some Islamic scholars believe that hell is an eternal destination; it will not be destroyed and its inhabitants will reside there forever.
[19][20][21]