Back to search

Is it correct to interpret the noble verse: (The Day We will say to Hell, "Have you been filled?" and it will say, "Are there any more?") as a representation of its vastness, rather than a literal address?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The verification is to take the saying of Hell, "Is there any more?" literally. The default for speech is the literal meaning unless a context clue shifts it to metaphor, and there is no such clue here. Ibn Atiyyah, Ash-Shawkani, Ash-Shinqiti, and others have supported this view, citing verses and hadiths that confirm Hell's ability to see, speak, and rage, and that Allah makes it speak. Moreover, scholars have unanimously agreed that texts should not be diverted from their apparent meaning except with evidence. The hadiths support this, for Hell continues to say, "Is there any more?" until Allah Almighty places His Foot in it, whereupon it says, "Enough, enough," and shrinks within itself.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy