Does the noble Hadith regarding the enormous bodies of the people of Hellfire ("the molar tooth of one of them will be like Mount Uhud") contradict the verse in Surat Al-A'raf which states that the people of Al-A'raf will recognize the people of Hellfire "by their marks" (or "by their countenances"), which suggests that their sizes will not change?

Summary of the Answer:

1. The mentioned hadith is what Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The molar tooth of a disbeliever or the canine tooth of a disbeliever is like Uhud, and the thickness of his skin is a three-day journey." 2. A difficulty arose with this due to what was narrated by At-Tirmidhi from Amr ibn Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The arrogant ones will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection like tiny ants in the form of men." There was a difference of opinion in reconciling the two: Al-Qurtubi said that the immense size mentioned in the first hadith applies to some disbelievers, not all of them. It was said that the hadith about ants applies to the arrogant at the time of gathering (resurrection), while the first hadith applies to their settling in Hellfire. It was said that the hadith about ants applies to the arrogant among the believers, while the hadith about the disbeliever's molar tooth applies to disbelievers. It was said that the torment of the people of Hellfire varies; some will be like ants, while others' bodies will be immense. 3. The answer to the apparent contradiction between this hadith and the verse, "And the people of Al-A‘raf will call out to men whom they recognize by their marks," is that the shrinking or enlarging of size does not prevent recognizing a person by their marks. The distinguishing marks are in the face, and shrinking or enlarging does not prevent recognizing the face and features.