to lighten for us the penalty for a day (at least).' They will say,
'Did there not come to you your messengers with clear signs?' They
will say, 'Yes.'They will reply, 'Then prayas you like. But the
prayerof those without faith is not but in error.'"
[Ghafir, 40: 49-50]
"O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a fire
whosefuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels, stern
and severe, and who do not disobey Allah in what He orders them and
who do precisely what they are commanded."
[at-Tahreem, 66: 6]
"Over it are nineteen. And We have not made the guardians of the Fire
except angels. And We have made their number only as a trial for the
unbelievers - in order thatthe People of the Book may be certain and
that the believers may increase in faith, and so that the People of
the Book and the believers would not doubt, and that those in whose
hearts is a disease and theunbelievers would say, 'What example does
Allahintend by this?' Thus doesAllah leave to stray whomhe pleases and
guides whom He pleases. And none can know the soldiers of your Lord
except He. And this is nothing other than a warning to mankind."
[Muddaththir, 74: 30-31]
"They will cry out, 'O Malik, let your Lord put anend to us.' He will
say,"Surely, you will stay (as you are).'"
[adh-Dhukhrub, 43: 77]
Samurah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi
wasalam) said: "Last nightI saw [in a dream] two men coming to me. One
of them said, 'The one who lights the fire is Malik, the gatekeeper of
Hell; I am Jibreel, and this is Mika'eel.'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) related: "The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi
wasalam) said, 'On the night of my ascent to Heaven. I saw Musa (who
was a tall, brown, curly-haired man) as if he was one of the men of
the Shan'awah tribe. Then I saw 'Isa, a man of medium height, of
moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors, and of lank
hair. I also saw Malik, the gatekeeper of the Hellfire.'"
[Muslim]
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