Al-Nar
Definition
Al-nar — fire — was the instrument of punishment that Ibrahim's people prepared for him after he smashed their idols and openly declared them worthless. They constructed an enormous blaze — Ibn Kathir records narrations about its extraordinary size — and catapulted Ibrahim into the center of it. Allah then spoke to the fire directly: 'O fire, be cool and peaceful upon Ibrahim.' The fire obeyed — burning everything around Ibrahim but leaving him untouched. This miracle establishes a principle that runs through the entire prophetic tradition: the physical world is subject to divine command, and the one walking in full obedience to that command is protected by the very forces that destroy others.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Al-Nar.
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"for the fire of separation, when it prevails, might surpass the fire that burns bodies. For the fire of separation is the fire of Allah, kindled, which raises itself to hearts, whereas the fire of Hell concerns itself only with bodies, and the pain of bodies is trifling compared with the pain of the heart. Thus, it is said: In the lover's heart is a consuming fire..."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 31: The Book of Repentance
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"who has no insight, you will see him. But when you see a man of insight who is also patient — that is the man." God the Exalted said: "And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command, when they were patient and had certainty in Our signs." For this reason the soul is likened to fire in the swiftness of its movement and its ruinous effect, and its anger and its appetite are from fire, and Satan is from fire. In the Sunan, it is related from the Prophet that he said: "Anger is from Satan, and Satan is from fire, and fire is quenched only by water; so when one of you grows angry, let him perform ablution." And in another hadith:"
— Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Fawāʾid — Points of Benefit, Volume Two
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"for asking Him to protect them from the punishment of the Fire, as they said: "Our Lord, You have not created this in vain. Exalted are You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire." The Prophet also advised أُمّ حَبِيبَة, saying: "If you ask اللّٰه to protect you from the punishment of the Fire, it would be better for you." He frequently sought refuge from the punishment of the Fire and the torment of the grave, and he instructed مُسْلِمs to seek refuge in their prayers from the torment of the grave, the punishment of the Fire, the trials of life and death, and the trial of the false messiah."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
Appears in
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