Conclusion

What a difference it would make to one’s life if one were allowed to witness with one’s own eyes the demons of Hell punishing their victims, the roaring of the flames, the mad yelling of the damned, their unbearable moaning and groaning, their writhing for breath and their frantic begging to be allowed to be returned to Earth.

Without a doubt, one would become a new person, one would rearrange one’s entire life. The fact that everyone else might be oblivious to this reality would not prevent one from striving with all one’s strength for the Hereafter. One would distance oneself from every form of behavior which is objectionable to Allah, and one would perform as many good actions as possible. One would shiver at the thought of committing the least transgression or making any remark that might jeopardize one’s prospects in the Hereafter. One would immediately turn to Allah supplicating and begging for His forgiveness. The images of the things one had seen and heard would never leave one’s mind, causing one to seek refuge with Allah for protection from a similar predicament.

To gain Allah’s love and to be safe from His punishment such a person would devote all of his life, wealth and energy in His cause. Above all, he would be steadfast and determined to the death, even the worst hardship would become bearable. Nobody could distract him from his goal, he would be totally uncompromising in his pursuit of Allah’s approval. He would take every opportunity to do as much as possible for his own benefit in the Hereafter. What other people do, what types of lifestyle they lead and what ideologies they follow would be of no concern to him whatsoever. With all his strength and all his effort, he would strive to gain Allah’s love and affirmation. As well as being sensitive towards Allah’s commands and prohibitions, he would also explain them to other people, advising and warning everyone he met as to the reality of life. His greatest goal, his life long ambition would be to gain Allah’s friendship, submitting himself completely to Him. He would embody the type of fear described in the Qur’an:

… There are some rocks from which rivers gush out, and others which split open and water pours out, and others which crash down from fear of Allah… (Surat al-Baqara: 74)

If it is the fact that we have not seen Hell that is preventing some people from fearing Allah as they should and being cautious in their daily lives, it should suffice that He has indicated the existence of Hell repeatedly in the Qur’an, describing it in all its details and warning people against it.

When the time comes there will be no one who will not see Hell. Allah has made this absolutely clear. Only those who fear Allah will be saved from it, the others will be left in it on their knees:

There is not one of you who will not come to it. That is the final decision of your Lord. Then We will rescue the righteous [who fear Allah] and We will leave the wrongdoers in it on their knees. (Surah Maryam: 71-72)

However, there will be no benefit or advantage to be gained from seeing Hell at this point, because then, one is already beyond the point of no return…