Lessons of Mi’raaj

A group of people with fingernails of copper were scratching their faces and chests. When Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) enquired about this group, Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) replied that they were those who made gheebat (used to backbite) in the world.

One person was swimming in a river and a boulder was being thrown at him continously. When Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) was asked who this person was, he replied that he used to deal in interest.

There was a group of people whose heads were being smashed by boulders. Thereafter their heads would return to their original form and get smashed again. This punishment continued all the time. When Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) who these people were, he replied that they were those who did not perform their fardh salaah.

A group of people had rags tied around their private parts. They were grazing on the thorns and stones of Jahannum as camels graze. Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) explained that they were those who did not pay their zakah.

Some men and women were in front of two pots. One pot had cooked meat and the other had rotten meat. They were eating the rotten meat. Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) who they were. He replied that they were those men and women who committed zina (adultery).

There was a stick that was in the middle of a path. It would tear up whoever passed by it. When Nabi ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) about this, he replied that this is the example of those ummatis (followers) who hide on the side of the roads and loot the people passing by (highway robbers).

A group of people collected a huge pile of wood. which they were unable to carry, yet they continued adding to the pile of wood. Hadhrat Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) explained that this is the example of those who despite having not fulfilled the trusts rights of people, yet they continue to burden themselves with more responsibilities.

The tongues and lips of a group of people were being cut with iron scissors. After being cut, they would return to normal. Their tongues and lips would then be cut again and in this manner the punishment continued. When Jibraeel عليه السلام (peace be upon him) was asked who they were, he replied that these were the people who would deliver lectures and advise others, but they themselves did not practise upon it.