Islamic Hell: Absurdity of
Science and Logic
Islamic Hell: Absurdity of
Science and Logic
Denis Giron
The Qur'an, like the Bible, teaches that God (called 'Allah' by
Muslims) sends those who displease Him to Hell. However, one
wonders is the concept of Hell is rational or logical. Does Hell
really exist? The arguments offered here can also be applied to
Christianity, but this article will focus on Islam, as theological
issues are not confronted in Islamic areas as much as they have
been by critical thinkers in Christian countries.
The scientific problem
To discuss Hell with a Muslim is an exercise in futility that
quickly becomes an exhibition of Islamic idiocy. Muslims are quick
to proclaim scientific miracles within their texts, even though
they have no desire to really discuss science at all. While they
try to portray their texts as being compatible with modern secular
science, they ignore the many scientific errors in their text, or
claim that the critic of such texts does not know the true
interpretation.
The idea of Hell is both illogical and scientifically absurd. How
can eternal fire be any kind of divine punishment that one should
fear? You cannot be burned for eternity. Your body only offers a
given and finite amount of fuel for fire. Eventually there will be
nothing left to burn.
Trying to get around such arguments, the believer in Hell will
claim Hellfire consists of "smokeless fire" and that it
"burns, but does not consume". If the fire does not
consume one's flesh, there is no pain! Pain is caused by neural
receptors in the brain alerting you to cells being destroyed. If
the fire does not consume one's flesh, no cells are destroyed, and
thus there is no pain!
Perhaps some supporters of the Hellfire theory will offer the idea
that your "soul" is sent to Hell and not your body. If
one is without their body, they are without cells, without neural
receptors, and therefore without pain. These are scientific facts
about pain that primitive cultures were not aware of. Those who
believe Hell exists can only describe eternal damnation as a
"phenomenon which science cannot explain".
While such a description makes belief in Hell something of the
realm of fantasy, there are still stern arguments against such a
concept. Whether there is pain or not, eternal flames is not a
true punishment to be feared. If it is eternal, there is ample
time to grow accustomed to one's environment. Surely eternity is
enough time to develop a higher tolerance of pain. There have been
examples of human beings who reached a mental state where they do
not feel pain. An example would be Buddhist monks in Viet Nam who
could set themselves on fire, and show no reaction while burning
to death. Such people would have nothing to fear from Hell.
Who is sent to Hell?
In Islam people are sent to Hell for not believing in God.
Unfortunately this is a vague reason, as in Islam it is not
immediately clear who is a believer and who is not. Different
schools of thought offer different explanations as to what is
qualifies one as a believer. The following verse from the Qur'an
may shed some light on the issue:
Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians,
and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes
in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive
their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor
will they grieve. (Qur'an 5:69)
While Shia, Sufi, and Submitter schools of thought agree that the
above verse proves Jews and Christians can go to heaven, Sunnis
strongly disagree. Most Sunnis will state that the above verse has
been abrogated by the following one:
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be
accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the
losers. (Qur'an 3:85)
While Rashad Khalifa, founder of the Submitter sect, argued that
Islam was Arabic for "submission (to God)" and therefore
included Jews and Christians, Orthodox Sunni Muslims rejected such
a possibility. Furthermore, teachers of Sunni law have argued that
"Islam" means Sunni Islam only, and sects such as Shia,
Ahmedi, Sufi, Qadianni, et cetera, will also be sent to Hell. In
trying to explain why all the other sects are displeasing to
Allah, Sunnis offer the following verse from the Qur'an:
Do not be like those who split up their religion and became sects,
they invented new things in the religion (bid’ah) and followed
their vain desires, each sect rejoicing in that which is with
it.” (Qur'an 30:31-32)
Sunnis make up roughly 90% of all Muslims, and have thoroughly
oppressed the much smaller sects. Rashad Khalifa himself was
murdered in 1990 while visiting a Mosque in Arizona. Shias are the
targets of much violence in Pakistan, and it is actually against
the law to be a Shia in Malaysia! Many Islamic Sheikhs speak out
against Sufi Islam, and countless Sunni religious leaders openly
preach violence against those of the Ahmedi and Qadianni sects.
Such oppression is easily accepted by Sunnis, as they believe they
are punishing heretics, whom God himself hates. This is especially
true of Shias, as many Sunnis believe that Shia Islam was started
by the Jews.
Why send people to Hell?
Regardless of sectarian politics, all Muslims agree that those who
do not believe in the God of Abraham will be sent to Hell. This
includes Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and of course Atheists. Most
Muslims also now feel that Christians who worship Jesus as God
(which is the vast majority of Christians) will be sent Hell also.
The question is why are all these people sent to Hell?
According to Islam, God (Allah) has ordained a very specific path
for mankind. Those who stay on the path are rewarded with
paradise, while those who stray from the path are severely
punished (with Hellfire). Apparently Allah is very concerned about
who is worshipping Him. So concerned, that He uses bribery and
coercion to keep people in line.
The contradiction between the concept of a merciful God, and one
that sends disbelievers to Hell, is one that cannot be reconciled.
While Muslims, and the Qur'an, refer to God as Ar-Rahman (The Most
Merciful), Allah is not very merciful at all. The God of Islam
punishes those who do not recognize His dominance and acknowledge
His superiority. This depicts Allah as being insecure, and having
an inferiority complex. Psychologists could say a lot about
Allah's aggressive nature, and desperate need to be worshipped.
In short Islam is a spiritual dictatorship. Allah is not loved by
His followers, but feared. No person is allowed to live their life
the way they want to. Fortunately for mankind, Allah is an
impotent dictator. He is no longer able to carry out His
punishments, and the iron fist with which He rules has grown soft.
All that is left are His henchmen: Muslims, the pawns of the
oppressor hurling hollow threats of a mythical place called Hell.
These comically misguided mercenaries patiently await the day
Allah will come and destroy the infidels, and create an Islamic
paradise for the faithful. Sadly they do not realize that their
violent desert deity is a myth. The concept of Hell was created by
a primitive society who's understanding of how a God should act
was based on the behavior of the oppressive rulers of that time.
While primitive cultures were terrorized by the thought of such a
place, those who can think rationally should discard belief in
such absurdities.
[For further information, see the Islamic Studies Page.]
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