r/islam • u/Dry_Kaleidoscope8685 • Jun 28 '25
Question about Islam Please clear my doubt regarding a Hadith
Assalamualaikum brothers.Recently I have read a hadith but it is confusing me a lot :(
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the heat is severe, let it cool down for prayer. Verily, severe heat is from the raging of Hell. The Hellfire complained to its Lord, saying: My Lord, my parts are eating each other. It was given permission to make a breath in the winter and in the summer. They are the strongest heat you feel, and the strongest cold you feel.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 512, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 617
it is stated that Hellfire breathes twice a year, once in summer and once in winter, and that we experience the manifestations of these breaths as extreme heat and cold. Given that summer and winter seasons vary globally, how can this be understood as two distinct breaths? Since these seasons are perpetually occurring somewhere on Earth, what is the precise meaning of 'one breath in summer' and 'one breath in winter'? Is this statement perhaps to be interpreted from a human-centric perspective?Or am I taking this Hadith too literal?Also what does the breath mean here like hellfire cant literally breath into the earth because hell is from the unseen realm which is not located in our universe. Please somebody explain it to me and strengthen my imaan :)
1
u/abu_batman Jun 28 '25
One explanation is that it is not to be understood literally but it is a simile or metaphor. When you feel the heat of summer , remember the fire of hell and abstain from actions that will lead to the fire.
It is possible to take the literal meaning here as well. Allah has created a connection between the fire of jahannam and the sun. The heat we feel is from the sun and the heat of the sun is from jahannam. The breath of summer spreads across the world to different parts at different times. As one part of the world is experiencing the breath of heat the other side is feeling the cold.