Djenna & Gehenna; explanation

arnoldyasin

Gehenna and Djenna

People are brought up with the concepts of heaven and hell, like it are physical places. But when you study the subject, it shows that this is an old idea which was taken in by the muslims. Most early commentators of the Quran, came from different backgrounds, Persian, Christian and so on, and took in their concepts of Djenna and Gehenna in the interpretation. Instead of letting the Quran explain itself, they already had a prenotion of the meanings. This preconcieved idea became the overall meaning, and has clouded the true meaning.

The Quran tells us that the universe will keep evolving. Djenna and Gehenna are mostly states of mind, not physical places. It is because their state of mind has effect on the surroundings, which by we can say, that Gehenna and Djenna pours out of their minds into the collective reality. How you think influences your enviroment. So a bad mind, will do bad deeds, and creates Gehenna for their surroundings. Same applies for people with a good mind, which creates Djenna in their surroundings.

Djenna means Garden in foilage, which refers that the ground is covered by the trees. The trees stand for the deeds, and the ground for where the deeds come from. The results are the fruits of those trees. That we will keep on living is a fact given in the Quran, but in the state we will live and live now, is called Gehenna or Djenna. The tree from which adam and spouse ate, was a deed which is not part of the higher state of mind, and by thus were ?thrown out of Djenna?. Most likely this ithm(harmful deed), was forming seperate groups, and by thus causing stagnation of the development of humankind, as the tree also represents coming from one stem into branches. Adam comes from adami, which refers to people. To have a good ground(Djenna), it will ensure good deeds, and by thus create the best enviroment.

Jahannam(arabic&hebrew)/Gehenna(greek) is an old valley south of Jerusalem, Ja=valley Hannam=valley name. People used to be sacrificed there to idols, also the valley was used later on as an execution ground for criminals and also a place were bodies and clothing were burned, who had died of a contagious diseas. Also in Jesus's time it was still used for burning the rubbish and garbage of Jerusalem. Which in itself gives the idea that Gehenna is made 'out of rubbish' or illusion. That Gehenna has the same reference as Djenna, being the ground of conciousness, is shown by the tree of bitterness( see 3762, 64, 146; 4443), where it represents an evil and harmful deed, and it fruits represents the bad results.

So what does this valley represent? In the days of Jesus, the term Gehenna was already used for stagnation. If you were an idolator, in the old days you would have ended up in Gehenna to sacrifice to your idols. If you were a criminal, you would have ended up in Gehenna to be executed. if you were a sickness to society, you would have ended up in Gehenna. So Gehenna became the metaphor for certain qualities of human actions. It refered to living in illusions and darkness of the heart.

So it is a metaphor for a certain state of mind, to be an idolator, criminal and so on, you have to be in a certain state of mind to think like that. Gehenna is the over-all name for those states of mind. No one believes people will end up in the valley after their judgement, everyone sees this as a metaphor, but why then do people take the burning and fire literaly?

God already explains that the descriptions of Gehenna and Djenna are metaphors, allegories. (see 1335 and 4715)

When understanding the true meaning of yaumwedeen(see end of article), the true understanding of Gehenna and Djenna becomes clear that they are states of mind, as the people of Gehenna can talk with the people of Djenna(744-50) but that there is a veil of difference between the 2 states of mind(746), and that the people of Djenna don't feel the flames of Gehenna because of the difference of thinking(21102). Which refers to that the fires burn away logic and truth.

Throughout the Quran, God gives us examples of ways of thinking. Think like this, and you are/end up in Gehenna. A certain belief will create a certain state of mind, which again causes certain deeds. Certain deeds or ways of thinking are directly connected with Djenna or Gehenna. Like 'Those who are righteous attain Djenna', or 'Who disbelieves will be in Gehenna'. You see a instant cause and effect, people fill in themselves that Djenna or Gehenna only comes after a certain event as 'judgement day'/yaumwedeen, but this is not what the message of these verses, no time limit is given, it gives a direct cause with an instant effect. These verses show that Gehenna is something that covers the mind

1046 A Fire kindled by Allah.
7 Which originates in, and engulfs, the hearts.
8 Verily, it closes upon them. (As they had kept their possessions closed
in vaults, and kindness surrounded in the flames of rivalry)
9 In extended columns.

To be in Djenna means to have the best deeds to get the best results in life. Your ground is formed out of the best belief, attitude, charachter, personality and knowledge, and will create the best deeds. The tree of Adam and spouse, was a deed that gave not the best result, and by thus, they were metaphorically thrown out of this state of mind(Djenna).

How you think determines your deeds, and by thus your influence on your surroundings. The best deeds creates the best influence on your surroundings. It is like Djenna pours out of your mind and covers the reality. The more people who think like this, the more effect it will have on the enviroment we live in.

The concept of the term ?Fire?, has to do with the word ?Jahim?, which means ?Fire? or ?impregnable Barriere?, and refers to stagnation, or non-growth of the Nafs(soul/conciousness). This again shows that Gehenna means a mind-state which causes the Nafs and society from developing.

So in the next life there will be as much Gehenna and Djenna as in this life. Deep inside people know they are doing wrong, that they are in Gehenna. When you see these verses, they show clearly that Djenna and Gehenna are also in this life.

3919 On the other hand, he who has inevitably deserved suffering can you save someone who is already consumed in the Fire?

1697 Whoever, whether male or female, does works that help others and is a believer, We shall certainly cause them to live a good life, and We shall grant them the rewards considering the best of their actions.

4131 We are close to you in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. In it (in your paradise on the earth and in the Hereafter) you shall have all that you may desire and in it you shall have all that you ever prayed for.

Paradise is already here if you want to see it
3133 Move forward eagerly to the tranquil security that comes from your Lord, and to the Paradise(Djenna) that transcends spatial boundaries, encompassing the Heavens and the Earth. It has already been prepared for those who live upright. (Paradise is not confined to the Heavens. Like Hell, it begins right here in this worldly life).

(see also 1062, 7213 and more)

God says in the Quran that everyone will see Gehenna, which refers to that everyone has been in that state of mind, somewhere in their life(1971).

The purpose of the universe, is that eventually everyone will have learned, and there will be no more Gehenna-states of mind.

11106 Now those who by their deeds brought misery on themselves will be in the Fire; sighing and wailing will be their portion. (21100).
107 Therein to abide, as long as the New Universe endures; that is time beyond count, unless your Lord decrees otherwise. Your Lord is Doer of what He Wills in the World of Command. (The current Universe will be dismantled for a new Universe 544, 1448, 21104, 2522, 3937, 6916, 709).

As long God deems it neccesary, people will be in that state of mind. But look at the difference between these verses above and the verse that comes after it

11108 The happy ones on that Day will enter the Garden and live there as long as the New Universe endures, that is time beyond count; until your Lord opens for them the way to further evolution, a gift unfailing.

With the verses about Gehenna, we don't see something like 'a punishment unfailing'.
We only see this with Djenna 'a gift unfailing'.

In my eyes this means, the Gehenna states of mind, will be somewhere in the evolution of the universe, left behind, as humankind has learned enough not to be no more in that state of mind. So everyone will be in Djenna, and creating paradise in our lives. Which will go on forever, a true gift unfailing.

Here is a summary of the use of 'eternal' in the Quran, and shows it is used and only meant for as long the condition is present, which indicates, as shown in 11107-109 that hell is only there till a certain moment, as only Djenna is approached as a gift unfailing, while Gehenna is not mentioned as a punishment unfailing, this is a truly important difference, God doesn?t forget and just like He mentioned everything with a purpose, He also never neglects things without a purpose.

All forms derived from the root of KHaLaDa (to be eternal, live forever, to remain for ever in place, or to stay for long time, or life time) occur 87 times in the Quran. If my preliminary count is correct, in 40 occurrences it describes the duration of reward in Djenna (225; 282; 315; 3107; 3136; 3198; 413; 457; 4122; 585; 5119; 842; 922; 982; 989; 9100; 1026; 11; 23; 11108; 1423; 18108; 2086; 21102; 2311; 2515; 2516; 2576; 2958; 319; 3973; 4371; 4614; 485; 5034; 5712; 5822; 649; 6511; 988; 5034 ), and in 40 occurrences it describes the duration of the stagnation of Jahim(=barriere which cannot be crossed) (239; 281; 2162; 2217; 2257; 2285; 388; 3116; 414; 493; 4169; 580; 6128; 736; 917; 963; 968; 1026; 1027; 1052; 11107; 135; 1629; 20101; 2199; 2529; 2569; 3214; 3365; 33103; 3972; 4076; 4128; 4374; 4715; 5917; 6410; 7223; 8517; 986).
The word KHaLaDa also conveys the meaning of long duration. For instance, the classic Arabic dictionary Lisanul Arab lists the plural form KHawaLiD to mean mountains and rocks since they last very long. The Quran, at least in one instance, uses the past tense of the word to describe an act lasting lifetime (7176). The verse describes a fanatic disbeliever and tells us that he "Akhlada ilal ardi." that is, stuck to the ground, stuck to lowly ideas! In this article I do not argue that the meaning of the word KHaLaDa and all its derivatives convey only the idea of a very long time or a period of a particular life time. Though there might be some evidence for such an argument, and the lack of usage of this word for God might be considered supportive evidence, presently I am not convinced.
As for the adverb ABaDa (eternally, ever, forever), it occurs 28 times in the Quran, and out of these, in nine occurrences it is used to describe the duration spent in Djenna (457; 4122; 5119; 922; 9100; 183; 649; 6511; 988 ) and in three verses this word is used for the duration spent in Gehenna (4169; 3365; 8223). Verses 537; 2222; 3220 state that the deniers will want to exit Gehenna, but they will never be able to do so. The arguments of those who reject eternal judgement is rejected (324).
ABaDa is used in 984; 9108; 244; 3353; 5911; 627 to mean eternity contingent with the life of the subject
"You shall never (La.... ABaDa) pray for any of them when he dies... " (984)
"You shall never (La ... ABaDa) pray in such a masjid..." (910
"... and never (La ... ABaDa) accept t any testimony from them..." (244)
"... You shall never (La ... ABaDa) marry his wives after him." (3353)
"... We will never (La ... ABaDa) obey anyone who against you..." (5911)
"... They will never (La ... ABaDa) long for it... " (627)

All these negative statements use ABaDa to express a prohibition that will last forever. More accurately, as long as conditions exist. For instance, when the person prohibited from funeral prayer himself dies, the prohibition too ends naturally. A dead person cannot pray at the grave of another dead person and therefore, this prohibition does not practically last for eternity. Similarly, when the wives of the Prophet all died, the prohibition to marry them ceased to exist. Therefore, the eternity of prohibition was in fact limited by the condition or life-time of the subject. In other words, in the above examples, the word ABaDa indicates the entirety of a particular period.

It is time we truly understand the beautifull metaphors God has given in the Quran. And stop believing in the mythical heavens and hell we took over from the greeks and persians. These wrong concepts of Djenna and Gehenna have created stagnation of the Muslim world, as people believe they only need to live their life and ?wait? for Djenna. This made the development of the Muslim world stop. And now it also has created people who think they can earn Djenna with a single deed like becoming a martyr and killing innocents just so they can attain ?paradise?. If people would finally understand the true meanings of Djenna and Gehenna, they will see that it were these concepts that drove the first followers of Muhammed into making the one of the largest and most free and most progressed governed states in earth?s history. They understood it was them who create Djenna or Gehenna.

When we study the Gatha's of Zoroasthra, we can see that their concept of paradise, was that the Law of God ruled the earth, and by thus creating 'heaven'. This concept can be seen throughout the Gatha's next to the pure monotheism they proclaim. Only in the later writings was this concept disturbed and replaced by an underworld of punishment and an upperworld of reward. This change happened at the same era when the theology of Zaroastrha was formed into polytheism. That polytheism and the wrong concept of Djenna and Gehenna go together can also be seen with the Christian theology, as Jesus refers most of the time to the Kingdom of God being already here in this life. This was changed into an upper- and underworld concept of heaven and hell, when the theology of Jesus was taken over by the Greeks who turned it into a polytheism.

Gospel of Thomas
Jesus said, "If those who attract you say, 'See, the Kingdom is
in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they
say to you, 'It is under the earth,' then the fish of the sea will
precede you. Rather, the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is
outside of you. become acquainted with
will find it; become acquainted with yourselves, it is you who are the sons of the living
Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty
and it is you who are that poverty."

I'm researching the Veda's of the Hindu's now, and the same concept is arising next to the pure monotheism that is hidden inside it. I hope in time to give more examples of Paradise and Hell, and how it was seen and used throughtout the ages.

Resurrection Day, is the period when all humans will be born again in the next universe. This law of Nature has been discovered now, and shows that everything is already programmed into the blue print of the universe.

See
http//www.free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=5417.0

But what is Yaumwedeen then? Does this refer to a special day?

yaumweDeen is mostly translated wrong with 'day of judgement'. Yaumwe can mean any time period as can be seen with the verses that use it for a moment(5529) and 50.000 years(704). So yaumwe can be a splitsecond as well as eternity. So Yaumwedeen refers to that the Law of God is always working any moment of the day, every second of your excistence.

The 'Day of Judgement' was taken over by the Greek Christians who took it from the Egyptians. This later on found it's way into the understanding of the Quran. The original Christians also used Djenna and Gehenna as metaphors for states of mind, which can be seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also yaumwedeen was used as the every moment confrontation with good and bad in your life.

The Quran talks about certain moments inside the Yaumwedeen and not any specific 'day' or moment. Your death is one moment inside the yaumwedeen, as well the moment you are reading this post, as well your next life. So yaumwedeen refers to the eternal law of God working in the creation. Yaumwedeen is present at any moment in your excistence of your soul. Every deed, in this life or the next, will fall under yaumwedeen.

Yaumwedeen is directly explained by this verse

996 That period(Yaumwe), the people proceed/arise separately to see their deeds.
7 So who makes/does a smallest particle of anything (smaller than an atom's) weight (of) good sees it.
8 And who makes/does a smallest particle of anything (smaller than an atom's) weight (of) bad/evil sees it.

Controller of the Era of Judgement and Order.

Now try to approach all the verses that have Yauwedeen, Gehenna and Djenna in them, in the way i have explained in this article, and you will see how clear and beautifull they will become.

unknownuser

Hello Pubic

The word Gehenna does not exist in the Quran, so I don't really know what all this was about, oh well, it was about something

Cheers

Alen

Salaam.

Wonderful and educational post, Arnie.
I will have to reread it again because it is fascinating.
I also have to translate it to my language so i can share it with others, here in Slovenia. They have much to learn.

May Allah Most Powerful bless us all.
Salaam.

arnoldyasin

Peace,

AB

Transliteration 2206 Wa-itha qeela lahu ittaqi Allahaakhathat-hu alAAizzatu bial-ithmi fahasbuhujahannamu walabi/sa almihadu
Arabic
Arabic Text 2206

Transliteration 312 Qul lillatheena kafaroo satughlaboonawatuhsharoona ila jahannama wabi/sa almihadu
Arabic
Arabic Text 312

The term Gehenna/Jahannam occurs dozens of times.........

unknownuser

Peace,

AB

Transliteration 2206 Wa-itha qeela lahu ittaqi Allahaakhathat-hu alAAizzatu bial-ithmi fahasbuhujahannamu walabi/sa almihadu
Arabic
Arabic Text 2206

Transliteration 312 Qul lillatheena kafaroo satughlaboonawatuhsharoona ila jahannama wabi/sa almihadu
Arabic
Arabic Text 312

The term Gehenna/Jahannam occurs hundreds of times.........

Peace bro

I do have eye problems but I'm not blind bro

the word that exist is jahanam the other word you are suggesting does not exist and never used once in the quran, why you dropped the Mim at the end?, this is not honest bro

also bro the word appears 77 times only in the quran not hundreds as you are suggesting

cheers

arnoldyasin

Peace,

Gehenna is greek, and Jahannam is arabic/hebrew. I corrected this in the first explanation of the word in my article so there will be no more mix ups. I will change them all to Jahannam so to stop any confusion.

And i hope your eyes will get better bro....

unknownuser

Peace,

Gehenna is greek, and Jahannam is arabic/hebrew. I corrected this in the first explanation of the word in my article so there will be no more mix ups. I will change them all to Jahannam so to stop any confusion.

And i hope your eyes will get better bro....

I'm sorry i edited my comment and asked you another question

cheers

arnoldyasin

Peace,

It was just an expression.......

unknownuser

Peace,

It was just an expression.......

ok, sorry then

cheers

nadeem

Hi Arnold,

A great post. Very informative and shows your high level of knowledge.

I'm not entirely convinced but leaning towards the intrepretation with an open mind.

You have a lot of knowledge about the devolopments of religions and their ideas. How did you get this knowledgde? Can you recommend a certain book og website?

Thanks ! )

Nadeem

arnoldyasin

Peace,

I got hundreds of books on all subjects, so to point one is a bit hard. I will PM you a list that maybe will help you a bit. And for the rest, i study Theology....

phoenix1

peace Yasin,
great article. I'll try to find some inconsistencies.
bravo

arnoldyasin

rotfl at least you take the effort to write them down

phoenix1

peace
I was being serious. And there was no pun of any kind intended.

unknownuser

Salam Arnold

Just a simple question bro and I hope you give me a simple answer

Is Jahannam for you a place where the Kafiroon will be barbecued or it is a state of mind?

Thanks

CavemanDoctor

Peace arnold.

Great article. I have very similar thoughts, as we've talked about before. I have taken many notes and scribbled thoughts down that I will make into an article in the near future, except if God wills. Hopefully that article can be read as a complementary piece to yours, for a fuller understanding.

After I formulate my thoughts into an actual written piece, I'll be in touch with you about it.

Peace.

unknownuser

Interesting article Arnold.

I've had my doubts about Janna and Jahannam being physical places for many years. But I never dared to speak my thoughts for fear of being labeled a heretic. In fact, ALL the "mutashabih" verses in the Reading are allegorical/metaphoric.

However, despite this, I still believe that there will be an afterlife. Even Einstein believed in an afterlife because, as he once stated "Energy can never die "..

Do you believe in the afterlife, Arnold?

P.S. CavemanDoctor your avatar is cool )

arnoldyasin

Salam Arnold

Just a simple question bro and I hope you give me a simple answer

Is Jahannam for you a place where the Kafiroon will be barbecued or it is a state of mind?

Thanks

Peace,

God says clearly that it are allegories, so no, i don't believe they will be barbequed. If you take the fire literaly, you also have to take Jahannam literaly, this would mean that all the people of hell would end up south of Jerusalem in the valley of Jahannam. That would be one crowded valley then. That is the thing, you cannot take the fire literaly, as then you also have to take the position of Jahannam seriously. It are states of mind, but i do believe that after death it will be felt as an agony, as people will be confronted with the truth, which will be felt as 'burning of the heart'.

4715
Here is the parable/allegory of the paradise which the righteous have been promised it has rivers the water of which will never be stagnant, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it they will have all kinds of fruits, as well as forgiveness from their Lord. Can such people be compared to those who shall dwell in hell forever, and they will be given scalding water which will cut their intestines into pieces?

In allegorical terms the Paradise that the righteous are promised is this Therein are rivers of ever fresh water, and rivers of ever fresh milk, and rivers of delicious wine, and rivers of clear-run honey. Therein are all kinds of fruit (of their good deeds), with a life secure from deterioration bestowed upon them from their Lord. Are they like the ones who abide in the Fire and are given drinks of burning despair that tears their insides? ('Maghfirah' here denotes protection from deterioration).

arnoldyasin

Interesting article Arnold.

I've had my doubts about Janna and Jahannam being physical places for many years. But I never dared to speak my thoughts for fear of being labeled a heretic. In fact, ALL the "mutashabih" verses in the Reading are allegorical/metaphoric.

However, despite this, I still believe that there will be an afterlife. Even Einstein believed in an afterlife because, as he once stated "Energy can never die "..

Do you believe in the afterlife, Arnold?

P.S. CavemanDoctor your avatar is cool )

Peace,

If you read carefully, you would have seen i said many times that there is as much Djenna and Gehenna in this life as the NEXT life. Yes, i do believe in the next life. Look halfway down my article to a link, it will show you a small article about the scientific proof for the afterlife...

unknownuser

Salam Arnold

Just a simple question bro and I hope you give me a simple answer

Is Jahannam for you a place where the Kafiroon will be barbecued or it is a state of mind?

Thanks

Peace,

God says clearly that it are allegories, so no, i don't believe they will be barbequed.

So Jahannam mentioned in the Quran does not exist for real, right?

If you take the fire literaly, you also have to take Jahannam literaly,

Excuse me bro, I'm noot taling about fire here, I'm only talking about Jahannam, if jahannam has fire and freezing cold and many other things that is a differnt story so please stay on the subject of my question, thanks

this would mean that all the people of hell would end up south of Jerusalem in the valley of Jahannam.

excuse me again bro, did the Quran say that Jahannam is a valley south of Jerusalem ?

That would be one crowded valley then.

well you will have an argument when you prove that the Quran said Jahannam is a valley south of Jerusalem, however didn't you read in the Quran that Allah will replace this earth with another earth on the JD, now I ask you mate, how do you know that Jerusalem will exist on the new earth on the JD?

That is the thing,

well, it was one funny thing,

you cannot take the fire literaly, as then you also have to take the position of Jahannam seriously.

I appreciate your humor, now please tell you were not serious?

It are states of mind,

Did the Quran say that?

but i do believe that after death it will be felt as an agony, as people will be confronted with the truth, which will be felt as 'burning of the heart'.

ok, so the heart will burn but the skin will not burn, right?

also do you think Jahannam is hot only or hot and cold?

4715
Here is the parable/allegory of the paradise which the righteous have been promised it has rivers the water of which will never be stagnant, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it they will have all kinds of fruits, as well as forgiveness from their Lord. Can such people be compared to those who shall dwell in hell forever, and they will be given scalding water which will cut their intestines into pieces?

In allegorical terms the Paradise that the righteous are promised is this Therein are rivers of ever fresh water, and rivers of ever fresh milk, and rivers of delicious wine, and rivers of clear-run honey. Therein are all kinds of fruit (of their good deeds), with a life secure from deterioration bestowed upon them from their Lord. Are they like the ones who abide in the Fire and are given drinks of burning despair that tears their insides? ('Maghfirah' here denotes protection from deterioration).

so the word mathal at the start of the verse meant for you that the whole verse is a parable, right?