--- title: "What Is Jahannam? Hell in Islam | Islam Is Mercy" description: "Jahannam is the Arabic name for Hell. Islam teaches that it is real and just — and that God's mercy and the door of repentance are open to all." lang: en url: https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/jahannam/ --- 1. [Home](https://islamismercy.com/en/) 2. [Glossary](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/) 3. What Is Jahannam? Hell in Islam # What Is Jahannam? Hell in Islam Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 1 min readAwaiting scholar review ## The short answer Jahannam is the Arabic name for Hell, also called an-Nar, "the Fire". Islam teaches that it is real: a place of just punishment for grave, unrepented wrongdoing and rejection of God. Islam also teaches that God takes no pleasure in punishing anyone and that His mercy and forgiveness are open to all who turn to Him. ## On this page 1. Meaning 2. Fear and hope together 3. Note **Jahannam** (Arabic: جهنم) is pronounced *ja-HAN-nam*. The Qur’an also calls it *an-Nar*, “the Fire”. The name is related to the Hebrew *Gehinnom* (Gehenna), the valley whose name became a byword for punishment in Jewish and Christian tradition. ## Meaning Muslims believe that Hell is real. The Qur’an speaks of it plainly and seriously, as a place of punishment for those who knowingly reject God and for grave wrongdoing such as oppression and cruelty that a person never repented from. It is not a place of injustice: no one is wronged even slightly, and no one carries another’s burden. At the same time, the Qur’an makes clear that God does not want to punish His servants: > مَّا يَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًۭا ﴿١٤٧﴾ > What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing. [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:147](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=147&translations=20)Saheeh International According to authentic hadith, believers who enter it because of their sins will not remain there forever; God’s mercy will bring them out (Bukhari 22). ## Fear and hope together Muslims are taught to hold fear and hope in balance, like two wings of a bird. Fear of Hell keeps a person from harming others and from taking sin lightly; hope in God’s mercy keeps them from despair. The Qur’an tells even those who have wronged themselves greatly never to lose hope, because God forgives all sins for those who turn back to Him (Qur’an 39:53). Who will end up where is for God alone to judge. Muslims are not taught to condemn individuals, but to look to their own souls. ## Note To understand the whole picture of the life to come, read [What Happens After Death?](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/life-after-death/) and [What Happens to My Past Sins?](https://islamismercy.com/en/become-muslim/past-sins-forgiven/) ## Key takeaways - Jahannam is Hell — real, serious, and perfectly just. - God does not want to punish anyone; repentance is open until death. - Only God judges who ends up where; Muslims are taught hope and fear together. ## Share this article [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=What%20Is%20Jahannam%3F%20Hell%20in%20Islam%20https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fglossary%2Fjahannam%2F)[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fglossary%2Fjahannam%2F&text=What%20Is%20Jahannam%3F%20Hell%20in%20Islam)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20Is%20Jahannam%3F%20Hell%20in%20Islam&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fglossary%2Fjahannam%2F)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fglossary%2Fjahannam%2F) ## Sources - [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:147](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=147&translations=20) ## Talk to a Muslim Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask a real person — no pressure, no judgement. [Ask your question](https://islamismercy.com/en/talk/) ## Keep reading [Start Here ### What Happens After Death in Islam? What do Muslims believe happens after we die? The grave, the resurrection, the Day of Judgement, and the perfect justice and mercy of God. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/life-after-death/)[Glossary ### What Is Jannah? Paradise in Islam Jannah means Paradise: the eternal home of joy and peace God has prepared for those who believe and do good — beyond anything we can imagine. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/jannah/)[Becoming Muslim ### What Happens to My Past Sins When I Become Muslim? Islam teaches that sincerely becoming Muslim wipes away the sins that came before. Here is what the Qur'an and the Prophet ﷺ say, and what it means for you. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/become-muslim/past-sins-forgiven/)