Among the authentic narrations of the Prophet ﷺ is the Hadith about Hellfire’s two “breaths”; one in summer and one in winter, which explains extreme heat and extreme cold on earth. Some critics raise objections to this narration, arguing that the Qur’ān mentions “when Hell is kindled” (Q.81:12), implying it does not yet exist. Others question what is meant by Hell “breathing.”

This article addresses these objections by analyzing Qur’ānic verses, Prophetic Hadith, and classical commentary, alongside theological and cosmological reflections.

1. Qur’ānic Proofs That Hell Exists Now

Prepared in Advance

Surah al-Baqarah (Q.2:24): “… then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.”

The word u‘iddat (prepared) indicates past completion. Hell is already created.

Surah Āl-‘Imrān (Q.3:131–133): “And fear the Fire which has been prepared for the disbelievers. And hasten to forgiveness… and a Garden as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous.”

Both Hell and Paradise are described as already prepared.

Present Tense Usage

Surah Nūh (Q.71:25): “Because of their sins, they were drowned and put into the Fire…”

The wording is in present tense, not future. They were placed in the Fire after death, before the Day of Judgment.

Surah al-Naba’ (Q.78:21–22): “Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait — for the transgressors, a place of return.”

This shows Hell’s readiness. Scholars stressed this means Hellfire exists now.

Kindling on the Day of Judgment

Surah al-Takweer (Q.81:12): “And when Hell is kindled.”

This does not mean Hell does not exist. Classical tafsīr explains that Hell already burns, but on that Day it will be fully ignited, intensified, and exposed to all creation. Just as a fire can be stoked, Hell will be “set ablaze” further.

2. Hadith Proofs That Hell Exists Now

In the Mi‘rāj (Night Journey), the Prophet ﷺ saw both Paradise and Hell (Muslim).

During the solar eclipse, he ﷺ said: “I saw Paradise and reached out to take a bunch of its fruit… and I saw Hell, and I have never seen anything more horrifying.” (Bukhārī, Muslim)

These narrations confirm the current existence of Hell.

3. What Does “Breath” Mean?

The Hadith about Hell’s “two breaths” can be understood linguistically and metaphorically:

• The Arabic word nafas means release or exhalation, not necessarily breathing with lungs.

• Imām al-Nawawī: “It means Allah allows Hell to release some of its heat and cold. The extreme heat you feel is from Hell’s heat, and the extreme cold is from its zamharīr (freezing cold).”

• Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalānī (Fath al-Bārī): “It is figurative, not literal. Its effects are permitted to reach the world, and the Prophet ﷺ explained it as ‘breath’ to make it comprehensible.”

The Qur’ān itself speaks of Hell’s cold: Surah al-Insān (Q.76:13): “No excessive heat nor bitter cold will they experience therein.”

This proves that Hell has both fiery heat and freezing torment.

4. Cosmological and Tafsīr Reflections

Several tafsīr discussions and modern reflections provide deeper insights:

Mountains and Planets

Surah al-Naba’ (Q.78:20–22): “And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage. Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait — for the transgressors, a place of return.”

The removal of mountains hints at extreme cosmic upheaval. Some scholars explain this as planets and land masses merging into a vast plain, carrying all creatures to the final assembly.

Hell, already existing, will then be fully exposed.

Hell Beneath the Earth

• Tafsīr works mention that Hell may be located beneath the Earth, where extreme heat and molten lava exist. This explains the Qur’ān’s statement that Hell is “lying in wait.”

• When cosmic bodies (planets) merge, Hell may be revealed more openly. This does not mean Hell is created at that moment — rather, it already exists but is assembled and uncovered.

Present Existence

Multiple commentaries stress that Hell is already created:

“Hell has been lying in wait” (Q.78:21). It has been prepared in advance.

“They were drowned and put into the Fire” (Q.71:25). Past nations entered it.

“… fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared…” (Q.2:24) Readiness is confirmed.

Thus, Qur’ān, Hadith, and tafsīr consistently affirm Hellfire’s present reality.

5. Reconciling All Evidence

• Hell exists now, as supported by Qur’ān and Hadith.

• The phrase “when Hell is kindled” refers to its intensification on the Day of Judgment, not its initial creation.

• The Hadith of two breaths uses accessible language for profound truths: Hell’s influence manifests in our world through extreme heat and extreme cold.

• Cosmological tafsīr (mountains vanishing, planets merging, Earth’s fiery core) provides imagery of how Hell may be uncovered and intensified at the world’s end.

Conclusion

The Hadith of Hellfire’s “two breaths” is fully consistent with the Qur’ān. The objections, that Hell does not yet exist or that “breathing” is nonsensical, are refuted by scriptural evidence and classical exegesis.

• Qur’ānic verses in past and present tense prove that Hell is already created.

• Hadith accounts confirm the Prophet ﷺ witnessed Hell.

• “Breath” is metaphorical, meaning the release of Hell’s effects by Allah’s permission.

• Tafsīr further supports that Hell is real, beneath creation, and awaits intensification on the Day of Resurrection.

Belief in the unseen (ghayb) is central to faith. Hell is not a myth to be postponed; it is a present, living reality, prepared for the transgressors and awaiting its full unveiling.

Indeed, Allah knows best.