I Saw The Faces of Jahannam

When you spend enough time with people of the fire, you start to smell like smoke.

Author

Hamza Awaale
March 28, 2025

I knew they were dragging me to hell. I still followed.

A few years ago, when I was still a chef, I didn’t have a single practicing friend.

Back-to-back shifts, closing at 4AM—my world were chefs and waitresses.

So naturally, I became like them too.

I thought being born and raised Muslim was enough to protect me—

I was wrong.

And the Day the wrongdoer will bite his nails [in regret] and will say,“Woe to me! I wish I had not taken so-and-so as a close friend.

He truly led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!

25:27-29

I became desensitised to degeneracy.

To relationships. Gossip. Alcoholism. Drug addictions. Betting on the footy.

One night, after a mad shift, we went to a friend's house…

By Allah! I thought I had walked into Jahannam.

I won't go into details but I walked around the place and scanned people's faces—

Misery. Anger. Loneliness. Lust. Greed.

I walked out and walked one hour and a half home. Smashed my phone.

I never wanted to see these people again.

So when I listened to Idris Abkar recite Surah Furqan. (Link)

The ones who are gathered on their faces to Hell - those are the worst in position and farthest astray in [their] way.

25:34

I realised... I had seen the faces of Jahannam.

Would that be me?

The Wakeup Call

Their Lord were their desires.

Their masjids were nightclubs and bars.

Their salah? A hit of coke. A drag of vape.

And I was there with them. Laughing. Numbing. Floating.

Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for him?

25:43

Never again. I quit the job with no notice soon after.

I liked my people.

But not enough to burn in Hell for.

From Today

  • Audit your phone. Delete any degenerates and distractions.

  • Find your mission. Once you have a purpose driving you every day, you'll have no interest in wasting precious time on certain people.

  • Learn to say no. Grow a spine. If it doesn't benefit you, say no. 0 justification. 0 explanation.

  • Replace with better. Go to the Masjid. Sign up for the gym. Join a sports/physical class-football team, boxing, wrestling. Go to where disciplined men are.

The start of Juz 19 reminds us of most people's reality: weak, spineless, and led by their own desires. Letting bad influences hold their hand to Hellfire.

When the gates of Jahannam are right in front of you, don't blame Shaytan, your friends, your dad, your girlfriend— only blame yourself.

Challenge

Tough one today: We all have one person we love who simply isn't good for us.

Time for a serious conversation with them.

Advise first. If they refuse—-it's time to let go.

Allah, free us from evil companions and replace them with the righteous.

Until the next one,

Hamza.