Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire." Someone asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers)," Allah's Apostle said, "The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire."
Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3265
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Your (ordinary) fire is one of 70 parts of the (Hell) Fire." Someone asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) This (ordinary) fire would have been sufficient (to torture the unbelievers)," Allah's Apostle said, "The (Hell) Fire has 69 parts more than the ordinary (worldly) fire, each part is as hot as this (worldly) fire."
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari serves as a severe warning about the intensity of Hellfire. The mathematical ratio demonstrates that the fire we experience in this world is merely 1/70th of Hell's fire, meaning Hellfire is seventy times more intense than earthly fire.
The companions' astonishment reveals their limited human comprehension - they thought ordinary fire alone would be sufficient punishment. The Prophet's clarification emphasizes the unimaginable severity of divine punishment for those who reject faith.
Classical scholars note this hadith establishes several crucial theological points: the literal reality of Hellfire, its incomparable intensity, and Allah's ultimate justice in proportioning punishment to the gravity of disbelief and sin.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments that this serves as both a warning to sinners and a demonstration of Allah's mercy in giving us a tangible reference to comprehend the hereafter's realities, however limited our understanding may be.