Barhoot — A Sample of Barzakh Hell

By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Abdul Husain Dastghaib
As has been stated earlier, 'Waaiy-us-Salaam' is the dwelling place of lucky souls who gather there. And Barhoot which is a barren waterless desert is the place where dirty and evil souls are put to torture. It is a specimen of Hell of Barzakh. This hadis will make the matter more clear: - One day a man went to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) the last messenger of God, and, expressing his restlessness and anxiety, said: I have seen a very strange thing. The Holy Prophet asked: What is it? He replied: My wife became seriously ill. People told me: If you bring water from a well situated in the vale of Barhoot, her illness can be cured. (Some skin diseases are cured by mineral waters). So I got ready and proceeded towards that valley with a leather bag to fill that water and also a cup for fetching it from the said well. There I saw a very very frightening forest. Despite being afraid, I gathered courage and went on in search of that well (At last I found it). Suddenly I heard the voice of tinkling of a chain from above. That chain came down. I saw that a man is caught in that chain and requests me to give him some water as he was dying of thirst. When I raised my head to offer him a cup of water what I saw was that he was fastened to that hanging chain. Whenever I tried to give him water that fellow was dragged up to the red-hot sun. Then I tried to fill my bag with water. That man was again lowered by the dangling chain suddenly and complained bitterly about his deadly thirst. I tried to hand over water vessel to him but he was again pulled up right upto the sun. It happened for the third time too. At last I tied my water bag and could not give any water to him. I have become terribly frightened by observing all this and have come to your honour to ascertain the reason of this all. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) replied: That unfortunate man is Qaabeel, son of Adam (a.s.). He had killed his brother Haabeel.
Fa Taw Wa At…Khaasireen (Surah Maaidah: 5, V: 30). He will remain in this condition of torture till the day of Qiyamat and will finally fall in the painful punishment of Hell.