“Nay, the truth is that it is the Hour to which they give the lie. We have kept a Blazing Fire ready for him who denies the Hour. When it sees them from a place afar, they will hear its raging and roaring; and when they are flung, chained together, into a narrow place in it, they will fervently call there for annihilation. (They will then be told): ‘Do not call for a single annihilation, but for many an annihilation’.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 25: 11-14)
The word sā‘ah means ‘time’ or ‘hour’. With the prefix al, it refers to that particular moment in the future about which man has been forewarned. The Qur’ān repeatedly uses this word to denote the promised Hour of Resurrection, when everyone will be raised from the dead and will be gathered before the Almighty Who will judge them according to their beliefs and actions and Who will then either reward or punish them.
The statement “when it (i.e. the Blazing Fire) sees them from a place afar” could be either metaphorical or literal. In a metaphorical sense it would mean something similar to “the minarets of the mosque are observing you”. Literally, it would seem to suggest that the Fire will be invested with the ability to perceive. In other words, the Fire of Hell will not be bereft of consciousness like the fire of this world. Therefore, it will not burn indiscriminately, but rather burn only those who deserve to be burned.
The ayaat 25:13-14 suggest that those who deserve the Fire will remain there for ever.