KİTABIN MUKADDİMESİ · Birinci Madde
First Article
It summarizes the seven seas, mountains, lands, and hell.
O esteemed one! It is known that the scholars of *tafsir* (commentary) and hadith are in agreement on this matter. When the Exalted God intended to create the heavens and the earth, He created the paradises and treasures from the water of the green essence we have mentioned previously, and from its pure and subtle residue, He created seven heavens. From what remained of it—the murky and dense part (sediment)—He stirred it. When the essence and waves rose up upon it, He froze them as they were; thus the lands and mountains came into being. Afterward, the Exalted God connected all the mountain’s main arteries (fault lines) to Mount Kaf, which encompasses the entire earth. He appointed a great angel to be responsible for earthquakes; [11/a] and made the mountain's arteries (fault lines) obedient to him. If the Exalted God wishes to protect a people from their sins, the appointed angel, by God’s command, sets in motion the fault lines in that region. Thus, the people of that region awaken from their heedlessness and turn towards the Exalted God and obey Him.
Then, the Exalted God created seven seas, the smallest of which encircles the earth beyond Mount Kaf. For this reason, it is called the "encompassing sea" (*bahr-i muhit*). Beyond that lies a second sea named Kanyes. Beyond that, there is a third sea named Esam. Beyond that, there is a fourth sea, named Muzlem. The fifth sea beyond that is named Mırmas/Mirham. Beyond that is a sixth sea, named Sâkin. And beyond that is the seventh sea, named Bâkî, and it is the last of the seven seas. These seven seas encompass one another; each sea has a width equivalent to five hundred years’ journey.
From the residue of the green essence mentioned above, the Exalted God created eight Kaf mountains—two between these seas, one between the first sea and the circumference of the earth, and one beyond the seventh sea. Thus, their number became eight. Each of the Kaf mountains mentioned has a width equivalent to five hundred years’ distance. Afterward, with His boundless power, the Exalted God placed seven layers of heaven around seven mountains resembling pegs, like domes. The eighth Kaf mountain remained solitary within the world's sky, separated from all others between the encompassing sea (*bahr-i muhit*) and the earth. That green mountain is illuminated by the light of the sun, the brilliance of the moon, and the sparkle of stars from the depths of the heavens. This radiance reflects off Mount Kaf, making the air appear blue; the people mistake this for the color of the sky.
The Exalted God has filled each of the seven seas with countless creatures of all colors, like fish swimming in the sea. And beyond the seventh layer of heaven—the wall of Kaf mountain—He created a great serpent that encircles the great mountain completely, placing its tail upon its head. In this state, it constantly praises the Exalted God with a loud voice until the Day of Resurrection. The seven layers of earth are then in turmoil, churning like a ship within these seas, while the Exalted God has appointed a great angel to oversee them. [408] A harsh wind was created beneath the seven hells. This wind is found above the layers of hell known as Sa’ir and Sâkar. Afterward, the Exalted God created veils of darkness (*zulmet*) beneath that wind. The knowledge of creation only extends to these veils; they do not comprehend beyond them. Only the Exalted God knows His dominion and those within it completely and exclusively.
Second Article [409]
It describes the details of the seven layers of earth, what is found in each layer, the seven levels of hell, their names, and the people of hell who reside there.
O esteemed one! It is known that the scholars of *tafsir* and hadith are in agreement as follows: The Exalted God, with His power, created the earths in seven layers beneath one another. He made the width of each layer and the distance between the two layers equivalent to five hundred years’ journey, filling the spaces between them with air. The name of the first layer is Dimka; its atmosphere is unpleasant like a barren wind. Therein are creatures known as Berşem. They will be held accountable and punished in the afterlife. The name of the second layer is Celde. And therein all kinds of torment have been prepared for the people of hell. The inhabitants of that place are called Tamas, who devour one another. The name of the third layer is Arka. Therein are scorpions with tails as large as camels, each tail having three hundred segments. These segments are filled with deadly poison. The inhabitants of that place are a miserly and selfish people; they are called Kabes, and their food is earth, and their drink is dew. The name of the fourth layer is Harbâ. Therein are great dragons like mountains. Their tails are as long as tall date palm trees. If even one of their poisons had mixed with *bahr-i muhit*, all creatures of the sea would have perished from its effect. Its inhabitants are called Jullham; they have neither eyes nor feet, but only two wings with which they fly.
The name of the fifth layer is Melsel, and the inhabitants are called Mahtat. They are countless in number and devour one another. There are rocks like mountains made of sulfur. These rocks are attached to the necks of the disbelievers and cast into hell. The name of the sixth layer is Sicn, and it is where the record books of the people of hell reside. Those who dwell there are called Katata.
The above-mentioned place has a curtain of darkness. And the seven layers of earth mentioned are standing on the shoulder of a great angel. God created seven layers beneath the earth, under the green stone, red bull, large fish and vast sea, which are His wrathful hells, each lower than the other. The distance between any two hellish layers is five hundred years.
There are seven gates to Hell, and within each gate there are seventy thousand mountains of fire; in each mountain there are seventy thousand valleys of fire; in each valley there are seventy thousand castles of fire; in each castle there are seventy thousand houses of fire. [12/a] Within each house there are a thousand kinds of torment: ropes, chests, clubs, maces, chains, manacles, dogs, snakes, venomous scorpions, boiling and purulent waters, poison, and zakkum. There are black-faced, blue-eyed angelic devils, all deaf, and mercy has not been created in them. They are countless, and God has appointed a great and formidable angel named Malik as their chief. He is the ruler and gatekeeper of the seven hells.
The first layer of Hell is called Hell. Its torment is lighter than the others. It was created for the sinners of Muhammad’s community. The second layer is called Sa'ir, where Christians are imprisoned. The third layer is called Sakar, reserved for Jews. The fourth layer is called Jahim, with its severe torment for apostates (murtads) and devils. The fifth layer is called Hutama, containing the Well of Ghiyāh; it is the place of Ya'juj and Ma'juj and the disbelievers. The sixth layer is called Lazā, prepared for idolaters, fire-worshippers, and magicians. The seventh layer is the deepest, called Hāwiya, which will contain the godless, heretics, tricksters, liars, and hypocrites. Its fiery torment and the severity of its wrath are greater than all the other layers of Hell. There are more than seven thousand layers in all the mentioned hellish levels.
O God, most forgiving, protect us from Your fire with Your forgiveness!