Women in Hell –Quran or hadith evidence?
Question
I heard that there will be more women in hell than men. Is it true and is the proof i.e Quran verses or hadith
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedNowhere in the Quran does it say that women will go to Hell more than men. The Quran clearly states.
اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
(سورة النساء ٤:٤٠)
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; and if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and grants from Himself a great reward.”
(Surah An-Nisa 4:40)
However, there are two hadiths in which it is narrated that the majority of the inhabitants of Hell are women.
أَرَيْتُ النَّارَ فَلَمْ أَرَ مِنْظَرًا الْيَوْمَ أَفْظَعَ مِنْهَا، وَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ
Translation:
I saw the Hellfire, and I did not see anything more terrifying than it today, and I saw that most of its dwellers are women.
(Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq, Bab Sifat an-Nar: 3241 / 5198)
اطَّلَعْتُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ، وَاطَّلَعْتُ فِي النَّارِ فَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ
Translation:
I looked into Paradise and saw that most of its people are the poor; and I looked into Hellfire and saw that most of its people are women.
(Bukhari, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq, Bab Sifat an-Nar: 3242 / 5199)
Explanation
These hadiths do not contradict the Quran. The Quran clearly states that Allah judges by deeds and intentions, not gender.
The hadiths are specific observations made by the Prophet ﷺ and do not represent a general rule that every woman will go to Hell more than men.
The purpose of these narrations is advice and warning:
They highlight that some harmful habits — like ingratitude, backbiting, or being unkind — are dangerous.
The Prophet ﷺ intended to alert women to avoid these behaviors and turn to good deeds and repentance.
Ultimately, the true reason for entering Paradise or Hell is a person’s deeds and sincerity, not their gender.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
March 28, 2026
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