يَوْمَ نَقُولُ لِجَهَنَّمَ هَلِ امْتَلَأْتِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِن مَّزِيدٍ
“On the Day on which We will say to Hell: “Have you been filled?” and it will say: “Are there any more?””.
This conjures the image of those overlooking hell seeing that it is jammed and hoping that there will be no place for them in it i.e., that they will be saved. Then it will be asked: “Are you full” and it will say: “Are there any more?!”
There are two main interpretations for the statement: “Are there any more?” The first interpretation is that is implies: “Are there any more, because I have space for more” conjuring the image of the insatiable hunger of hell and its demanding that more be thrown in.
The second interpretation is based on هَلْ (Hal) being used to express “denial” or “condemnation” rather than as a direct question.
هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
“Are any apart from the wrongdoing nation destroyed?” which in effect means: “None apart from the wrongdoing nation are destroyed”.
This usage here would imply that hell is complaining and saying: “Really, there’s more!” implying: “That is has been filled up and can more really be entered into it!” i.e., do I still have any space left?
It was reported from Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
يُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ وَتَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ مَزِيدٍ. حَتَّى يَضَعَ قَدَمَهُ فَتَقُولُ قَطِ قَطِ
“The people will be thrown into the (Hell) Fire and it will say: "Are there any more?') till Allah puts His Foot over it and it will say, 'Qati! Qati! (Enough, Enough!)” (Al-Bukhari).
“This conjures the image of those overlooking hell seeing that it is jammed and hoping that there will be no place for them in it i.e., that they will be saved.”
“Are there any more, because I have space for more” — insatiable hunger and demanding that more be thrown in.
هَلْ (Hal) used for “denial/condemnation” — “Really, there’s more!” implying: “That is has been filled up … do I still have any space left?”