Cadaab

Cadaab (also called Naar) is a religious concept referring to a place or state of punishment said to follow death. It is understood to be where those who committed wrongdoing or rejected faith go, according to the definitions given by various religions. The concept exists in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and other earlier traditions.

The Somali word cadaab derives from Arabic عذاب (cadhaab), meaning punishment or torment. Naar (نار) means fire. Both terms are used interchangeably in Somali religious discourse.

Islam

The Quran and hadith describe the Fire as a place of flame prepared for those who disbelieve and commit grave sins. It is referred to by various names such as Jahannam, Sacdiir, and Xudama. Some Islamic theological schools hold that a Muslim sinner will spend time there before eventually leaving, while others hold that the punishment is eternal. Punishment is typically described as fire, severe thirst, and painful torment.

Christianity and Judaism

In Christianity, punishment is generally characterized as separation from God and eternal torment. Church traditions differ on whether the punishment is eternal, temporary, or spiritual rather than physical. In Judaism, the concept of afterlife punishment is not uniform across all traditions; rabbinic sources have discussed Gehinnom, usually understood as a place of purification that is temporary in duration.

Other traditions

Hindu and Buddhist religions have hierarchies of punishment through which a person passes for a fixed period before returning to the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Ancient Greek traditions had Hades and Tartarus. Despite different names, the underlying structure—a system of retribution based on deeds—recurs across traditions.

Literature and art

Cadaab features prominently in literature. The most famous example is Dante Alighieri's Inferno (14th century), which describes nine circles of punishment, each with torment suited to a particular sin. Many artists have engaged with the subject, shaping how people perceive depictions of the concept.