The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 375
Punishment in this World Imposture is Punished in this World 375 The Holy Qur'an repeatedly proclaims that God Al- mighty does not spare one who fabricates a lie against Allah. He punishes such a one in this very life and destroys him; Allah the Exalted refers to it in the verse: قَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَى 157 That is, he who fabricates a lie shall perish. At another place it is said: و مَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِايْته 158 Who is guilty of greater wrong than one who fabricates a lie against God or gives the lie to His signs? It is thus clear that those who gave the lie to the word of God on the occasion of the advent of God's Prophets were not spared by God and were destroyed by diverse types of torments. Observe what was the end of the people of Noah and of 'Ad and Thamud and the people of Lot and of Pharaoh and the Meccan enemies of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Thus when those who rejected the truth were chastised in this world, how can he escape who fabricates a lie against Allāh and who is mentioned in the first place in the verse just cited. Would God treat the righteous and the false alike and is there no punishment in this life from God Almighty for impostors? ما لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ 159 157 Tā Hã, 20: 62 [Publisher] 158 Al-An'am, 6:22 [Publisher] 159 What is the matter with you? How judge ye!'-Al-Qalam, 68:37 [Publisher]