Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 683
A SHINING SIGN-SIGN NUMBER 198 683 out by the revealed Scriptures and history, God has caused hundreds of thousands of disbelievers, transgressors, and wicked people to perish through this very plague from the very beginning. God is far above and beyond allowing His Elect to become victim of this chastisement together with the disbelievers, and allow His exalted Prophets to suffer the same chastisement from which thousands of evildoers have always been dying during the time of the Prophets. Hence, no Prophet ever died of the chastisement that overtook the people of Lut [Lot], and, indeed, no Prophet has ever died of the chastisement which overtakes his people. Similarly, the plague, which is a punishment specifically meant for the disbelievers, cannot touch any chosen one of God. If anyone makes a claim contrary to this and says that a Prophet among the past Prophets did die of the plague, he is free to think so. I can- not muzzle a shameless or insolent person, but this is indeed what is proven from the Book of Allah that the plague is ) [chastisement] and it always descends upon the disbelievers. However, it is true that just as Hell is specifically reserved for disbelievers, and though some sinful believers too will be cast into Hell, this will only be to examine, cleanse, and purify them. But in accordance with the promise of God: ور أولَبِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ Meaning that, the exalted ones will be kept away from Hell. The plague, too, is a kind of hell and the disbelievers are cast into it for the purpose of chastisement, and such believers who cannot be said to be innocent, and are not entirely free from sin, for them this plague is a means of purification and it is this plague which God has called 'hell. As such, the plague may possibly be prescribed for believers of an inferior qual- ity who stand in need of purification, but those people who occupy exalted stations of love for-and closeness to- -God shall never enter into this hell. Therefore, is it not strange that the 1. Surah al-Anbiya', 21:102 [Publisher] person who presents