Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 323
— Part III 316 them and will not speak to them as though they did not exist. Of all the punishments mentioned in the Holy Quran, this is described as the most grievous. While reading this verse, usually the mind turns to the Hereafter as though an event only of the Hereafter is being described. That is not the only import of this verse. Here in this world, the same punishment is meted out to such people. All over the world in every religion, God completely severs His ties with them and they never receive His Revelation. The punishment meted out to them in this world will also be their share in the next world but far more intensified. The expression that God will not even cast a look upon them likewise applies to this world. They would be ignored as they ignored God. Again the expression Liyuzakk i him indicates that God will never purify them here or count them among the purified in the Hereafter. This part of the verse makes it manifestly clear that the first application of the word Tazkiyah (purification) is bound to appear here on earth. Purification is done during the worldly life. If one is not purified here, he cannot be purified in the Hereafter but only can be counted among those who are not purified. 'Not to look upon them' means not to look upon them with care and endearment. God is All-Powerful and can do what He likes, but He does everything with justice. In verse 41 of S u rah al- Baqarah, He addresses man by reminding him that: