The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 369
Punishment in this World. Qur'ān: واذا اردنا ان تُهْلِكَ قَرْيَةٌ آمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا فِيهَا 151 A فَحَق عَلَيْهَا القَوْلُ فَدَ قَرْنَهَا تَدْمِيرًا ) 369. When We decide to destroy the people of a township We warn those of its dwellers who indulge in luxurious living because they transgress the limits in wickedness. . Thereupon, the Divine law in respect of them is fulfilled in that their wrongdoing arrives at its climax. Then We destroy them with a severe destruction. In another verse it is said: وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى الْقُرَى إِلَّا وَاهْلُهَا ظُلِمُونَ 152. We have never destroyed a habitation except when its people are determined upon wrongdoing. . It should be kept in mind that though association of anything with God is also not only a wrong but an enormity, yet in this context by wrongdoing is meant such disobedience and misconduct as transgress the limit. . For mere association of others with God which is not accompanied by persecution, arrogance, disorder, attacks upon the preachers of other religions, plans for their killing, and such extreme sinfulness whereby the fear of. God is totally excluded from the hearts, the punishment is promised in the hereafter. Chastisement in this life is inflicted only at the time of extreme transgression, as it is said in another verse: وَلَقَدِ اسْتَهْزِئَ بِرُسُلِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَامْلَيْتُ لِلّذِينَ كَفَرُوا 151 Bani Isrā'il, 17:17 [Publisher] 152 Al-Qaşaş, 28:60 [Publisher]