That Day, no one will punish as He punishes and no one will shackle as He shackles. ( Surat al-Fajr, 89:25-26)
Despite all of the surrounding evidence, those who have no faith in Allah and who insist upon disregarding His grandeur and power surely deserve a great punishment, for Allah created us, placed us on Earth, and provided us with whatever we need. However, despite all of these blessings, some people insist on denial and even hate believers and try to destroy their faith. No doubt, such people will be repaid both in this world and beyond.
Allah directs some affairs in this world through His Messengers and sometimes punishes unbelievers in this world through the hands of His Messengers. Allah reveals this fact in the Qur'an, as follows:
If the hypocrites and those with a sickness in their hearts and the rumor-mongers in Madina do not desist, We will set you upon them. Then they will only be your neighbors there for a very short time. They are an accursed people. Wherever they are found, they should be seized and mercilessly put to death. This is Allah's pattern with those who passed away before. You will not find any alteration in Allah's pattern. ( Surat al-Ahzab, 33:60-62)
Their fearsome punishment in the Hereafter will continue to exist, unless Allah wills otherwise, for all eternity. Allah created various forms of psychological and physical punishments, for He knows each person's most secret weaknesses. Thus, He is the One Who can give the most suitable punishment. According to the following verses:
But as for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have prepared for them a painful punishment. ( Surat al-Isra', 17:10)
But as for those who are deviators, their refuge is the Fire. Every time that they want to get out, they are put straight back into it again and are told: “Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you denied.” We will give them a taste of lesser punishment before the greater punishment, so that hopefully they will turn back. ( Surat as-Sajda, 32:20-21)
Tell My servants that I am the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, but also that My punishment is the Painful Punishment. ( Surat al-Hijr, 15:49-50)
Those before them also plotted, and Allah came at their building from the foundations and the roof caved in on top of them. The punishment came at them from where they did not expect. ( Surat an-Nahl, 16:26)
As for those who were unbelievers and barred access to the way of Allah, We will heap punishment on top of their punishment because of the corruption they brought about. ( Surat an-Nahl, 16:88)
However, we need to remember that Allah creates infinite opportunities for each of us to repent and take refuge in His mercy. When we turn to Him in sincere repentance we will find our Lord to be the most merciful and compassionate, regardless of what type of sins one has committed. Allah gives the good news of His infinite mercy to His servants who sincerely repent:
But if anyone repents after his wrongdoing and puts things right, Allah will turn toward him. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ( Surat al-Ma'ida, 5:39)
But I am Ever-Forgiving to anyone who repents, believes, acts rightly, and then is guided. (Surah Ta Ha, 20:82)
