The Secret Sorrows of the World May Turn to Endless Torment in the Hereafter

From the start, this book has been explaining that those who do not fully abandon insincerity cannot be rescued from the unhappy lives they lead or the secret sorrows they suffer. Even though they are warned, people who persist in their insincerity and fail to even approach the life of the true faith will also be unhappy in the Hereafter. Never forget that a person is being tested in the life of the world. In the Hereafter, he will receive a reward to the extent that he struggles against his lower self and lives out the kind of morality and faith which Allah loves. Those who cleanse and purify their souls will be rewarded with Paradise; those who are wrapped in sin and evil, with Hell.

Those in the world who do not live in honesty and sincerity, who do not know humility and submission and who adopt unbelief and hypocrisy as their principles, will be repaid for this immorality in the Hereafter. Allah has purged Paradise of all ills and defects. People received into Paradise are those who have tried to purge their souls of all evil in the life of the world. Obviously, one who wants to be received into Paradise needs to purge himself of all evil, because those who retain any of their wickedness, who do not live superior morality and do not know the beauty of love and being loved certainly cannot reach the state in which they can share pleasure in these things in the Hereafter. Worldly life is a learning place for them, but whatever characteristics their souls have taken on in the world will also be their characteristics in the Hereafter. If they have gained none, the repayment for their worldly morality will be the continuation of the same troubles, torments and unhappiness in the Hereafter.

In consequence, every person should fear this danger waiting for him, prepare for it while there is still time, live his life in complete sincerity and make every effort to attain the morality approved by Allah. In the following pages, the thought-provoking repayment those who display insincere morality in the life of the world will receive in the Hereafter will be shortly described.

People Who Grow Arrogant in This World Will Be Humbled and Brought Low in the Hereafter

Those who cannot be rescued from their prideful and egoistic emotions always make great efforts to convince others that they are superior. This effort causes them to live their worldly lives in unhappiness and trouble. The return for these people in the Hereafter is to be humbled, brought low and treated with contempt. Allah warns these people in the Qur'an:

Your God is One God. As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are in denial and they are puffed up with pride. There is no doubt that Allah knows what they keep secret and what they make public. He does not love people puffed up with pride. When they are asked, "What has your Lord sent down?" they say, "Myths and legends of previous peoples." So on the Day of Resurrection they will carry the full weight of their own burdens and some of the burdens of those they misguided without knowledge. What an evil load they bear! 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. Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them, and say, "Where are My partner deities for whose sake you became so hostile?" Those given knowledge will say, "Today there is disgrace and evil for the disbelievers." As for those the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves, they will offer their submission: "We did not do any evil." Oh yes you did! Allah knows what you were doing. "Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!" (Surat an-Nahl: 22-29)

... If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, "Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His signs." (Surat al-An'am: 93)

People trapped in delusions of worldly grandeur will receive repayment for their immorality in the Hereafter by being driven into Hell in a demeaning manner:

The Day they are shoved roughly into the Fire of Hell. (Surat at-Tur: 13)

We have made ready for the disbelievers shackles and chains and a Searing Blaze. (Surat al-Insan: 4)

... boiling water poured over their heads... (Surat al-Hajj: 19)

Those who are herded headlong into Hell, such people are in the worst position. They are the most misguided from the way. (Surat al-Furqan: 34)

People Who Demonstrate Argumentative Behavior Should Remember that Hell Is Filled with People Who Argue with One Another All the Time

People who do not pay the necessary need to the calls made on them by Muslims and respond not politely, but with an argumentative manner should think about the treatment they may receive in the Hereafter. They will find themselves arguing in torment in the same way for all eternity. The torments that their insincere moral approach causes them to suffer in worldly life will turn into endless torment in the Hereafter. In the world, this approach makes such people unable to form friendships or to love and be loved, deprives them of the blessings these things bring. If Allah wills, He can make them live forever in the same discomfort. The Qur'an tells us that the people in Hell, because they are in a perpetual state of argument with one another, will also experience the spiritual torment produced by this uncomfortable atmosphere as well as experiencing the Fire:

All this is certainly true—the bickering of the people of the Fire. (Surah Sâd: 64)

Arguing in it with one another, they will say, "By Allah, we were plainly misguided." (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 96-97)

He will say, "Do not argue in My presence when I gave you advance warning of the Threat." (Surah Qaf: 28)

People who know Allah's Book are aware that argument is a characteristic of the denizens of Hell and strenuously avoid it.

Those Who Are Wretched and Unhappy in the World Should Remember that the People of Hell Are Also Miserable and Unhappy

People who regard continual unhappiness as normal, even though they have understood the faith, should not forget that wretchedness and unhappiness are also characteristics of Hell. Allah reveals this truth to us in this verse:

I have warned you of a Fire which rages in which only the most wretched will roast—those who denied and turned away. Those who most fear [and respect] Allah will be far removed from it. (Surat al-Layl: 14-17)

Those who do not heed the advice of the faithful should not forget that in the Hereafter, they will be plunged into regret and will say, "If only I had listened!"

Those who do not listen to advice given them in this world, who try to whitewash themselves by offering excuses, should not assume they have benefited from this behavior. Even if the world seems to accept their excuses, they will bring them no advantage in terms of salvation in the Hereafter. Allah warns us about this in the verses of the Qur'an:

On that Day the excuses of those who did wrong will not help them nor will they be able to appease Allah. (Surat ar-Rum: 57)

The Day when the excuses of the wrongdoers will not help them. The curse will be on them and they will have the most evil Home. (Surah Ghafir: 52)

Those whose excuses are not accepted will live eternally in the deepest regret because they did not pay attention to the advice given them and did not adopt morality of which Allah would approve:

They will say, "If only we had really listened and used our intellect, we would not have been Companions of the Blaze." (Surat al-Mulk: 10)

They will say on the Day their faces are rolled over in the Fire, "If only we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger!" (Surat al-Ahzab: 66)

Allah tells people like this—whom He has given countless opportunities for repentance during their lives—that He will not accept their repentance on the Day of Judgment. In the verses of the Qur'an, we are told that these people who set their faces against calls made on them in the world can expect no further help and that they will be repaid with eternal torment:

They will shout out in it, "Our Lord! Take us out! We will act rightly, differently from the way we used to act!" Did We not let you live long enough for anyone who was going to pay heed to pay heed? And did not the warner come to you? Taste it then! There is no helper for the wrongdoers. (Surah Fatir: 37)

The way to avoid such regrets is extremely easy: It is to regard as blessings pieces of advice given for one's salvation in the world and the Hereafter, and to accept them humbly in order to achieve a higher morality.

To protect themselves against torment in the Hereafter, selfish people may wish to surrender everything they own as a ransom. People who do not cleanse their souls of selfishness and egoism during their lives and who avoid self-sacrifice should consider that this approach will cause them harm in the Hereafter. Those who do not use their goods, time, lives and labor as Allah approves, but instead think first of their own comforts and interests will be plunged into deep regret in the Hereafter. Whatever these people have desired in the world, wanted for themselves and refused to sacrifice by sharing, they will want to give up as a ransom to protect themselves against the torment:

Even though they can see each other. An evildoer will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, by means of his sons, or his wife or his brother or his family who sheltered him or everyone else on Earth, if that only meant that he could save himself. But no! It is a raging blaze. (Surat al-Ma'arij: 11-15)

If every self that did wrong possessed everything on Earth, it would offer it as a ransom. They will show remorse when they see the punishment. Everything will be decided between them justly. They will not be wronged. (Surah Yunus: 54)

But Allah tells us that even if they give up everything they value, none of it will be accepted as a ransom:

Abandon those who have turned their religion into a game and a diversion and who have been deluded by the life of this world. Remind by it lest a person is delivered up to destruction for what he has earned with no protector or intercessor besides Allah. Were he to offer every kind of compensation, it would not be accepted from him. Such people are delivered up to destruction for what they have earned. They will have scalding water to drink and a painful punishment because they disbelieved. (Surat al-An'am: 70)

Because of this, if they feel even a little egoism in them, people who continue to set their own selfish needs and desires above those of other believers should consider how they will be repaid for this behavior in the Hereafter.

People Who Surrender to Hopelessness in This World Should Fear Joining Those Who Abandon All Hope of Salvation in the Hereafter for Eternity

When faced with even the slightest difficulty, those who are incapable of appreciating Allah's boundless power and mercy and His love for His servants and generosity towards them, immediately give way to hopelessness and abandon their hopes of Allah's mercy. Allah tells us that this is a characteristic of unbelievers in the verse, "... Do not despair of solace from Allah. No one despairs of solace from Allah except for people who are disbelievers" (Surah Yusuf: 87). For this reason, those who cannot overcome this weakness in their morality, despite knowing this provision of the Qur'an, should fear being left in such sorrow for all eternity and falling into a truly hopeless situation in the Hereafter.

In the Qur'an, Allah refers to the hopelessness of people in Hell:

It will not be eased for them. They will be crushed there by despair. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 75)

On the Day the Hour arrives, the evildoers will be in despair. (Surat ar-Rum: 12)

People Ungrateful for the Blessings They Possess Should Remember that in the Hereafter, They May Be Deprived of All Blessings

Those who take no pleasure from the beautiful things around them, are ungrateful for the blessings they do possess and do not praise Allah's bounty as they should, will spend their worldly lives unhappily. Because they have not returned gratitude for the blessings Allah has given them, they will receive a life in Hell as repayment for their ingratitude. In the verses of the Qur'an, Allah tells us that for these ungrateful people, His torment will be the most severe:

Hurl into Hell every ungrateful, rebellious one, impeder of good, doubt-causing aggressor, who set up another deity together with Allah. Hurl into the terrible punishment. (Surah Qaf: 24-26)

People Who Do Not Behave with Sincerity toward the Faithful Should Fear Being Placed with Unbelievers in the Hereafter

Those who do not appreciate believers who aim their lives at earning the approval of Allah, living out the morality of the Qur'an in the best possible way, and who demonstrate a heartfelt and humble morality filled with love, should fear being eternally deprived of their company in the Hereafter. People who cannot befriend the faithful or behave with sincerity towards them, even though they can see that they are the friends of Allah, may be forced to live amongst unbelievers in the Hereafter.

Those who posture around the faithful in world, feel uncomfortable and tense in their presence and behave unnaturally, unpleasantly and coldly towards them, reacting badly to their advice and warnings, should recall that in the Hereafter, they will regret not having this safe company around them. Obviously, showing such morality is repaid by being accompanied by others of similar morality. Those who become aware of this in the Hereafter will beg Allah one last time not to put them together with such people. But Allah tells us in the Qur'an that people who share the same morality will be brought together in Hell and will be forced to live together eternally:

Hell is the promised meeting-place for all of them. (Surat al-Hijr: 43)

When these people realize they no longer have any friends, they will say with regret,

"And now we have no one to intercede for us. We do not have a single loyal friend. If only we could have another chance, then we would be among the believers!" (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 100-102)

One who has faith should know that in this world and the next, his only friends are Allah and then, His prophets and pious followers. He should not allow the slightest trace of rage against the faithful to remain in his heart and should love them with complete sincerity. Only in this way can he be together with these people in the eternal life of the Hereafter.

Those Who Believe They've Deceived People with Insincerities that Cannot Be Proven Should Know that Their Hands, Feet and Skin Will Confess All This in the Hereafter

People who think that by putting forward various excuses, they've deceived the ones who've advised them and summoned them to superior morality should know that in the Hereafter, they will be repaid for this insincerity. Things they think they have concealed inside themselves will be brought to light. When that day comes, their own hands, feet and skin will bear witness against them and bring all their insincerities to light. People who behave hypocritically will not be able to escape torment. We are told this truth in the Qur'an:

On the Day when their tongues and hands and feet will testify against them about what they were doing. On that Day Allah will pay them in full what is due to them, and they will know that Allah is the Clear Truth. (Surat an-Nur: 24-25)

When they reach it, their hearing, sight and skin will testify against them concerning what they did. They will ask their skins, "Why did you testify against us?" and they will reply, "Allah gave us speech as He has given speech to everything. He created you in the first place and you will be returned to Him. You did not think to shield yourselves from your hearing, sight and skin testifying against you and you thought that Allah would never know much of what you did. It is that thought you had about your Lord that has destroyed you, so now you find yourselves among the lost." If they are steadfast, the Fire will still be their residence! If they ask for favor, no favor will be given. (Surah Fussilat: 20-24)

Those Who Express Their Insincerity to the Faithful with Silence Should Know that They Will Be Unable to Talk to Their Companions in Hell

People who can usually speak freely on any subject that comes up, but fall silent in protest against the faithful in situations that conflict with their selfish interests should consider that such insincerity will receive its repayment in the Hereafter, where Allah does not allow the companions of Hell to speak and does not talk to them Himself. The verses of the Qur'an describe their situation like this:

He will say, "Slink away into it and do not speak to Me." (Surat al-Muminun: 108)

Those who sell Allah's contract and their own oaths for a paltry price, such people will have no portion in the Hereafter and on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not speak to them or look at them or purify them. They will have a painful punishment. (Surah Al 'Imran: 77)

Even an insincerity regarded as minor in the life of the world will definitely be held against a person in the Hereafter. Here on Earth, the faithful may forgive generously, but people should not be deceived by this. If insincerity is hidden in a person's heart, Allah knows it and will certainly repay it in the Hereafter. For this reason, everyone should be aware that silence used as a protest will receive its punishment from Allah and should fear and avoid such behavior.

People Who Cast Insincere Glances at the Faithful Should Fear Being Condemned to Blindness and Unable to See at all in the Hereafter

Those who, despite all advice and warnings, use glances to express their insincerity rather than their faith in and devotion to Allah should remember that in the Hereafter, they'll be called on to account for their behavior. Those who do not avoid insincerity in this world should fear being brought to a state where they cannot see at all, where their eyes cannot show a natural expression even if they wanted to. Their eyes will be blinded and their faces will become filled with terror, rigid. Allah describes what will happen on the Day of Judgment:

Do not consider Allah to be unaware of what the wrongdoers perpetrate. He is merely deferring them to a Day on which their sight will be transfixed. (Surah Ibrahim: 42)

On the Day the Trumpet is blown—and We will gather the evildoers sightless on that Day. (Surah Ta Ha: 102)

Eyes downcast, darkened by debasement, that will be the Day which they were promised. (Surat al-Ma'arij: 44)

Of course no one wants to receive such penalties. The only way to be protected against them is to purge oneself of insincerity in this world and try to achieve honesty towards Allah and the faithful.

People Who Use Facial Expressions and Gestures to Express the Insincerities They Do Not Say Should Fear What State Their Faces May Take in the Hereafter

Those unable to behave in ways the Qur'an tells us are wrong openly, but do so covertly with their facial expressions or gestures should think about the repayment they will receive in the Hereafter. If Allah wills, they can be reduced to a state in which they cannot use their facial muscles when they want to. Even if they can, their faces may take on an appearance that conveys no honesty or sincerity. They should recall that in the verses of the Qur'an, one way in which Allah repays the companions of Hell is by discrediting such people with a torment targeting their faces:

We pursued them with a curse in this world and on the Day of Resurrection they will be hideous and spurned. (Surat al-Qasas: 42)

And faces that Day will be glowering. (Surat al-Qiyama: 24)

We will brand him on the snout! (Surat al-Qalam: 16)

Has news of the Overwhelmer reached you? Some faces on that Day will be downcast, laboring, toiling endlessly, roasting in a red-hot Fire. (Surat al-Ghashiyya: 1-4)

Everybody should think of this payback which Allah tells us of and make efforts to protect themselves from insincerity and acquire the straightforward behavior characteristic of pious believers. In addition, in order to avoid such a punishment in the Hereafter, it is everyone's responsibility to act as a believer in this world.