Page 64 - Fear of Allah

FEAR OF ALLAH
The mistaken beliefs of the disbelievers

about the Hereafter

As well as being unable to give Allah the recognition due to
Him, many ignorant people also possess deficient knowledge and
many false beliefs about the Garden and the Fire. Some of these peo-
ple enjoy their lives on Earth to their hearts' desire, they rebel
against Allah and then, they assume they will be forgiven after
spending a short period in Hell. However, the end that awaits them
is much more painful than they assume, because Hell is an abode of
punishment which may last for eternity for those extreme disbeliev-
ers who do not heed Allah's warnings. Allah emphasizes that Hell
has been created for disbelievers and for those people who persist in
their disbelief. The Qur'an makes it clear that there is no way back
for them:
Hell lies in wait—a homecoming for the profligate, remain-
ing in it for countless aeons. (Surat an-Naba': 21-23)
The pain and sufferings of Hell are beyond imagination. Hell is
a frightening environment where Allah's attribute as the Subduer
(Al-Qahhar) becomes manifest in all its severity and where the pun-
ishments that are inflicted far exceed anything imaginable on Earth.
For an individual who is barely capable of withstanding the pain of
a drop of boiling water, or cold temperatures or even the slightest
hunger, to claim that they could bear such forms of punishment
without too much difficulty is a clear indication of their complete
lack of awareness and understanding. As we have said from the
outset, anyone who imagines that Allah's punishment is a matter to
be taken so lightly, is someone who has no idea whatsoever of the
reality of Allah's power.

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