Page 47 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

Those who disbelieve should not imagine that the
extra time We grant to them is good for them. We
only allow them more time so they will increase in
evildoing. They will have a humiliating punish-
ment. (Surah Al 'Imran: 178)

42. What end awaits unbelievers in this world?

Allah has made ready for the unbelievers a painful pun-
ishment in the Hereafter which is everlasting. Yet besides
this, there are various punishments for unbelievers in this
world too. These are a sort of preliminary to the endless
punishment that they will receive later. They also come in
the nature of a warning from Allah to lead them to regret, to
pay heed and to reorient themselves to the right path. Allah
announces the punishment He will give in the world and the
reason for it as follows:
We will give them a taste of lesser punishment be-
fore the greater punishment, so that hopefully they
will turn back. (Surat as-Sajda: 21)
The most significant reason for the disbelief of unbeliev-
ers is their passionate attachment to the life of this world
and the fact that they repudiate the truth. The punishment
that Allah has made ready for the unbelievers in this world
deprives them of all worldly blessings. Some of these pun-
ishments mentioned in the Qur'an are as follows:
• On a nation of unbelievers animals such as locusts,
lice and frogs are sent down. (Surat al-A'raf: 133)

• Unbelievers are seized with drought and scarcity of
fruits, with trouble in economics. (Surat al-A'raf: 130,
Surat an-Nahl: 112)

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HARUN YAHYA