Divine Punishment
العذاب الإلهي
Divine Punishment, or *al-ʿAdhāb al-Ilāhī*, is a profound concept in Islam reflecting Allah's ultimate justice and authority. It refers to the various forms of retribution Allah inflicts upon individuals and nations who persistently reject His guidance, disobey His commands, and commit grave sins. This divine consequence can manifest in this worldly life, serving as a powerful warning and a purification, or in the Hereafter, as the ultimate reckoning for one's deeds. The Quran recounts numerous instances of past communities facing divine wrath due to their transgressions, such as when [the thunderbolt struck the People of the Scripture for their wrongdoing], or when [its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it]. These narratives underscore that Allah's justice is never arbitrary, but a consequence for those who, despite clear warnings, persist in their defiance, making [evil the morning of those who were warned]. Pharaoh, for instance, received [exemplary punishment for his transgressions]. Understanding divine punishment fosters a deep sense of accountability and encourages sincere repentance, reminding believers of the wisdom behind Allah's commands and the profound importance of living a life of submission and gratitude.
Quran 6 verses
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَٰهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Alam tara ilal lazeena kharajoo min diyaarihim wa hum uloofun hazaral mawti faqaaala lahumul laahu mootoo summa ahyaahum; innal laaha lazoo fadlin 'alannaasi wa laakinna aksarannaasi laa yashkuroon
Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, "Die"; then He restored them to life. And Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most of the people do not show gratitude.
بھلا تم نے ان لوگوں کو نہیں دیکھا جو (شمار میں) ہزاروں ہی تھے اور موت کے ڈر سے اپنے گھروں سے نکل بھاگے تھے۔ تو خدا نے ان کو حکم دیا کہ مرجاؤ۔ پھر ان کو زندہ بھی کردیا۔ کچھ شک نہیں کہ خدا لوگوں پر مہربانی رکھتا ہے۔ لیکن اکثر لوگ شکر نہیں کرتے
Commentary
يَسْـَٔلُكَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَن تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ كِتَٰبًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَقَدْ سَأَلُوا۟ مُوسَىٰٓ أَكْبَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَرِنَا ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰعِقَةُ بِظُلْمِهِمْ ثُمَّ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ ٱلْعِجْلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ فَعَفَوْنَا عَن ذَٰلِكَ وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ سُلْطَٰنًا مُّبِينًا
yas'aluka Ahlul Kitaabi an tunazzila 'alaihim Kitaabam minas samaaa'i faqad sa aloo Moosaa akbara min zaalika faqaaloo arinal laaha jahratan fa akhazat humus saa'iqatu bizulmihim; summat takhazul 'ijla mim ba'di maa jaa'at humul baiyinaatu fa'afawnaa 'ann zaalik; wa aatainaa Moosaa sultaanam mubeenaa
The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, "Show us Allah outright," so the thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf [for worship] after clear evidences had come to them, and We pardoned that. And We gave Moses a clear authority.
(اے محمدﷺ) اہل کتاب تم سے درخواست کرتے ہیں کہ تم ان پر ایک (لکھی ہوئی) کتاب آسمان سے اتار لاؤ تو یہ موسیٰ سے اس سے بھی بڑی بڑی درخواستیں کرچکے ہیں (ان سے) کہتے تھے ہمیں خدا ظاہر (یعنی آنکھوں سے) دکھا دو سو ان کے گناہ کی وجہ سے ان کو بجلی نے آپکڑا۔ پھر کھلی نشانیاں آئے پیچھے بچھڑے کو (معبود) بنا بیٹھے تو اس سے بھی ہم نے درگزر کی۔ اور موسیٰ کو صریح غلبہ دیا
Commentary
فَلَمَّآ أَحَسُّوا۟ بَأْسَنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ
Falammaaa ahassoo baasanaaa izaaa hum minhaa yarkudoon
And when its inhabitants perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.
جب انہوں نے ہمارے (مقدمہ) عذاب کو دیکھا تو لگے اس سے بھاگنے
Commentary
فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ فَسَآءَ صَبَاحُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ
Fa izaa nazala bisaahatihim fasaaa'a sabaahul munzareen
But when it descends in their territory, then evil is the morning of those who were warned.
مگر جب وہ ان کے میدان میں آ اُترے گا تو جن کو ڈر سنا دیا گیا تھا ان کے لئے برا دن ہوگا
Commentary
فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَٱلْأُولَىٰٓ
Fa-akha zahul laahu nakalal aakhirati wal-oola.
So Allah seized him in exemplary punishment for the last and the first [transgression].
تو خدا نے اس کو دنیا اور آخرت (دونوں) کے عذاب میں پکڑ لیا
Commentary
فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ
Fasabba 'alaihim Rabbuka sawta 'azaab
So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.
تو تمہارے پروردگار نے ان پر عذاب کا کوڑا نازل کیا
Commentary
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