Punishment in the Afterlife.

Punishment in the Afterlife

Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine

Question: Why do Muslims believe that there is severe punishment in the life after? If God is so merciful – as Islam claims – why did He create hellfire punishment?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-'ālameen. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

Allāh’s mercy is granted to all of His creatures. He created them and provides for all of their needs, even though some of them deny His existence and work against those who believe and worship Him!

Allāh has given us life, knowledge and everything we need to sustain and enjoy, to the utmost degree possible. He has given us a free will and a choice of paths to follow. Those who follow His guidance, which in itself is a mercy from Him, will lead happy lives, but those who reject His guidance will remain astray.

Allāh is the Most Knowledgeable, Who created our “very selves” and who knows what benefits and harms us, to the minutest detail.

Allāh has reserved a special mercy for those who believe in Him and struggled to stay on the path of righteousness throughout their lives. Those who were patient with the trials of life and its difficulties, along with those whose faith was not shaken easily, will receive a reward without limits.

Allāh has sent many signs to remind us and help us understand the truth. He has shown us the problems that result from following the path of evil in this life and the hereafter, as He has shown us the benefits of following the path of righteousness.

He asks nothing from us in return except that we believe in Him alone and worship none other than Him. Major sins are truly harmful to others and ourselves around us. Indulging in alcohol, illicit sex, lying, cheating, fitnah, stealing, corruptions, killing etc. inflict tremendous damage on our societies and God alone knows the full consequences and ramifications of our actions.

Following Allāh’s path ensures that we will live in peace and prosperity in this life and receive a great reward in the next. He commands us only to do what is beneficial for us. Yet, even after falling into numerous mistakes and shortcomings, we find that Allāh is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving with those who turn to Him in sincere repentance.

There is one thing, however, that Allāh has told us He will not forgive, that is to associate partners with Him in his Sovereignty and Majesty. Those who die in this state of belief have truly gone astray and have not given Allāh His due.

So, after receiving countless messages, bounties, blessings and warnings, we still refuse to follow good advice out of our own free will, what should be the result? Would a person not have resigned his or her own fate to eternal misery, having refused to strive towards paradise? Were there no reward for good, what would encourage us to do good? Was there no punishment for evil, what would discourage us from doing evil things?

If Allāh were to treat the evil and the good in the same manner, there would be no justice. Even in this worldly life, we must differentiate between the two. This is in order to maintain a peaceful and just society.

Evil and good are not the same for them to be afforded the same treatment by us and certainly Allāh is more Just than we can ever be. Where would justice be in rewarding someone with paradise, while he did nothing to deserve it?

Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[Excerpted with minor modification from Q&A published in Islam Online(Ask About Islam), 18 Dec 2002.]

The Concept of Punishment in Islam

IOL Shari'ah Researchers

I have a Christian friend who asked me why punishment in Islam like stoning to death, cutting the hand off, etc., is so cruel and inhumane. I said that it is better to be punished in this world than be tormented in the Hereafter. Kindly enlighten me on this issue. Jazakum Allahu Khayrun.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

As regards your question, or rather, the inquiry of your friend, it needs to be stressed that to understand why a certain punishment in Islam is prescribed for a crime we need to know first of all the nature of the legal system that set the punishment, what are the objectives to be realized behind the prescription of such punishment.

Punishment has always played an integral part in the concept of justice. We all know or at least expect that if you do something wrong you are subject to punishment in some way or another. This is only fair. Humankind is charged with the responsibility for the choices they make. This is because they are created with the freedom of choice and granted the moral sense of right and wrong. Accordingly, one is not to be punished for the actions of others, or for acts done under duress or because of insanity. All people are equal and innocent until proven guilty: only then punishment is considered.

Islam considers crime an act of injustice towards society, a sin against oneself and a transgression against Allah. Punishment is not atonement nor does it erase the sin. A sin is only forgiven through repentance. However, crime is an act of inflicting harm upon society that cannot be forgiven by repentance alone.

The object of all penal systems is to punish the offender and protect society from reoccurrence of the crime. Punishment serves as an educational purpose, as well as a form of crime deterrent and prevention and the system used must achieve this aim. However, if societies were to rely only upon their systems of punishment, they would fail miserably. An environment of healthy morality and faith must be the norm, where to do right is encouraged by all and to do wrong is discouraged and found difficult. In fact, encouraging right and forbidding wrong is a foremost duty in Islam.

Most penal systems in today's societies are based and dependent on the current social sentiment. In Islamic law, punishment is based upon divine revelation. There is no leeway for sentiment or possibility of change. These laws were established by the Creator who is Infinitely Wise and Merciful, Who knows the true affairs of the world better than humankind. To seek justice without recourse to divine help would be tragic, as all other sources of knowledge and theory is flawed by human imperfection.

Justice is the ruling spirit of Islamic law, which is known as the Shari'ah. One of the main reasons for which the Prophets (peace be upon them all) were sent were to guide mankind to justice.

In this connection, Allah, Most High, says: "We sent our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance so that men may conduct themselves with justice." [Al-Hadid, 57: 25] and "O you who believe, be upholders of justice, witnessing for Allah alone." [An-Nisaa', 4: 135]

Changes in the world as well as the changing definition of concepts such as "civilized", "equality", "freedom", and "justice" have caused a critical light to shine upon Islamic laws. Such critics charge that the Shari`ah, in view of the changing world, is an outdated system of laws in need of amendment, replacement or abolishment. Views of this sort express rejection of divine guidance and even worse, rejection of the wisdom of our Lord who has put us on this earth with a purpose in life and a set of rules to live by and achieve that purpose. These rules are the ultimate criterion of justice and mercy and cannot nor need not be changed or measured against the changes and desires of society. To imply such is to imply imperfection in Allah as Lord and Master of the Universe.

There are basically three categories of punishments in Shari`ah:

The first is Hadd, which includes divinely prescribed forms of fixed punishment based upon the Qur'an and Sunnah. These are punishments set to preserve the public interest; they cannot be lightened nor made heavier, nor can the offender be pardoned. They instill a deep feeling of abhorrence in the society towards the crime for which the offender has been punished. Such crimes include drinking alcohol, armed robbery, theft, illicit sexual relations, apostasy, and slanderous accusations of promiscuity.

The second form is called Qisas, which is the punishment for homicide and assault. Whenever a person causes physical harm or death to another, the injured or family of the deceased has the right to retaliation. A unique aspect of Qisas is that the victim's family has the option to insist upon the punishment, accept monetary recompense, or forgive the offender, which could even avert capital punishment. This leaves the door open to compassion and forgiveness. Settlements are therefore encouraged outside of court, as a judge must exact the punishment.

All other crimes fall into the third category, Ta`zir, which is a discretionary punishment decided by the court.

So, in the light of this, one cannot just brandish Islamic penal codes as being too harsh or inhumane while neglecting the fact that the source of those penal codes is the Mighty Lord, the Supreme Lord of the Universe. Everything with Him has been measured with absolute perfection. This perfection is reflected in the strict procedures laid down before a person can be convicted and punished. Actually, all forms of punishment stipulated by shari`ah are more reforming and more successful in preventing recurrent crime than the man-made legal systems whose futility is proved and confirmed by daily incessant crimes, with prisons becoming homes to homosexuality and schools for harboring criminal behavior.

Allah Almighty knows best.
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Source :
Excerpted with minor modifications, on "Punishment in Islam: An Eye for an Eye?" Al-Haramain Online Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue 8, 1st Rabi` Ath-Thani 1421 A.H. (July 2000). Republished in Islam Online -- Ask About Islam, 26 April 2006.

©Islam Online

Allah Is Merciful: Why the Punishment?

Allah will put some people into Hell for eternity on the Day of Judgment. How can I explain to a non-Muslim that my God is Merciful when some people will be condemned forever?

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states:

“Allah the Exalted is indeed very Merciful, Loving and Compassionate, but He is also Just and Severe in punishment. According to the Qur’an, Allah is “Forgiver of sins, Accepter of repentance, the Stern in punishment, the Powerful…” [Ghafir, 40: 3].

It is wrong to accept only some aspect of Allah and ignore or negate some other aspects. When people believe only in the love of Allah and ignore His justice and power they become careless and do whatever they wish. When people believe in the justice and power of Allah and ignore His love and compassion they become hermits and monks and run away from the world and its enjoyments. Islam teaches us a balanced life and so it teaches us both aspects of Allah’s Being.

Allah created human beings and He gave them everything for their existence. He guided them through His Prophets and Messengers and gave them all the possibilities to be good and faithful, but if they still reject Him and turn away from Him, then He does not care for them. Such people by their own actions have made themselves unworthy of His love and compassion. He warned them again and again that the consequences of their sins and rebellion will be severe, but if they did not pay any attention to Him, so why should He show any mercy to such ungrateful, stubborn, and evil creatures.

Allah says: “O human being, what has deceived you about your Lord Most Beneficent? Him Who created you, fashioned you in due proportion, and made you right; and in whatever form He willed for you, He set you. But no, you do deny the Day of Judgment! Indeed over you are keeping watch the honorable beings; writing down (your deeds). They know what you do. The Righteous will be in Bliss; and the Wicked will be in the Fire, which they will enter on the Day of Judgment.” [Al-Infitar, 82: 6-15]

And Allah also says:“We wronged them not, but they it was who did the wrong.” [Az-Zukhruf, 43: 76]”

Allah Almighty knows best.
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Source: Excerpted with minor modification from Islam Online -- Ask About Islam, 5 August 2003.


©Islam Online