The divine punishments for the disbelievers

The divine punishments for the liars to the messengers varied, including drowning, being swallowed by the earth, wind, and stoning. Allah said: "So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves." [Al-Ankabut: 40].

Before the descent of the Torah, these punishments were general retaliation, where Allah would avenge the disbelievers with His punishment, while saving the believers and supporting them, without requiring them to confront or defend against the polytheists. This is stated in the verse: "And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture after We had destroyed the former generations as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded." [Al-Qasas: 43]. Ibn Kathir explains that this verse informs about the favor bestowed upon Moses, the chosen servant and messenger, by Allah after the destruction of Pharaoh and his people, and the descent of the Torah. After the descent of the Torah, the practice of general retaliation ceased, and Allah no longer punished the people as a whole. The obligation of defense was instituted, as stated by Allah: "And if Allah had not determined to repel some people by others, the monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned would have been destroyed. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." [Al-Haj: 40]. Al-Qurtubi explains that this verse indicates that the obligation of fighting against the enemies of Allah, as established by Allah for the prophets and the believers, prevented the control of the polytheists and obstructed them from their false practices. Finally, the verse: "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise." [Al-Tawba: 111], demonstrates that Allah obligated combat and defense to the Jews in the Torah, commanding Moses to fight the oppressors and enter the Holy Land, just as He obligated combat and defense to the Christians, who abandoned it and invented monasticism. This obligation remains valid and necessary until the end of time, when the Antichrist will appear and Jesus, peace be upon him, will descend. Allah says in Surah Muhammad: "Until the war lays down its burdens." (Verse: 4). Ibn Kathir states that Mujahid said: "Until Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him, descends, and it is as if he took this from the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, 'A group of my nation will continue to adhere to the truth until the last of them fights the Antichrist.'".

The punishments of the former deniers varied, and so did the punishments of the ones who abandoned the year of defense. The punishment of the Children of Israel, when they broke their covenant and failed to fight the oppressors, as they said to Moses (peace be upon him) "So go, you and your Lord, and fight. We are sitting right here." [Al-Maidah: 24]. As a result, they wandered the earth for forty years, the lifespan of the rebellious generation: "So it was decreed for them for forty years wandering in the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people." [Al-Maidah: 26]. As for the followers of Jesus, when they were commanded to fight the enemies of monotheism with the sword and were told "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Verse 34-35, Chapter 10 - Gospel according to Matthew). They abandoned his commandments and invented monasticism, which is the act of worshiping in monasteries and leading a celibate life, replacing what was revealed to them. In return, God punished them by subjecting them to Roman and Jewish rule, causing their division and internal conflicts, and spreading enmity and hatred among them to this day. It is clear that fate does not show favoritism and does not respond to wishes and empty claims without evidence or proof: "That is not [due to] your wishes nor the wishes of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper." [An-Nisa: 123]. Just as the laws operated in previous nations, they continue to function within the Islamic nation. If the nation abandons its religion and neglects the law of its Lord and fails to defend itself, God will divide them and make them taste each other's punishment: "Say, 'He is the One able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another.' Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand." [Al-Anam: 65]. If the nation neglects the year of defense, their energy will dissipate in internal conflicts, and God will subject them to humiliation, weakness, and defeat. Polytheism will prevail, corruption will spread, and the people of obstinacy will prevail over the worshipers: "And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted." [Al-Baqarah: 251]