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قQuranicpediaEncyclopedia of the Glorious Qur’an

Punishment (Adhab) الْعَذَاب

In review — pending scholar verification

Allah's punishment — both that which befell prior nations who rejected their messengers, and the punishment of the grave and the Hereafter; one of the most-discussed themes in the Quran.

Overview

ʿAdhāb (Arabic: الْعَذَاب) is the Quranic term for divine punishment — a comprehensive category that covers (1) the historical punishments that befell prior nations who rejected their messengers, (2) the punishment of the grave (ʿadhāb al-qabr) in the Barzakh, and (3) the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter. The word and its derivatives appear over 350 times in the Quran, making it one of the most-discussed themes.

Categories of ʿAdhāb

1. Punishments of past nations

The Quran narrates the destruction of:

  • The people of Nuh by the flood (Surah Hud 11:36–48).
  • ʿĀd by a furious wind (Surah Al-Aḥqāf 46:24–25; Al-Ḥāqqah 69:6).
  • Thamūd by the great cry (Surah Hud 11:67; Al-Ḥāqqah 69:5).
  • The people of Pharaoh drowned (Surah Yunus 10:90–92).
  • The people of Lūṭ overturned with a rain of stones (Surah Hud 11:82–83).
  • Madyan by an earthquake (Surah Al-Aʿraf 7:91).

2. Punishment of the grave

Hadith narrate the grave widening or narrowing for the deceased; opening of a window to Paradise or to Hell; and ongoing ʿadhāb for the wrongdoer until the resurrection. The Prophet ﷺ taught seeking refuge from it after every tashahhud.

3. Punishment of Hell

See the entry on Jahannam for detail. The Quran describes its specific elements: scalding water (Ḥamīm and Ghassāq), the tree of Zaqqūm, garments of fire, chains, hooks, and others.

Quranic references

  • Surah Al-Anʿam 6:15 — "Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."
  • Surah An-Naba 78:30 — "So taste, and We will not increase you except in punishment."
  • Surah Al-Ḥāqqah 69:5–7 — punishment of ʿĀd and Thamūd.
  • Surah Hud 11:36–82 — punishments of Nuh's, Hud's, and Lūṭ's peoples.
  • Surah Al-Furqan 25:11 — "They have denied the Hour, and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour a Blaze."
  • Surah Al-Ankabut 29:53–55 — "They urge you to hasten the punishment… Indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers."

Hadith

Aishah reported the Prophet ﷺ used to say in his prayer: "O Allah, I take refuge in You from the punishment of the grave; and I take refuge in You from the trial of the Dajjāl; and I take refuge in You from the trial of life and death. O Allah, I take refuge in You from sin and debt." — Sahih al-Bukhari 832; Sahih Muslim 589

Significance

The Quran pairs warnings of ʿadhāb with promises of reward almost everywhere — khawf (fear) and rajāʾ (hope) being the two motives the Quran consistently calibrates. The historical punishments are presented as signs for those who reflect; their lessons — the consequences of unrelenting rejection of clear messengers — are intended to guide present and future generations.

See also

References

  1. The Quran (Sahih International translation): Surahs Al-Anʿam 6:15; Al-Aʿraf 7:91; Hud 11; Yunus 10:90–92; Al-Ankabut 29:53–55; Al-Furqan 25:11; Al-Aḥqāf 46:24–25; Al-Ḥāqqah 69:5–7; An-Naba 78:30.
  2. Sahih al-Bukhari 832; Sahih Muslim 589.
  3. Ibn Kathir, al-Bidāyah wa-an-Nihāyah, vol. 1 (on the destroyed peoples).
  4. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, at-Takhwīf min an-Nār.
  5. Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar, al-Jannah wa-an-Nār.