Punishment Delayed

Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord, their punishment would have been immediate.

20:129And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a term already fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable (in this world).

They say, “O Allah, if this is truly from You, then rain down stones upon us or bring us a painful punishment.”

8:32And when they said: O Allah! If this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down stones on us or bring on us some painful doom!

But Allah would not punish them while you were among them, nor would He punish them while they sought forgiveness.

8:33But Allah would not punish them while thou wast with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness.

Yet what prevents Him from punishing them now? They hinder others from the Sacred Mosque, though they are not its rightful guardians. Its true guardians are the righteous, but most of them do not know.

8:34What (plea) have they that Allah should not punish them, when they debar (His servants) from the Inviolable Place of Worship, though they are not its fitting guardians. Its fitting guardians are those only who keep their duty to Allah. But most of them know not.

We will indeed lift the torment a little, but you will return to your ways.

44:15Lo! We withdraw the torment a little. Lo! ye return (to disbelief).

We delay it only for a set time.

11:104And We defer it only to a term already reckoned.

If We delay their punishment for a time, they will say, “What holds it back?” But when it comes, it will not be averted, and what they mocked will surround them.

11:8And if We delay for them the doom until a reckoned time, they will surely say: What withholdeth it? Verily on the day when it cometh unto them, it cannot be averted from them, and that which they derided will surround them.

45:33And the evils of what they did will appear unto them, and that which they used to deride will befall them.

We had established them in ways We have not established you. We gave them hearing, sight, and hearts. But neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their hearts availed them at all, since they rejected Allah’s signs. And what they used to mock engulfed them.

46:26And verily We had empowered them with that wherewith We have not empowered you, and had assigned them ears and eyes and hearts; but their ears and eyes and hearts availed them naught since they denied the revelations of Allah; and what they used to mock befell them.

If We grant a person mercy and then withdraw it, they become desperate and ungrateful.

11:9And if we cause man to taste some mercy from Us and afterward withdraw it from him, lo! he is despairing, thankless.

But if We grant them prosperity after hardship, they say, “Troubles have left me,” and they become boastful and proud.

11:10And if We cause him to taste grace after some misfortune that had befallen him, he saith: The ills have gone from me. Lo! he is exultant, boastful;

Except for those who are patient and do good, these will have forgiveness and a great reward.

10:11If Allah were to hasten on for men the ill (that they have earned) as they would hasten on the good, their respite would already have expired. But We suffer those who look not for the meeting with Us to wander blindly on in their contumacy.

If Allah were to punish people for what they’ve earned, He wouldn’t leave a single creature on earth. But He delays them for a set time. When their time comes.

35:45If Allah took mankind to task by that which they deserve, He would not leave a living creature on the surface of the earth; but He reprieveth them unto an appointed term, and when their term cometh - then verily (they will know that) Allah is ever Seer of His slaves.

Your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful. If He were to punish them immediately for their deeds, He would hasten their doom. But He has set an appointed time, from which they will find no escape.

18:58Thy Lord is the Forgiver, Full of Mercy. If He took them to task (now) for what they earn, He would hasten on the doom for them; but theirs is an appointed term from which they will find no escape.

If Allah were to punish people for their wrongdoing immediately, He would not leave a single creature on earth. But He grants them respite until their appointed time. When their time comes, they cannot delay it nor hasten it.

16:61If Allah were to take mankind to task for their wrong-doing, he would not leave hereon a living creature, but He reprieveth them to an appointed term, and when their term cometh they cannot put (it) off an hour nor (yet) advance (it).

Warn people of the Day when punishment will come upon them, and the wrongdoers will plead, “Our Lord, grant us a brief delay so we may respond to Your call and follow the messengers.” But it will be said, “Did you not swear before that you would never perish?”

14:44And warn mankind of a day when the doom will come upon them, and those who did wrong will say: Our Lord! Reprieve us for a little while. We will obey Thy call and will follow the messengers. (It will be answered): Did ye not swear before that there would be no end for you?

Each of them wishes to live a thousand years, but even a long life will not save them from punishment.

2:96And thou wilt find them greediest of mankind for life and (greedier) than the idolaters. (Each) one of them would like to be allowed to live a thousand years. And to live (a thousand years) would be no means remove him from the doom. Allah is Seer of what they do.