When Allah wants to punish a people, the punishment befalls whoever is among them, then they will be resurrected according to their deeds

When Allah wants to punish a people, the punishment befalls whoever is among them, then they will be resurrected according to their deeds

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Allah wants to punish a people, the punishment befalls whoever is among them, then they will be resurrected according to their deeds.”

[Authentic hadith] [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) tells that when Allah wants to inflict punishment upon people as a penalty for their bad deeds, the punishment befalls whoever is among them even those among them who are not like them (do not commit the same sins). It means that Allah, the Almighty, destroys all people when evil becomes rampant and sins are committed openly. On the day of Judgment, each of them will be resurrected according to his own deeds. If the deeds are righteous, then the outcome shall be good; otherwise, it shall be bad. Such punishment serves as a means of purification for the righteous people and a means of revenge against the evil ones. Resurrecting the righteous according to their deeds is an act of justice, because they will be rewarded for these good deeds in the Hereafter. In this life, however, whatever befalls them of affliction is expiation for any bad deed they have done. Thus, the punishment sent upon the sinners in the worldly life encompasses those who were with them but did not disapprove of their sins, as a consequence of the adulation they showed to the sinners. Then, on the Day of Judgment, each of them will be recompensed according to his deeds.

Categories

Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes, Condemning Sins