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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fifty Lessons on Principles of Belief for Youths Lesson 20: God’s Justice and the issue of Eternity We know that the Holy Qur’an directly speaks of the eternal punishment to be given to the kuffar . That is, it speaks about eternity. “God has promised the hypocrites, men and women, and the kafirs, the fire of hell,’ therein shall they dwell,’ sufficient is it for them; for them is the curse of God, and an en during punishment.

“(9:68) Just as in the verse following that, the Qur’an promises the believing men and the believing women gardens in Paradise forever. “God has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss.

But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of God, that is, the supreme felicity.” (9:72) This question then arises and that is, how can one accept that in one’s lifetime of eighty or one hundred years, one commits evil deeds and then for eternity — millions of years — is punished.

Of course, this is not important as to rewards because the ocean of God’s Mercy is very great and however much greater is the reward, it shows greater virtue and mercy but as to evil deeds, they are punished for eternity because of limited sins. How can this be reconciled with God’s justice? Should a balance not exist between punishment and reward? Answer: In order to reach a final solution to this discussion, several points need to be noted: a.

Punishments on the Day of Resurrection do not resemble punishments in this world. For instance, a person is found guilty of aggression and plunder and he spends some time in prison whereas the punishment at the Judgment takes the form of efforts of one’s deeds and the particularities of a person’s acts. In clearer terms, the difficulties which one bears in the other world are the direct result of his deeds.

The Holy Qur’an explains this very clearly where it says, “Then on that Day, not a soul will be wronged in the least and you shall but be repaid the meeds of your past deeds. “(36:54) “ With one simple example, we can visualize this truth that a person who goes after narcotics and alcoholic drinks and no matter how much one explains that these things will ruin him, and sicken his heart and destroy his nerves, he does not listen.