Subtleties and Allusions

The Unknown Punishment of the Resurrection

The punishment of the Resurrection no eye has seen and no ear has heard; that is, no one has received or perceived such a punishment, just as some of the pleasures of the Resurrection have no like in this world. No one knows what reward has been stored up for those whose sides forsake their beds, who call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and who are people of the night prayer: “Their sides forsake their beds; they call upon their Lord in fear and hope; and no soul knows what delight of the eyes has been hidden for them”.(111) For the pleasures of this world are limited and of the kind of nature, while the pleasures of the Hereafter are of another kind.

The word nafs in “and no soul knows” is an indefinite noun in the context of negation, and it conveys generality;(112) that is, no one knows what has been prepared in Paradise for their reception, and it does not even come to anyone’s imagination. The punishment of Hell, too, has no precedent; especially since, besides the fire that burns the body, God’s kindled fire also overcomes hearts and melts the spirit: “The fire of God, kindled, which rises over the hearts”.(113) Therefore both that punishment and this mercy and blessing are unknown.