I am amazed by the subtly asymmetric dichotomy throughout the Qur'an, between Allah's mercy and His punishment. Both are very real, as they need to be to rectify the soul. But always, the mercy is broader, precedent, stronger, in ways the casual reader may not notice.

قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ - الاعراف ١٥٦
'My punishment—I inflict it upon whomever I will, but My mercy has encompassed everything, so I will inscribe it for those who are mindful(of God) and bring the purifying charity, and those who believe in Our signs'—Al-A'raf 156
---- Here the punishment is subjected to God's will, and only restricted to those whom He wills. While the mercy is promised to encompass everything, with nothing to hold it back. Everything. Even those subject of the first part of verse. The mercy is then especially directed to a select group whom Allah has blessed with righteousness. May Allah make us among them.

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ — ابراهيم ٧
And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’' Ibrahim:7
---- Thankfulness is guaranteed to be met with more giving from God. While if one is ungrateful, Allah merely reminds him of His punishment, and does not promise it.

نَبِّئْ عِبَادِىٓ أَنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ وَأَنَّ عَذَابِى هُوَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ٱلْأَلِيمُ ۞ الحجر ٤٩-٥٠
Inform My servants ˹O Prophet˺ that I am truly the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and that My torment is indeed the most painful. Al-Hijr : 49-50
---- The verse ascribed forgiveness and mercy are as attributes to God. In Arabic eloquence and beyond, one is only described with an attribute if he does the associated action often. As an example the prophet said 'one lies and lies, until he is written with Allah as a liar'. Forgiveness and mercy are essential to Allah. While the punishment, though severe, is not an attribute of God. 

فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ شَقُوا فَفِي النَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ (106) خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ (107) ۞ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ سُعِدُوا فَفِي الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ رَبُّكَ ۖ عَطَاءً غَيْرَ مَجْذُوذٍ (108) - هود
As for those bound for misery, they will be in the Fire, where they will be sighing and gasping, staying there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth will endure, except what your Lord wills. Surely your Lord does what He intends. And as for those destined to joy, they will be in Paradise, staying there forever, as long as the heavens and the earth will endure, except what your Lord wills—a ˹generous˺ giving, without end. - Hud:106-108
---- Even describing the punishment in hell and blessings of paradise, the closing of each is very different. For hell, its denizens will stay except what God wills, and the final stress is that His will is supreme, subhanahu wa ta'ala. With no further indication of how His will shall go. Always leaving the door of mercy open, even here. Whereas in paradise, a generous giving, without an end is clearly promised.

Any guidance is from Allah, and any mistakes are from my own mistakes and shaitan. May Allah guide us and increase us in. knowledge of His book.

Ameen. Welcome to QuranReflect Br Omar! JAK for sharing your amazing first reflection. 

Please keep sharing your reflections! :)



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