In His saying, the Exalted, “Severe in punishment,” is this description for the Fire?
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The student: Shaykh, Allah’s punishment includes the Fire, and it seems that the Fire is what is described as severe. So how is Allah, Glorified and Exalted, described with it?
The Shaykh : He Himself is severe in punishment. For example, if I say, “So-and-so is strong in his striking,” I mean that the striking that comes from him is strong. The punishment that comes from Him is severe. The one described is Allah, Mighty and Majestic; the severity of His punishment is His attribute. As for what one is punished with, that is something else. We have the punishment, what one is punished with, and the one upon whom the punishment is inflicted. If you punish a person by striking him, then the striking is what he is punished with. As for the striking of the striker, that is his description, which is his punishment.
The Shaykh : He Himself is severe in punishment. For example, if I say, “So-and-so is strong in his striking,” I mean that the striking that comes from him is strong. The punishment that comes from Him is severe. The one described is Allah, Mighty and Majestic; the severity of His punishment is His attribute. As for what one is punished with, that is something else. We have the punishment, what one is punished with, and the one upon whom the punishment is inflicted. If you punish a person by striking him, then the striking is what he is punished with. As for the striking of the striker, that is his description, which is his punishment.