• Among the lessons is that God-consciousness and fulfilling the obligations of faith rank among the causes by which worldly benefits are obtained: plentiful offspring, abundant provision, and physical vigor—though other factors play a part as well. Yet it is (1) the only cause—there is no other—by which the blessings of the Hereafter are won and its punishment averted.

• Another lesson: salvation from sweeping worldly punishments is granted to the believers, namely the messengers and those who follow them. Collective punishments in this life, however, are visited upon the criminals, and with them their dependents of offspring and livestock, even when the latter have committed no sin. The calamities with which Allah struck the various peoples who denied the truth encompassed children and even animals.

As for what is related in certain Isra’ili reports—that when Allah intended to annihilate Noah’s people, or any other people, He first rendered their women barren so that no children would share in the punishment—this is baseless and contradicts what is known. It is belied by the Almighty’s words: “And beware of a trial that will not strike only those among you who have done wrong” (al-Anfal 25).