so He purifies him of it through the sincere repentance, sin-erasing good deeds, and expiating afflictions that He enables him to undergo, until he meets Allah with no sin remaining upon him. He withholds the means of purification from the other, who meets Him on the day of their meeting with both an impure element and a pure one. His wisdom, Most High, does not permit anyone to dwell near Him in His abode while bearing impurities (1), so He admits him to the Fire for purification, cleansing, and refining. Once the metal of his faith is freed of dross, he becomes fit to dwell near Him and live alongside His pure servants. The length of time such people remain in the Fire depends on how quickly or slowly those impurities disappear from them. Those whose impurities disappear and who become purified (2) most quickly are the quickest to leave; those who are slowest are the slowest (3)—a fitting recompense, and your Lord is never unjust to His servants.

Since the polytheist is impure in his nature and his very being, the Fire does not purify him of his impurity. Indeed, were he to leave it, he would return (4) as impure as before, like a dog that enters (5) the sea and then emerges from it. For this reason, Allah has forbidden him (6) Paradise. Since the pure believer who has been purified is free of impurities, the Fire is forbidden for him, for there is nothing in him that requires purification by it. Glory be to Him whose wisdom dazzles minds and intellects, and whose servants’ innate dispositions and reason bear witness that He is the wisest of judges and the Lord of all worlds (7).