(21) “We will surely make them taste some of the lesser punishment before the greater punishment, so that they may return.”

That is, We will surely make the defiantly disobedient deniers taste a sample of the lesser punishment—the punishment of barzakh—giving them a portion of it before they die: either through being punished by death and the like, as befell the polytheists at Badr, or at the time of death, as in the words of Allah Most High: “If only you could see when the wrongdoers are in the throes of death and the angels stretch out their hands, saying, ‘Yield up your souls! Today you will be recompensed with the punishment of humiliation.’” Then the lesser punishment will be completed for them in their barzakh.

This verse is among the proofs establishing the punishment of the grave, and its indication is clear. He says: “We will surely make them taste some of the lesser punishment”—that is, a portion and part of it. This indicates that there is a lesser punishment before the greater punishment, which is the punishment of the Fire.

Since tasting the lesser punishment in this world may not be immediately followed by death, Allah Most High informs us that He makes them taste it so that they may return to Him and repent of their sins. As Allah Most High says: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned, so that He may make them taste some of what they have done, that perhaps they may return.”