people’s hearts. It has also already been noted that the stronger view is to act upon these hadiths both in establishing the ruling and in affirming the threatened punishment, and that this is the view of the majority. Accordingly, an objection contrary to the position of the scholarly community cannot be accepted.

Twelfth:

The texts containing threats of punishment in the Quran and Sunnah are exceedingly numerous. It is obligatory to affirm what they entail in general and unqualified terms, without singling out any individual and saying, “This person is cursed, is under Allah’s wrath, or deserves the Fire”—especially if that person has virtues and good deeds to his credit. Anyone other than the prophets may commit minor and major sins, while still being a person of consummate truthfulness, a martyr, or a righteous person. As explained earlier, the consequence of a sin may be averted through repentance, seeking forgiveness, good deeds that erase sins, afflictions that expiate them, intercession, or solely through Allah’s will and mercy.

Thus, if we affirm what is entailed by His words, Exalted is He:

“Indeed, those who consume the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming fire into their bellies, and they will burn in a blazing Fire.”

And His words, Exalted is He:

“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will admit him to a Fire in which he will abide forever, and he will have a humiliating punishment.”

And His words, Exalted is He:

“Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, but only through trade by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you.”

“And whoever does that in aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into a Fire. And that is easy for Allah.”

And other verses containing threats of punishment—or if we affirm what is entailed by his words