and loves cleanliness.”

For this reason, He ordained that the thief’s hand be cut off, and prescribed cutting off the hand and foot of one who wages war. He also prescribed retribution for bloodshed, property, and bodily injuries. Whenever punishment can correspond in kind to the sin, that is what is prescribed, insofar as possible. An example is the report that ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, ordered that a false witness be mounted backwards on an animal and have his face blackened. Since he had turned the account around, he was made to face backwards; and since he had blackened his face with lies, his face was blackened. A number of scholars, including followers of Ahmad and others, have mentioned this among the discretionary punishments for a false witness.

For this reason, Allah Most High says:

“Whoever is blind in this life will be blind in the Hereafter and even further astray.”

He also says:

“But whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

“He will say, ‘My Lord, why have You raised me blind when I used to see?’”

“He will say, ‘Thus Our signs came to you, but you forgot them; so today you will be forgotten.’”

A hadith states:

“The tyrannical and arrogant will be gathered in the form of tiny ants, trampled under people’s feet.”

Because they humiliated Allah’s servants, Allah will subject them to humiliation at His servants’ hands. Likewise, whoever humbles himself for Allah’s sake, Allah raises him in rank and causes His servants to show humility toward him.

May Allah Most High set us and all our believing brothers aright, and guide us and all our believing brothers to the words and deeds He loves and is pleased with. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May Allah bless our master Muhammad and all his family and Companions.