and believed it to be lawful for a select few, interpreting His words:

“There is no blame upon those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they have consumed, provided they fear Allah, believe, and do righteous deeds, then fear Allah and believe, then fear Allah and do good.”

The Companions, including ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, and others, agreed that if they acknowledged its prohibition, they were to be flogged; but if they persisted in declaring it lawful, they were to be executed. Likewise, we know that many people are not punished in this world although they are unbelievers in the Hereafter, such as non-Muslims under Muslim protection who agree to pay the jizya (poll tax) while remaining in unbelief.

Another example is the hypocrites who outwardly profess Islam: the rulings of Islam apply to them, although they are unbelievers in the Hereafter, as the Quran indicates in numerous verses, including His words:

“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire, and you will never find anyone to help them”—and so on.

And His words:

“On the Day when the hypocrite men and women say to the believers, ‘Wait for us, so that we may take some of your light,’ they will be told, ‘Go back and seek a light.’ Then a wall with a gate will be placed between them: within it is mercy, and outside it is punishment.”

“They will call out to them, ‘Were we not with you?’ They will reply, ‘Yes, but you led yourselves into temptation, waited, doubted, and were deluded by false hopes until Allah’s decree came, and the deceiver deceived you concerning Allah.’”

“So today no ransom will be accepted from you, nor from those who disbelieved”—and so on.

This is because true recompense is only in the Hereafter, which is the abode of reward and punishment. As for this world, only such punishment is prescribed as serves to ward off