I say:

This report traced back to the Prophet is—and Allah knows best—an explanation of the ways in which the believer is punished in this world. It does not state that he is punished for everything he conceals. Rather, it states that if he is punished for what he conceals, his punishment takes such forms. This is what the authentic hadiths indicate.

Al-Rūyānī narrated in his Musnad, through al-Layth, from Yazīd ibn Abī Habīb, from Saʿīd ibn Sinān, from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“When Allah intends good for His servant, He hastens his punishment in this world. When He intends evil for His servant, He withholds punishment for his sin until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.”

Allah Most High has said:

“So He repaid you with distress upon distress, so that you would not grieve over what you had missed or what had befallen you. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

“Then, after the distress, He sent down upon you security in the form of drowsiness, which overcame a group of you, while another group cared only for themselves, entertaining false thoughts about Allah—the thoughts of ignorance. They said, ‘Do we have any say in the matter?’ Say, ‘The matter belongs entirely to Allah.’ They conceal within themselves what they do not disclose to you, saying, ‘If we had had any say in the matter, we would not have been killed here.’ Say, ‘Even if you had remained in your homes, those destined to be killed would have gone out to the places where they were to fall.’ This was so that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah knows well what is within the breasts.”

These people entertained thoughts of ignorance that were incompatible with certainty in divine decree and with belief that Allah would grant His Messenger victory. Thus, their punishment was for abandoning certainty and harboring doubt and thoughts of ignorance. There are many such examples.