On this reading, then, the punishment is inflicted through human action. It might also be said that the implied wording is:

“We, however, are waiting for Allah to afflict you with punishment from Himself,”

or to cause something to befall you at our hands. The first reading, however, is more sound, because saying that something befalls people at the believers’ hands does not indicate that it is harmful. One may say, “He brought him good,” or, “He brought him harm.” The Most High says:

“If He intends good for you, none can repel His bounty. He bestows it upon whomever He wills of His servants.”

The Most High also says:

“Then you see the rain coming forth from within it. When He causes it to fall upon whomever He wills of His servants, they rejoice.”

The Most High says:

“Thus We established Joseph in the land, to settle wherever he wished. We bestow Our mercy upon whomever We will.”

Moreover, if the word isābah (causing something to befall someone) inherently meant inflicting harm, it would have sufficed for Him to say:

“that Allah should cause something to befall you.”

The Most High also says:

“If good befalls them, they say, ‘This is from Allah.’ But if misfortune befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you.’ Say, ‘All is from Allah.’ What is the matter with these people that they can hardly understand what they are told?”

“Whatever good befalls you is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls you is from yourself.”

Another example is the saying of the Most High:

“The woman and the man who commit unlawful sexual intercourse—flog each of them a hundred lashes,”

through to His words:

“And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.”

Likewise, the Most High says:

“If they commit sexual immorality, they shall receive half the punishment prescribed for free women.”