that is great,” it may be of the same kind as the punishment mentioned in His statement:

“A great punishment would have touched you for what you engaged in.”

Another point that clarifies the distinction is that He, Glorified is He, said in that passage:

“And He has prepared for them a humiliating punishment.”

Punishment has only been prepared for the disbelievers. Hell was created for them, for they will inevitably enter it and will never be brought out of it. As for believers who commit major sins, they may enter it if Allah forgives them; and if they enter it, they will be brought out of it, even if only after some time. He, Glorified is He, said:

“And guard yourselves against the Fire prepared for the disbelievers.”

He, Glorified is He, thus commanded the believers not to consume usury, to fear Allah, and to guard themselves against the Fire prepared for the disbelievers. This shows that there is reason to fear that they may enter the Fire if they consume usury and commit sins, even though it has been prepared for the disbelievers, not for them.

Hence, the hadith states:

“As for the inhabitants of the Fire who truly belong there, they will neither die nor live therein. But there are people who have sins and will be scorched by the Fire; then Allah will bring them out of it.”

Similarly, Paradise has been prepared for the Allah-fearing, who spend in prosperity and adversity, even though children do not enter it by virtue of their fathers’ deeds, while some people enter it through intercession and others through mercy. In the Hereafter, Allah will bring other beings into existence for whatever space remains in it and admit them into it. This is because a thing is prepared for those who merit and deserve it, and who have the strongest claim to it; yet others may enter along with them as their dependants or for another reason. And Allah knows best.