were made to enter a Fire” (Nuh 71:25). Thus they are now in the Fire during the barzakh (intermediate realm). Allah, Exalted is He, says, “The Fire, to which they are exposed morning and evening…” (Ghafir 40:46). This takes place in the barzakh, before the Hereafter; they are presented to the Fire every morning and evening until the Hour is established. This is clear proof of the punishment of the grave—may Allah protect us. He further says, “And on the Day the Hour is established, ‘Admit Pharaoh’s folk to the harshest torment’” (Ghafir 40:46).

These are three successive punishments:

1. Allah drowned them and wiped them out to the very last of them in a single instant.
2. They are tormented in the barzakh until the Hour comes.
3. When they are resurrected on the Day of Judgment, they will be admitted into the most severe torment—may Allah grant us refuge.

In the same way, whoever disobeys Muhammad ﷺ will fare even worse than Pharaoh’s people, for Muhammad is the greatest of the messengers, and whoever defies him will face a harsher punishment.

It is an akhdhan wabīla—an overwhelming, unrelenting seizure. Allah says, “And such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are doing wrong; indeed, His seizure is painful, severe” (Hud 11:102).