We ask Allah to protect us and you from every cause that leads to His punishment or His anger.

[Explanation]
We have already discussed that a person must not be deluded by the respite Allah grants him, committing sins on the assumption that Allah will not call him to account. Such complacency falls under “feeling secure from the scheme of Allah.” We also stated that Allah grants the wrongdoer reprieve, but when He finally seizes him He never lets him escape, as the Prophet ﷺ said, after which he recited: “Such is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are doing wrong; indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.”

Many people, however, treat this matter lightly: they disobey Allah, are told to desist, abandon an obligation, are ordered to fulfill it, yet they respond, “Allah is All-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful; Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives whatever is less than that for whomever He wills—and I have not committed shirk.” Such a person should be told that the very One who said this also said, “Know that Allah is severe in punishment,” and, “Inform My servants that I am indeed the All-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful, and that My punishment is the painful punishment.”

Therefore do not be deceived by the respite Allah gives you. He may grant a servant time while he sins, drawing him on unawares; then, when He seizes him, He seizes him with the grasp of the Almighty, the All-Powerful—may Allah protect us. So beware of treating sin lightly: be mindful of Allah, and know that every disease has its cure. Whenever a whisper from Satan touches you, remember Allah, take admonition, turn back to Him, and repent. Be among those whom Allah describes: “Those who, when they commit an obscenity or wrong themselves, remember Allah, then seek forgiveness for their sins—for who forgives sins except Allah?—and they do not persist in what they have done while they know.”