Torment

At a glance

Torment, referred to in Arabic as العذاب al-‘adhāb, is a major Quranic theme designed to awaken human conscience, establish moral accountability, and warn against the consequences of persistent defiance. Far from being arbitrary, every punishment decreed by Allah is governed by divine justice and follows consistent patterns established across human history.

The Quran explains that divine punishment manifests in both physical and psychological forms. Sensory afflictions include catastrophic floods, howling winds, devastating earthquakes, famine, and bodily afflictions. Alongside these, the Quran highlights moral and emotional anguish, such as public exposure, lingering disgrace, and profound humiliation, both in this fleeting world and in the Hereafter.

Crucially, the Quran never presents torment without also pointing to an exit. Through sincere repentance, seeking forgiveness, mutual supplication, and the intercession granted to the Prophet, Allah provides clear avenues of safety, allowing the believer to turn hardship into an opportunity for repentance and spiritual elevation.

Key verses

1. Al-Baqarah 2:85: The paper highlights this verse to show how selectively accepting divine scripture leads to humiliation and disgrace in this life, followed by severe torment on the Day of Resurrection.
2. Al-Ahqaf 46:24: The paper cites this verse to illustrate how the people of ‘Ad mistook a devastating wind carrying painful torment for a benevolent rain cloud, showing how denial blinds the arrogant.
3. An-Nahl 16:112: The paper examines this parable of an once-secure community to demonstrate that ungratefulness for divine provision inevitably turns prosperity into the torment of hunger and fear.

Words to know

العذاب al-‘adhāb

Severe physical or psychological pain, or any intense burden that is hard for the soul to endure as a recompense for wrongdoing.

Appears 373 times in the Quran.

Most common forms: عَذاب (322), عَذَّبَ (41), مُعَذِّب (4), مُعَذَّب (4), عَذْب (2)

Root: ع ذ ب

الألم al-alam

Pain that afflicts the physical body or soul, resulting from punishment, illness, or injury.

العقاب al-‘iqāb

Recompense for evil that befalls a person directly following a sin, indicating that the affliction is earned.

Root: ع ق ب

التنكيل al-tankīl

An exemplary punishment meant to terrify, deter, and serve as an open warning to prevent others from repeating the crime.

Root: ن ك ل

الجزاء al-jazā’

Compensation and requital corresponding fully to an action, returning good for good or evil for evil.

Root: ج ز ي

Ibn Kathir on their drowning and punishment

From the paper: «قال ابن كثير: «من كثرة ذنوبهم وعتوهم وإصرارهم على كفرهم ومخالفتهم رسولهم أغرقوا فأدخلوا نارًا»(25)»

The Quran documents diverse forms of physical torment inflicted upon past nations who rejected divine guidance. One prominent form is drowning and deluge. The people of Nuh were the very first nation to experience this fate; after centuries of patient calling, their persistent wrongdoing and obstinacy culminated in an overwhelming flood Al-Ankabut 29:14, followed by the fire Nuh 71:25. Pharaoh and his pursuing forces met a similar end when Allah seized them decisively and cast them into the sea Al-Qasas 28:40. Similarly, the kingdom of Saba faced devastating floods: when they turned away from gratitude, Allah unleashed the torrent of the dam Saba 34:16-17, washing away their lush gardens and replacing sweet fruits with bitter, thorny shrubs.

Another devastating sensory punishment is the furious wind. The people of ‘Ad were destroyed by a screaming, freezing gale sent over consecutive, ill-fated days Fussilat 41:15-16, Al-Haqqah 69:6. In their arrogance, they had rejoiced when they saw dense clouds approaching, assuming they brought fertile rain, only to learn that within the cloud lay an agonizing gale Al-Ahqaf 46:24. Because of this historical reality, the Prophet would visibly display concern whenever heavy winds blew or clouds gathered, mindful that past peoples faced ruin through elements they had misunderstood.

Those tormented by this type of punishment

From the paper: «الذين عذبوا بهذا النوع من العذاب»

Sensory punishments in the Quran extend across various natural elements. The people of Lut were pelted with a violent storm of marked stones Al-Ankabut 29:40, Al-Qamar 54:34, a destruction mirrored when birds showered the army of the Elephant with hardened clay Al-Fil 105:1-5. The Quran warns humanity that Allah possesses the full power to shower people with stone-bearing winds or cause the earth to swallow them Al-Mulk 67:17, Al-Isra 17:68.

Other sensory forms include severe famine, drought, and economic constriction. The town mentioned in Surah an-Nahl experienced peace and abundance until it turned ungrateful, whereupon Allah made its people taste the garment of hunger and fear An-Nahl 16:112. Sins also manifest as visible disruptions across land and sea to awaken humanity Ar-Rum 30:41.

Earthquakes and subsidence (khasf) represent another terror. Qarun was swallowed by the earth along with his opulent dwelling due to his pride and transgression Al-Qasas 28:81, An-Nahl 16:45, Saba 34:9. Physical transformation (maskh) into apes was visited upon the Sabbath-breakers for their deceptive disobedience Al-Baqarah 2:65, Al-Ma'idah 5:60. Furthermore, the people of Thamud were eradicated by a catastrophic sound blast (al-ṣayḥah) that stopped their hearts instantly Hud 11:67, Al-Qamar 54:31. Finally, the Quran prescribes severe physical penalties, including execution, crucifixion, amputation, or banishment, for armed banditry and spreading terror on earth Al-Ma'idah 5:33.

Forms of psychological torment in the Quran

From the paper: «وقد ذكر القرآن الكريم صورًا من العذاب المعنوي، والتي منها»

Beyond physical pain, the Quran places great emphasis on moral and psychological torment, which can cut deeper than bodily wounds. One major form is public disgrace and abasement (al-khizy). Those who selectively adhere to scripture while violating fundamental covenants face crushing shame in this life and an even harsher penalty in the next Al-Baqarah 2:85. This same disgrace awaits those who prevent the remembrance of Allah in His mosques and strive for their ruin Al-Baqarah 2:114, as well as the arrogant who turn their shoulders away to lead others astray Al-Hajj 22:9.

On the Day of Resurrection, this moral agony reaches its peak when the deniers are cast into the Fire, exposed before all creation Ali 'Imran 3:192. Commentators explain that entering the Fire is the ultimate exposure, stripping away every veneer of dignity and leaving the wrongdoer utterly disgraced in the sight of all witnesses.

A related psychological punishment is exposure (al-faḍīḥah). Surah al-Tawbah was famously termed the Exposing Chapter because it unmasked the hidden motives of the hypocrites At-Tawbah 9:64-66. They feared that a revelation would lay bare the secret malice in their hearts, yet their mocking whispers and false excuses were completely brought to light.

Verses exposing hypocrites in the Quran

From the paper: «الآيات التي فضحت المنافقين في القرآن الكريم كثيرة، أذكر بعضًا منها»

The unmasking of false claims serves as an enduring Quranic lesson. The opening of Surah al-Baqarah dedicates multiple verses to revealing the inner corruption of hypocrites Al-Baqarah 2:8-16. While they outwardly claim faith and reform, they are branded as foolish spreaders of mischief. Surah al-Munafiqun similarly testifies that their outward oaths of loyalty directly contradict their inner denial Al-Munafiqun 63:1-3, sealing their hearts and leaving them exposed as liars.

The Quran also pairs punishment with crushing humiliation (al-ihānah). A degrading torment (‘adhāb muhīn) is prepared for those who show arrogance or hoard their blessings out of pride An-Nisa 4:37. On the Day of Judgment, the wrongdoer will have their penalty multiplied and will abide in it permanently humiliated Al-Furqan 25:69, proving that the delay granted to persistent sinners in this life only compounds their ultimate degradation Ali 'Imran 3:178.

Finally, the Quran warns of abasement and baseness (al-dhill). Those who turned to calf-worship were enveloped by wrath and worldly shame Al-A'raf 7:152. Similarly, when previous generations rejected divine verses, violated boundaries, and killed their prophets unjustly, they were struck with humiliation, wretchedness, and divine anger Al-Baqarah 2:61.

Causes warranting torment

From the paper: «الأسباب الموجبة للعذاب»

The Quran makes clear that divine torment does not strike arbitrarily; it is tied to specific moral and spiritual transgressions. Primary among these is associationism and disbelief (al-shirk wa al-kufr). Denying the Creator and attributing offspring to Him shakes the very foundations of creation Maryam 19:88-91, and Allah has established an unchanging law that persistent rejection invites ruin Al-Kahf 18:59, Fatir 35:43, Al-Isra 17:58, Hud 11:101, At-Talaq 65:8-9.

Tyranny and injustice (al-ṭughyān wa al-ẓulm) are equally destructive. Oppressive societies like ‘Ad, Thamud, and Pharaoh brought down the whip of punishment because they corrupted the land Al-Fajr 89:9-14, Al-Anbiya 21:11. Allah does not strip away communal wellbeing unless people first corrupt themselves through injustice Al-Anfal 8:53, Hud 11:102.

Widespread open sin and the failure to enjoin good and forbid evil also invite collective hardship Al-Anfal 8:25. Ingratitude for blessings quickly converts security and abundance into hunger and terror Ibrahim 14:7, An-Nahl 16:112.

On an individual level, abandoning or neglecting the prayer leads to a life of spiritual constriction and grave consequences Ta-Ha 20:124, Maryam 19:59, Al-Ma'un 107:4-5. Withholding the poor-due (zakah) prompts the withholding of rain and brings the burning of hoarded wealth in the Hereafter At-Tawbah 9:34-35. Finally, turning away from defending justice and the cause of Allah invites profound communal weakness and replacement by other peoples At-Tawbah 9:39.

Hastening torment

From the paper: «استعجال العذاب»

A recurring human error noted in the Quran is challenging the warning and demanding immediate punishment out of arrogance. In their obstinacy, the disbelievers of Quraysh mockingly petitioned: if this message is indeed the truth, then let skies rain stones of baked clay upon us Al-Anfal 8:32, Al-Ma'arij 70:1. Commentators note that this rhetoric was rooted in stubborn denial, attempting to dismiss the truth by attaching its reality to an unimaginable catastrophe.

Rather than seeking wellbeing and guidance, deniers asked when the threatened torment would take place Ash-Shura 42:18. The Quran censures this foolish bravado, questioning what rational mind could ever rush toward its own annihilation Yunus 10:50-51. Torment is naturally repugnant, yet their spiritual sickness led them to demand evil before good, despite knowing the devastating ruins of past generations Ar-Ra'd 13:6.

Allah clarifies that were it not for a preordained, appointed term, the punishment would have struck them instantaneously Al-Ankabut 29:53-54. It will arrive suddenly while they are completely heedless, and the Hell they derisively demanded already encompasses them on every side.

Deterrents to torment

From the paper: «موانع العذاب»

Allah has opened numerous means for human beings to protect themselves from punishment. Chief among these is sincere repentance (al-tawbah), which serves as a universal shield against all sins, including disbelief itself Az-Zumar 39:53, Al-Ma'idah 5:39. Constant seeking of forgiveness (al-istighfār) similarly guarantees divine pardon for all transgressions short of dying in idolatry An-Nisa 4:110, An-Nisa 4:48.

Supplication by believers on behalf of one another also repels harm and secures forgiveness Muhammad 47:19, Al-Hashr 59:10, as evidenced by the profound mercy carried in the communal funeral prayer. However, asking forgiveness cannot benefit anyone who dies firmly settled in disbelief Al-Munafiqun 63:6, At-Tawbah 9:80.

During his earthly life, the physical presence of the Prophet was a protective shield preventing collective eradication Al-Anfal 8:33. In the Hereafter, his intercession (al-shafā‘ah) offers tremendous relief. This includes the Greatest Intercession to begin judgment at the Gathering Al-Isra 17:79, intercession for the people of Paradise to enter, raise their ranks, or be admitted without reckoning, and intercession for believers guilty of major sins so they are shielded from entering the Fire or extracted after having entered it. This grace, however, is reserved strictly for those who lived with pure monotheism.

The wisdom behind torment

From the paper: «الحكمة من العذاب»

Nothing in existence is devoid of divine purpose, and the hardships and punishments decreed by Allah carry profound wisdom. First, trials test and purify believers while destroying the corrupt Al-Ankabut 29:1-3, Al-Baqarah 2:214, Ali 'Imran 3:141. Faith is not a casual statement; it requires testing to distinguish genuine commitment from false claims, matching the severity of hardship to the strength of an individual's faith.

Second, worldly affliction serves as an expiation of sins and an elevation of status for believers Al-Baqarah 2:155, Muhammad 47:31. Pains, anxieties, and illnesses erase mistakes like heat cleanses iron, turning personal distress into an ultimate mercy that saves a servant from the far heavier, unending torment of the next world.

Third, worldly afflictions serve as warnings to turn back before it is too late. Allah gives people a taste of the lesser worldly punishment so they might awaken, abandon sin, and avoid the greater punishment of eternity As-Sajdah 32:21, Al-An'am 6:43.

Finally, divine punishment provides a sobering lesson and admonition for later generations Al-Isra 17:17, Muhammad 47:10. Seeing the ruins of ancient societies reminds humanity that the laws of divine justice remain active and that persistent arrogance always meets a ruinous end.

Takeaways

1. Gratitude Preserves Blessings

   Taking divine favors for granted invites scarcity, fear, and constriction, whereas recognizing blessings through continuous praise and obedience protects both personal and communal wellbeing.

2. Repentance Is an Immediate Shield

   No matter how serious a person's mistakes have been, turning back to Allah with sincere regret and regular seeking of forgiveness completely dissolves the threat of divine punishment.

3. Hardships Can Be Hidden Mercies

   For a patient believer, illnesses, stress, and worldly losses are not signs of divine rejection; they are purifying tools that erase faults and elevate one's eternal standing.

4. Communal Integrity Matters

   Societies that neglect fundamental duties like prayer, withhold charity from the poor, or tolerate open injustice risk widespread decay and loss of security.

Reflect

• When a sudden difficulty or illness touches your life, do you treat it as a call to re-evaluate your habits and turn back to Allah?
• How actively do you show gratitude for the daily security, health, and sustenance you enjoy before taking them for granted?
• Are there duties you have been putting off, such as prayer or charity, that you need to mend today to invite divine mercy into your home?

Go deeper

Linguistic meaning

Linguistically, the root indicates severe beating or hardship, which was later used for every intense difficulty, exemplary punishment, and continuous suffering.

Technical meaning

Technically, torment is intense physical or psychological suffering, encompassing everything that is severely difficult for the soul to bear as a requital for evil.

How it differs from related terms

الألم Pain

Pain is broader than torment; pain can be brief or lasting, caused by sickness or discipline, whereas torment specifically denotes continuous, sustained pain.

العقاب Punishment

Punishment implies a directly deserved requital that follows right on the heels of a sin, whereas torment describes the painful state itself, which may be deserved or unearned.

التنكيل Exemplary Deterrence

Exemplary deterrence is a specific outcome of torment designed to make a public spectacle of the offender so that others are restrained from repeating the act.

الجزاء Recompense

Recompense is the broader concept of exact compensation for any deed, whether good or bad, meaning that torment is simply the negative outcome of recompense.

Every verse in the paper

All 117 verses the research paper discusses, grouped under its own headings.

Concept of torment «مفهوم العذاب»

Metaphorical usage for every hardship «قال: ثم استعير ذلك في كل شدة»(1).»

33:30

Torment in Quranic usage «العذاب في الاستعمال القرآني»

Forms in which it appears «والصيغ التي وردت عليها هي»

9:26, 29:21, 17:15, 26:213, 2:85, 23:76

Related terms «الألفاظ ذات الصلة»

Recompense for something «المكافأة على الشيء(22).»

31:33

Types of torment «أنواع العذاب»

Those tormented by drowning and the flood «الذين عذبوا بالغرق والطوفان كثر، أذكر بعضًا منهم على سبيل المثال لا الحصر»

29:14, 71:25

Ibn Kathir on their drowning and punishment «قال ابن كثير: «من كثرة ذنوبهم وعتوهم وإصرارهم على كفرهم ومخالفتهم رسولهم أغرقوا فأدخلوا نارًا»(25)»

28:40, 34:16-17, 41:15-16, 69:6, 46:24

Those tormented by this type of punishment «الذين عذبوا بهذا النوع من العذاب»

29:40, 54:34, 105:1-5, 67:17, 17:68, 16:112, 30:41, 28:81, 16:45, 34:9, 2:65, 5:60, 11:67, 54:31, 5:33

Forms of psychological torment in the Quran «وقد ذكر القرآن الكريم صورًا من العذاب المعنوي، والتي منها»

2:85, 2:114, 22:9, 3:192, 9:64-66

Verses exposing hypocrites in the Quran «الآيات التي فضحت المنافقين في القرآن الكريم كثيرة، أذكر بعضًا منها»

2:8-16, 63:1-3

Verses addressing this type of torment «وأذكر بعض الآيات التي تحدثت عن هذا النوع من العذاب»

4:37, 25:69, 3:178, 7:152, 2:61

Causes warranting torment «الأسباب الموجبة للعذاب»

19:88-91, 18:59, 35:43, 17:58, 11:101, 65:8-9, 89:9-14, 21:11, 8:53, 11:102, 8:25, 14:7, 16:112, 20:124

Prayer is among the greatest forms of remembrance «والصلاة من أعظم الذكر.»

19:59, 107:4-5, 9:34-35, 9:39

Hastening torment «استعجال العذاب»

8:32, 70:1, 10:8, 42:18, 10:50-51, 13:6, 29:53-54

Deterrents to torment «موانع العذاب»

Ways to avert torment «يستطيع المرء أن يدفع العذاب عن نفسه من خلال أمور كثيرة، منها»

39:53, 5:39, 4:110, 4:48, 47:19, 59:10, 63:6, 9:80, 8:33

Intercession that averts or alleviates torment «والشفاعة التي تمنع أو تخفف من العذاب وخصوصًا في الآخرة، وهي على ثلاثة أنواع»

17:79

The wisdom behind torment «الحكمة من العذاب»

Divine wisdom behind torment «لا يخلو شيء في الوجود من حكمة لله عز وجل منه، وكذلك العذاب له حكم جليلة، منها»

29:1-3, 2:214, 3:141, 2:155, 47:31, 32:21, 6:43, 17:17, 47:10

About this source

Volume

12

Research paper

«العذاب» (Torment)

Read the full paper (Arabic)

Encyclopedia of Thematic Tafsir of the Noble Quran, published by the Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

This study guide summarizes the Arabic research paper. For full scholarly detail, refer to the original. This preview has not been reviewed yet.

Related topics

• Destruction الإهلاك
• Recompense الجزاء
• Paradise الجنة
• Hellfire النار
• The Last Day اليوم الآخر