Why Doesn’t God Punish Bad People

📖Quran 35:15
Sahih International
O mankind, you are those in need of Allah , while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.

📖Qur’an 51:56-58
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allāh who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.

1. Worshiping God is not about an imposition but a divine gift with inherent benefits for the person. Prayer, especially five times a day, is a practice that not only strengthens the relationship with God but also serves as a safeguard for the individual. While one may not always perceive the immediate benefits, the act of worship keeps the person grounded, focused, and aligned with higher principles. Daily prayer serves as a constant reminder to stay away from immorality, such as adultery or injustice, because it creates a rhythm of reflection and mindfulness. It builds a person’s character, influencing their decisions throughout the day. In a world where distractions like social media can lead one astray, prayer offers a pause, redirecting time and energy towards something meaningful. The time that might otherwise be spent on fleeting and potentially harmful activities is instead dedicated to a higher purpose, providing inner peace and guiding individuals away from negative behavior and thoughts. Thus, prayer is not only a form of worship but a form of self-care. It provides mental clarity, strengthens resolve, and enhances moral integrity. Even if the benefits are not immediately obvious, they accumulate over time, leading a person towards a more righteous and fulfilling life.
2. The verse Qur’an 35:15 (“O mankind, you are the ones in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy”) highlights that humans are inherently in need of God, while God is self-sufficient and does not require anything from us. This emphasizes that worship and obedience to God are not because He needs them, but because it is for our own benefit. Now, if one questions why they should follow God’s commands since they don’t “need” God in the way we depend on each other, it can be understood through a simple analogy: Just as we follow the laws of the country we live in, which are made to maintain order and peace, following God’s guidance is crucial for our spiritual, moral, and emotional well-being. Just as disobeying the laws of the land can lead to punishments or consequences, disobeying God’s laws can lead to spiritual consequences that affect the soul, life, and afterlife. The relationship between God and an individual is not one of coercion but of guidance. A person has the free will to choose their path. However, just as a person cannot reject the laws of the country without facing consequences, rejecting God’s guidance comes with spiritual consequences. Obeying God’s commands is a way to live in harmony with the natural order He has set for us, leading to peace, fulfillment, and ultimate success in both this world and the Hereafter. God created us with the capacity to choose, and this choice includes accepting His commands or rejecting them. However, rejecting His laws does not mean escaping responsibility; it only leads to hardship, much like violating any societal law leads to consequences. The wisdom in following God’s guidance is not because He gains from it, but because we, as His creation, benefit immensely-spiritually, mentally, and morally-from following the path He has set for us.

📖Quran 29:45
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

📖Quran 82:6
O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous.

📖Quran 65:12
It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. [His] command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.

📖Quran 67:2
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –

📖Quran 6:165
And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

📖Quran 53:31
And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth – that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] –

📖Quran 20:15
Indeed, the Hour is coming – I almost conceal it – so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.

📖Quran 16:39
[It is] so He will make clear to them [the truth of] that wherein they differ and so those who have disbelieved may know that they were liars.

📖Quran 10:3-4
Indeed, your Lord is Allah , who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah , your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember? To Him is your return all together. [It is] the promise of Allah [which is] truth. Indeed, He begins the [process of] creation and then repeats it that He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds, in justice. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they used to deny.

📖Quran 4:165
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

📖Quran 4:165
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

📖Quran 5:19
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, “There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner.” But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is over all things competent.

📖Quran 6:155-157
And this [Qur’an] is a Book We have revealed [which is] blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy – [We revealed it] lest you say, “The Scripture was only sent down to two groups before us, but we were of their study unaware, Or lest you say, “If only the Scripture had been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.” So there has [now] come to you a clear evidence from your Lord and a guidance and mercy. Then who is more unjust than one who denies the verses of Allah and turns away from them? We will recompense those who turn away from Our verses with the worst of punishment for their having turned away.

📖Quran 18:58
And your Lord is the Forgiving, full of mercy. If He were to impose blame upon them for what they earned, He would have hastened for them the punishment. Rather, for them is an appointment from which they will never find an escape.

📖Quran 16:61
And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].

📖Quran 35:45
And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon the earth any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allah has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.

📖Quran 11:110
And We had certainly given Moses the Scripture, but it came under disagreement. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them. And indeed they are, concerning the Qur’an, in disquieting doubt.

📖Quran 20:129
And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord, punishment would have been an obligation [due immediately], and [if not for] a specified term [decreed].

📖Quran 14:42
And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].

📖Quran 14:47
So never think that Allah will fail in His promise to His messengers. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution.

📖Quran 3:178
Sahih International
And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.

📖Quran 19:84
So be not impatient over them. We only count out to them a [limited] number.

📖Quran 30:7
They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.

📖Quran 46:26
And We had certainly established them in such as We have not established you, and We made for them hearing and vision and hearts. But their hearing and vision and hearts availed them not from anything [of the punishment] when they were [continually] rejecting the signs of Allah ; and they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.

📖Quran 3:180
what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah , with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.

📖Quran 3:196-197
Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.

📖Quran 17:18-20
Whoever should desire the immediate – We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished. But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer – it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah ]. To each [category] We extend – to these and to those – from the gift of your Lord. And never has the gift of your Lord been restricted.

📖Quran 14:48
[It will be] on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well], and all creatures will come out before Allah , the One, the Prevailing.

📖Quran 39:71
And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, “Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say, “Yes, but the word of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.

📖Quran 67:8-11
It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, “Did there not come to you a warner?” They will say,” Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, ‘ Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error. And they will say, “If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze. And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.

📖Quran 67:12
Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.

This fear of Allah is not just about feeling afraid, but about living a life of morality, righteousness, and self-restraint.

A person who truly fears Allah will avoid all forms of immorality, including:

• Killing innocent people – as Allah has forbidden the unjust taking of life (Qur’an 5:32).
• Rape and adultery – as they corrupt society and lead to great harm (Qur’an 17:32).
• Oppression and injustice – as Allah commands justice and kindness (Qur’an 16:90).

This type of fear is not about terror, but about respect and obedience to Allah’s commands. It leads a believer to make choices that are ethical, kind, and just, even when no one is watching. Because of this sincerity, Allah promises forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise).

📖Quran 19:85-87
On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation, And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst, None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.

📖Quran 16;90
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.

📖Quran 17:15
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.

📖Quran 4:147
What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.

📖Quran 32:19
As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do.

📖Quran 28:77
But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.

📖Quran 4:17
The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or carelessness] and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness, and Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

📖Quran 4:18
But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “Indeed, I have repented now,” or of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.

📖Quran 32:20
But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the Fire. Every time they wish to emerge from it, they will be returned to it while it is said to them, “Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny.

📖Quran 28:84
Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it; and whoever comes with an evil deed – then those who did evil deeds will not be recompensed except [as much as] what they used to do.

📖Quran 76:3
Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.

📖Quran 19:10
And have shown him the two ways good and evil?

📖Quran 18:29
Sahih International
And say, “The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.” Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.

📖Quran 3:32
Say, “Obey Allah and the Messenger.” But if they turn away – then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.

📖Quran 13:34
For them will be punishment in the life of [this] world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe. And they will not have from Allah any protector.

In this verse, punishment in this world does not always mean direct suffering, hardship, or visible torment. Instead, it can refer to the loss of guidance and self-destruction through their own wrong actions.

Their punishment is that they lose something valuable, their morality, peace, and spiritual clarity. They destroy themselves by engaging in sinful activities such as adultery, rape, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs. As mentioned in the Quran 3:178 , Allah allows them to have everything they desire in order to commit sins, but this itself becomes a punishment. Their excessive indulgence in wrongdoing leads to their downfall, both in this world and the Hereafter.

Understanding the Purpose of Prayer and Allah’s Wisdom in Answering

The purpose and importance of prayer, emphasizing that it is first and foremost for our own benefit. Prayer is a way to seek guidance, mercy, and blessings from Allah. However, it’s important to remember that the outcome of our prayers is within Allah’s knowledge, and sometimes we may not get what we expect. For instance, if we pray for the well-being of a child, but it is written that the child will pass away at a certain time, we must accept that Allah’s plan is beyond our understanding. Our prayers are not wasted; even if they are not answered in the way we desire, we are rewarded for seeking Allah’s help. As stated in a hadith, sometimes prayers are delayed, or something better is stored for us in the Hereafter. This teaches us to trust in Allah’s wisdom and to accept that His decisions are always in our best interest, even when we do not understand them fully.

📖Sahih Muslim 2735 a
Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: The supplication of every one of you is granted if he does not grow impatient and says: I supplicated but it was not granted.

A person can pray his entire life, as it is stated that the supplication of every one of you is granted. However, it is important to understand the condition in the Qur’an and Hadith that God has already written our fate. For instance, if I pray to God to become a doctor, but it is not part of my destiny, I am asking for something that isn’t meant for me. But I trust that I do not know my destiny—only God knows. Therefore, my prayer is not in vain; rather, it will be preserved for the hereafter or replaced with something better in this world. Yet, God will not grant my desire to be a doctor if it is not part of what has been decreed for me.

📖Surah At-Tawbah (9:51)
Say, ‘Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely.

Destiny, Prayer, and God’s Will — A Reflection on Fate and Faith

For non-Muslims, even if they do not ask God, they will receive what is mentioned in the Qur’an because their fate has already been written about what they will get in their life. But for Muslims, if they deny God, they will find exactly what is in their destiny, but the punishment for disbelievers, especially, will be a depressed life. They will get everything even if they didn’t ask because it’s part of the destiny, yet God will give them more so they will commit more sin because they rejected God. For Muslims, we ask and glorify God for everything, but even if we don’t ask, it will still happen.

📖Quran 20:124
And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”

📖Quran 2:212
Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe –

📖Quran 3:178
And those who disbelieve are not to think they are causing Us failure. Indeed, they will never cause Us failure. And let them not think that when We extend to them good things in this world, it is because of their good deeds. We only extend to them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.

It’s also important to note that some people knowingly reject the verses meant for them, but there are others who may not know exactly the message. It is not possible to declare anything about them; it is up to God to judge because we do not know exactly who knows and who doesn’t, or what is in their heart.

Additional Information

This article primarily presents Qur’anic verses without further explanation. The intention is for the verses to speak for themselves and offer insight into the reason why God does not immediately punish those who commit wrongdoings. If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to leave a comment.