1 Preface سَأَلَ سائِلٌ بِعَذابٍ واقِعٍYusuf AliA questioner asked1 about a Penalty to befall- Any one might ask. When will Judgment come? That question usually implies doubt. The answer is: the mystery of Time is beyond man’s comprehension. But there is something which touches him closely and concerns his conduct and his future welfare; and that is explained in four propositions: (1) Judgment is sure to come, and none can ward it off; (2) it will exact a dreadful Penalty from Unbelievers, but the righteous have nothing to fear; (3) it will be a Penalty from God, the Lord of both Justice and Mercy, it will not be merely a blind calamity of fate; and (4) further we are reminded of another title of God. “Lord of the Ways of Ascent”; which means that though He sits high on His Throne of Glory, He is not inaccessible, but in His infinite Mercy has provided ways of ascent to Him; see next note.