أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ أَلِيمٍ
7:60; 71:4.
Commentary:
"A grievous punishment" is different from "the punishment of a grievous day." The latter expression implies greater intensity. Certain punishments are very grievous, but there are certain "days" the remembrance of which continues to cause great pain even after the lapse of hundreds of years. The actual "punishment" causes pain only to those on whom it falls, but remembrance of the "days" of a terrible punishment frightens even those who come after. Thus, by using the expression, the punishment of a grievous day, the Quran points to the fact that the threatened punishment was to be such as would be long remembered and would strike terror into the hearts of coming generations. This expression aptly describes the grievous nature of the punishment which overtook the people of Noah, for the great Deluge is remembered even to the present day as a terrible catastrophe the very thought of which inspires fear.
7:60; 71:4.
'A grievous punishment' is different from 'the punishment of a grievous day.' The latter expression implies greater intensity. Certain punishments are very grievous, but there are 'certain days' the remembrance of which continues to haunt and cause pain even after the lapse of hundreds of years. Whereas the actual 'punishment' causes pain only to those on whom it falls, remembrance of the 'days of a grievous punishment' terrifies even those who come after.