Episode 2
Episode 2: Hated Only for Believing in Allah
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The Qur'an explains the sole "crime" of those believers in the eyes of their torturers — and it turns out to be no crime at all, but an honor. Allah said, "And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, over all things, is Witness" (Qur'an 85:8-9). Notice how deep the meaning of this verse is: the only cause of that hatred and torture was faith in Allah. The believers did not steal, did not spread corruption, did not wrong anyone — they only believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might (Al-'Aziz), the Praiseworthy (Al-Hamid). This verse also affirms Allah's attributes: His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and He witnesses all things. So even as those torturers sat watching with pride, Allah too witnessed every drop of the suffering of His believing servants — and He would not let it go in vain. Reflection: the hatred of the unjust toward the believers is often not because of any evil, but precisely because of the goodness and steadfastness of their faith. And every injustice is witnessed by Allah; nothing escapes Him. Allah suffices as Witness and Requiter. Source & Note: evidence from the Qur'an, 85:8-9. The two names of Allah in the verse — Al-'Aziz (the Exalted in Might) and Al-Hamid (the Praiseworthy) — and the affirmation "Allah, over all things, is Witness" are the Qur'an's own text.
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Episode 3: The Requital of the Torturers and the Victory of Faith