The Esoteric Punishments of Quran

The following text include some of the most controversial punishments for the crime of apostasy present in any sacred book of a religion. Nonetheless, there is a definite underlying esoteric theme in the text that is not usually distinguished by traditionalist scholars, and likely adds value of a greater purpose to the Quran.

The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom; Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (05, 33-34)

The four punishments that are described in the Quran here are elemental punishments for the alchemical processes of decomposition, sublimation, incineration, and dissolution. The punishment of 'death' is by the element 'earth' because the body returns to the earth corresponding to the process of 'decomposition'. The punishment of 'crucifixion' is by the element 'air' because the body hangs in the air and eaten by the birds corresponding to the process of 'sublimation'. The punishment of 'cutting the hand and feet on alternate sides' is by the element 'fire' because afterwards the wounds need to be cauterized by the fire, or else they get infected, and the punishment is corresponding to the process of 'incineration'. The punishment of 'expelling out of the land' is by the element 'water' because when expelled from the land one ends up being in the domain of water, where one gets to be dissolved corresponding to the process of 'dissolution'. These punishments are of the mystical nature and significance, rather than for one to be concerned about them in any literal sense of the judgement.

The idea of an effective punishment is always to deter the crime, and to also inspire the wisdom of right actions. The esoteric part is always hidden under the gravity of situation, so that no one takes the responsibility of power with a lack of vigor, or the higher authority of universal judgement with a culture of ignorance, because everything that may compromise the superior purpose to the inferior motive is dangerous to the cosmic order of life. Therefore, these punishments are never meant to be for any literal application, since they are all esoteric in nature representing the greater universal principles that cannot be violated without the dire consequences.

The Balance of Elements