Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There are three persons whom Allah will neither talk to nor look at, nor purify from (the sins), and they will have a painful punishment. (They are): (1) A man possessed superfluous water on a way and he withheld it from the travelers. (2) a man who gives a pledge of allegiance to a Muslim ruler and gives it only for worldly gains. If the ruler gives him what he wants, he remains obedient to It, otherwise he does not abide by it, and (3) a man bargains with another man after the `Asr prayer and the latter takes a false oath in the Name of Allah) claiming that he has been offered so much for the thing and the former (believes him and) buys it."
Hadith Commentary: The Three Cursed Categories
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (2672) identifies three grave sins that incur Allah's severe displeasure and punishment. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) warns that these individuals will be deprived of divine communication, gaze, and purification.
First Category: Withholder of Travelers' Water
The scholar explains that withholding surplus water from travelers represents extreme selfishness and hardness of heart. In desert conditions, water means life itself. This act demonstrates complete disregard for human suffering and violates the Islamic principle of helping those in dire need.
The punishment reflects the severity: Allah will neither speak to such person nor purify them, indicating complete spiritual abandonment. This serves as a warning against monopolizing essential resources that Allah has made available for all creation.
Second Category: The Opportunistic Allegiance
This refers to one who pledges allegiance to a Muslim ruler with purely worldly intentions. Their loyalty is conditional upon material gain. If satisfied, they obey; if not, they rebel.
Classical scholars emphasize that bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) is a sacred covenant that must be honored for Allah's sake, not for temporal benefits. This betrayal undermines social stability and violates the trust placed in Muslim leadership.
Third Category: The Fraudulent After-Asr Transaction
The time after Asr prayer is significant because it approaches evening when people are tired and less vigilant. The swearing of false oaths during business transactions at this vulnerable time compounds the sin.
Scholars note that this combines multiple transgressions: deception, false oaths using Allah's name, and exploiting others' trust. The severity lies in making Allah a witness to falsehood, which represents ultimate disrespect toward the Divine.
Spiritual Implications
The three punishments mentioned—Allah not speaking to, not looking at, and not purifying the sinner—represent complete spiritual isolation. This is the ultimate deprivation for a soul created for divine connection.
The "painful punishment" serves as both a warning and reminder that these sins strike at the core of Islamic social ethics: resource sharing, political integrity, and commercial honesty.