he did not have any authority over them except to the extent that would allow us to know who had faith in the life to come and who had doubts about it. your lord is a guard over all things.
وما كان له عليهم من سلطان إلا لنعلم من يؤمن بالآخرة ممن هو منها في شك وربك على كل شيء حفيظ