Many countries have had earthquakes,
such as Turkey, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, etc. Does this mean anything (from an Islamic point
of view)?
Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the
Messenger of Allaah, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow his guidance.
Allaah is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He wills and decrees,
and He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He legislates and commands. He creates and
decrees whatever signs He wills, to frighten His slaves and remind them of their
obligations and duties towards Him, and to warn them against associating anything in
worship with Him, going against His commands and doing that which He has forbidden. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We sent not the signs except to warn” [al-Israa’
17:59]
“We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own
selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’aan) is the truth. Is it
not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?”
[Fussilat 41:53]
“Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above or from
under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the
violence of one another.’” [al-An’aam 6:65]
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh from Jaabir ibn
‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that when the aayah (interpretation of
the meaning) “Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above”
was revealed, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A’oodhu
bi wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face”; “or from under your feet”,
he said, “A’oodhu bi wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face).” (Saheeh
al-Bukhaari, 5/193).
(Abu’l-Shaykh al-Isbahaani narrated from Mujaahid concerning the Tafseer
of this aayah, “Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above”:
(this means) al-Sayhah (the shout or tumult), stones and strong wind; “or
from under your feet”, (means) earthquakes and being swallowed up by the earth.)
Undoubtedly the earthquakes that are happening these
days are among the signs which Allaah uses to frighten His slaves. All the earthquakes and
other things which happen and cause harm and injury to people are because of shirk
and sins, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what
your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [al-Shoora 42:30]
“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of
evil befalls you, is from yourself” [al-Nisaa’ 4:79]
And Allaah said concerning the nations of the past:
“So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some
on whom We sent Haasib (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as on the people of Loot
(Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment — awful cry,
(as Thamood or Shu‘ayb’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the
earth to swallow [as Qaaroon (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the
people of Nooh (Noah), or Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allaah Who
wronged them, but they wronged themselves” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:40]
What Muslims and others who are accountable and of sound mind must do
is repent to Allaah, adhere firmly to His Religion and avoid all that He has forbidden of Shirk
and sin, so that they may be safe and attain salvation from all evils in this world and
the next, and so that Allaah will ward off from them all harm, and bless them with all
good. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwaa
(piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the
earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they
used to earn (polytheism and crimes).” [al-A’raaf 7:96]
And Allaah says concerning the People of the Book (interpretation of
the meaning):
“And if only they had acted according to the Tawraah (Torah),
the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the
Qur’ân), they would surely, have gotten provision from above them and from
underneath their feet” [al-Maa’idah 5:66].
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the
coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep? Or, did the people
of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while
they were playing? Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allaah? None
feels secure from the Plan of Allaah except the people who are the losers.”
[al-A’raaf 7:97-99]
Al-‘Allaamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Allaah sometimes gives the earth permission to breathe, which is when major
earthquakes happen; this makes people feel scared, so they repent, give up sins, pray to
Allaah and feel regret [for their sins]. When there had been an earthquake, some of the
Salaf said: your Lord is warning you. When Madeenah was struck by an earthquake,
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with you) addressed the people and said:
if there is another earthquake, I will not stay here with you.”
And there are many similar reportes from the Salaf.
Our response when there is an earthquake or some other sign such as an
eclipse, strong winds or floods, should be to hasten to repent to Allaah and pray to Him
for safety, and to remember Him much and seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said when there was an eclipse: “If you see anything
like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him and seek His forgiveness.” (Part
of an agreed-upon hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (2/30) and Muslim (2/628)).
It is also mustahabb (recommended, encouraged) to
show compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity to them, because the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Show mercy, you will be shown mercy.” (Narrated by
Imaam Ahmad, 2/165)
“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the
Most Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, and the One Who is in heaven will
show mercy to you.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood (13/285), al-Tirmidhi (6/43)).
“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown
mercy.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5/75), Muslim (4/1809)).
It was reported that when there was an earthquake,
‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez (may Allaah have mercy on him) would write to his
governors telling them to give in charity.
One of the things which will help to keep people safe and sound is if
the authorities impose an immediate crack-down on the foolish elements in society, forcing
them to behave and applying the laws of sharee’ah to them, enjoining what is good and
forbidding what is evil. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The believers, men and women, are Awliyaa’ (helpers,
supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people)
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid
(people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam
has forbidden); they perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give the Zakaah, and obey
Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah will have His Mercy on them. Surely, Allaah is
All-Mighty, All-Wise” [al-Tawbah 9:71]
“Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly,
Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them
power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqamat-as-Salaah [i.e. to perform the
five compulsory congregational Salaah (prayers) (the males in mosques)], to pay the Zakaah
and they enjoin Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to
do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islam has forbidden)
[i.e. they make the Qur’aan as the law of their country in all the spheres of life].
And with Allaah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).” [al-Hajj 22:40-41]
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will
make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from
(sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will
suffice him.” [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And there are many aayaat on this topic.
The Prophet (
peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever meets the need of his brother, Allaah will meet his needs.” (Agreed
upon; al-Bukhaari, 3/98; Muslim, 4/1996).
And he (
peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Whoever relieves a believer of some of the distress of this world, Allaah will
relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things
easier for one who is suffering hardship, Allaah will make things easier for him in this
world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allaah will conceal
his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allaah will help a person so long as he
helps his brother.” (Narrated by Muslim, 4/2074). And there are
many ahaadeeth on this topic.
Allaah is the One Whom we ask to reform the affairs of all the Muslims
and to bless them with proper understanding of Islam and help them to adhere steadfastly
to it and repent to Allaah from all their sins. We ask Him to reform all those who are in
authority over the Muslims’ affairs and to support the Truth and eradicate falsehood
through them, and to help them to rule the people according to the laws of sharee’ah,
and to protect them and all the Muslims from misguidance and temptation and the tricks of
the Shaytaan, for He is Able to do all that.
May the blessings and peace of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and
upon his family and companions, and those who follow them in truth until the Day of
Resurrection.
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