Author: Abu Ayesha
Earthquake from the Perspective of Islam and a Critique of the Objectors’ Doubts (Part Nine)
Sin Is the Cause of All Afflictions (continued)
The Noble Qur’an in another verse presents people’s own deeds as the cause of their misery and affliction: “وَإِن تُصِبْهُم سَيِّئَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَقْنَطُونَ.” [1] Translation: “When some evil touches the people, it is because of what their hands have sent before (their deeds); and behold, they despair.”
This verse identifies sin as a cause for misfortunes and criticizes the wrong reaction of people when they see calamity — because instead of turning to admonition, repentance, supplication, and returning to God, they withdraw further from Allah and despair of His mercy and of reforming themselves.
Another Qur’anic verse describing the reason for calamities as the sins and deeds of people uses the phrase “سيئات ما عملوا”: “فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا بِهِ يُسْتَهْزَئُونَ.” [2] Translation: “Evil deeds that they committed befell them, and that which they used to mock encompassed them.”
That is, the very promise of Allah which they denied and ridiculed came to pass; God made them taste the consequences of their deeds. The Qur’an, by the term sayyi’ah, exposes the direct relationship between sin and disaster.
And He (Glorified) says: “وَالَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ سَيَصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا.” [3] Translation: “And those among them who did wrong — the evil of what they earned will surely come upon them.”
This verse likewise emphasizes that the result of wrongdoing will certainly reach people in this world as affliction.
Allah Almighty in other verses directly declares sin to be the cause of punishment and calamity: “أَنْ لَوْ نَشَاءُ أَصَبْنَاهُمْ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ.” [4] Translation: “If We willed, we would afflict them for their sins.”
“وَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنْبِهِ.” [5] Translation: “And indeed We seized the evildoers for their sins.”
“فَاعْتَرَفُوا بِذَنْبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِأَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ.” [6] Translation: “Then they admitted their sin; so away with the companions of the Blaze!”
“فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمَدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِذَنْبِهِمْ فَسَوَّاهَا وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَاهَا.”[7] Translation: “So they denied him and hamstrung the she-camel, and their Lord destroyed them for their sin and leveled them (made them flat), and He has no fear of the consequence thereof.”
In this noble verse, Allah not only points to sin as a sign of punishment but also identifies sin as the cause of overturning and the destruction of the people of Thamud; it is one of the clearest verses that links sin with cities being overturned and with earthquakes (the rajfah mentioned elsewhere).
The Qur’an even sets forth the groundwork of punishment as sin, so that when sin is widespread in a society one should realize that this condition may be a prelude and sign of impending punishment:
“وَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتَرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَاهَا تَدْمِيرًا.”[8] Translation: “And when We intend to destroy a town, we command its opulent people, and they commit sin therein; so, the word becomes due against it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.”
A society that indulges in sin and corruption becomes deserving of punishment and exposes itself to various afflictions and divine retribution; this is the path the people choose by following their influential leaders, and Allah does not do injustice to anyone. The law of Allah is that He calls servants to good and restrains them from wrongdoing; those who do good and obey Allah are rewarded, while those who disobey and disregard His commands will be held accountable.
It is not correct to assert that sins — especially immorality and vices — have no effect on events such as earthquakes, storms, and tsunamis. Rather, it can be said that at times Allah uses such events to draw people’s attention to their deviation so that they return to Allah and abandon the path of deviation.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْفَاحِشَةُ کَانَتِ الرَّجْفَةُ …” [9] Translation: “When immorality becomes widespread in the world, earthquakes will increase …”
Natural consequences of sin
From the Qur’anic perspective, sin and immoral conduct affect not only the sinful person individually but also, by nature and in creation, impact the fate of other members of society: “وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً.”[10] Translation: “And fear a trial which will not strike those who have done wrong among you exclusively.”
This verse indicates that trials, tribulations, and fitnah are general in scope and may reach many people — not only the wrongdoers. It signals the universality of affliction (which itself may be a form of punishment and a prelude to destruction).
It is also the Divine way that when punishment descends, it sometimes affects everyone, though on the Day of Resurrection every person will be recompensed according to their intention and deeds. A believing person who dies in an earthquake is considered a martyr, and death in an earthquake can be a sign of mercy for the believer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ: الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِيقُ، وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ، وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.”[11] Translation: “There are five kinds of martyrs: the one who dies from plague, the one who dies of stomach disease, the drowned person, the one who dies under a collapse (e.g., under rubble), and the one who is martyred in the path of Allah.”
Thus, one who perishes under rubble — for example in an earthquake or building collapse — is counted among the martyrs.
Divine wisdom is not always apparent to us; sometimes we do not understand the wisdom behind calamities, but we believe that Allah is Wise: “لَا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ.” [12] Translation: “He is not questioned for what He does, but they will be questioned.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “یَکُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي رَجْفَةٌ يَهْلِكُ فِيهَا عَشْرَةُ آلاَفٍ، عِشْرُونَ أَلْفًا، ثَلَاثُونَ أَلْفًا، یَجْعَلُهَا مَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَرَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَذَابًا لِلْكَافِرِينَ.”[13] Translation: “There will occur among my nation an earthquake in which ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand will perish; He will make it a lesson for the pious, a mercy for the believers, and a punishment for the disbelievers.”
Earthquakes and calamities can be a test from God and a means of human perfection. The Qur’an explicitly states that humans are tested by both good and evil: “نَبْلُوكُمْ بِالشَّرِّ وَالْحَسَنَةِ فِتْنَةً.”[14] Translation: “We will test you with evil and good as a trial.”
And in another verse: “بَلَوْنَاهُمْ بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ.”[15] Translation: “We tested them with good and evil that they might return [to righteousness].”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ وَلَا وَصَبٍ وَلَا هَمٍّ وَلَا أَذًى وَلَا غَمٍّ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ.”[16] Translation: “Whatever afflicts a Muslim of fatigue, illness, sorrow, harm, grief, even a thorn that pricks him — Allah expiates by it some of his sins.”
So, when a Muslim encounters a calamity as great as an earthquake or a storm, what can we say? Do not such events become expiation for his sins? Yes — surely such trials can be a means of expiation and elevation of status.
Continues…
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References:
[1] Surah Ash-Shura (42), verse 48.
[2] Surah An-Nahl (16), verse 34.
[3] Surah Ghafir (40), verse 9.
[4] Surah Al-A‘raf (7), verse 100.
[5] Surah Al-‘Ankabut (29), verse 40.
[6] Surah Al-Mulk (67), verse 11.
[7] Surah Ash-Shams (91), verse 15.
[8] Surah Al-Isra (17), verse 16.
[9] Al-Suyuti, Jami‘ al-Kabir, chapter (…); (hadith reference as in your source).
[10] Surah Al-Anfal (8), verse 25.
[11] Sahih Muslim, chapter on martyrs, hadith no. 5049 (Nishapuri, Dar al-Jil, Beirut edition cited).
[12] Surah Al-Anbiya (21), verse 23.
[13] Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-‘Ummal, chapter on sinking/overturning/etc., hadith no. 38723 (Bikri Hayyani edition).
[14] Surah Al-Anbiya (21), verse 35.
[15] Surah Al-A‘raf (7), verse 168.
[16] Sahih al-Bukhari, chapter on expiation by illness, hadith no. 5318.
