Author: Abu Ayesha
Earthquake from the Perspective of Islam and a Critique of the Objectors’ Doubts (Part three)
Earthquakes in the Qur’anic Verses
In the Holy Qur’an, earthquakes are mentioned by various names, including: Zilzal al-Ard (Earthquake), Rajfah, Rajifah, Radifah, Saeha, Khasf, Sada‘, and others.
At the beginning of Surah Al-Hajj, a terrifying earthquake is described: “يا أیها الناس اتقوا ربکم إن زلزلة الساعة شيء عظیم یوم ترونها تذهل کل مرضعة عما أرضعت وتضع کل ذات حمل حملها وتری الناس سکاری وما هم بسکاری ولکن عذاب الله شدید”[1] Translation: “O people! Fear your Lord, for the earthquake of the Hour is a tremendous event. On that day, every nursing mother will abandon what she is nursing, every pregnant woman will drop her load, and you will see people intoxicated though they are not. Yet the punishment of Allah is severe.”
In Surah Al-Waqi’ah, Allah says: “إذا رجت الأرض رجا”[2] Translation: “When the earth is shaken violently and quakes severely.”
In Surah Al-Muzzammil, it is stated: “یوم ترجف الأرض والجبال وکانت الجبال کثیبا مهیلا”[3] Translation: “On the day the earth and the mountains will tremble, and the mountains will become like scattered dust.”
Surah An-Nazi’at mentions: “یوم ترجف الراجفة”[4] Translation: “On that day, when a terrible earthquake shakes everything.”
Surah Al-Fajr says: “کلا إذا دکت الأرض دکا دکا”[5] Translation: “No! When the earth is pounded violently.”
Surah Al-Haqqah describes: “فإذا نفخ في الصور نفخة واحدة وحملت الأرض والجبال فدکتا دکة واحدة”[6] Translation: “When the Trumpet is blown once, and the earth and mountains are lifted and leveled in one single quake.”
Finally, Surah Al-Zalzalah states: “إذا زلزلت الأرض زلزالها”[7] Translation: “When the earth is shaken by its earthquake.”
The earthquakes we witness in this world—houses collapsing, people trapped under rubble, mountains crumbling—serve as real-world examples of what will occur on the Day of Judgment. Hence, people are urged to remain conscious of the Hereafter and perform righteous deeds.
Natural Causes and Events According to Hadith
Many causes of afflictions and calamities are mentioned in numerous hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the righteous companions (MABH). Some examples include:
The Prophet (PBUH) addressed the emigrants (Muhajirin): “O group of emigrants! There are five situations from which I seek refuge for you:
1. When a people openly commit indecency, plague and unprecedented diseases will spread among them.
2. When a nation cheats in weights and measures, they will face famine, poverty, and oppressive rulers.
3. When a people withhold zakat, they will be deprived of rain, and if not for their livestock, no rain would fall.
4. When a people break the covenant of Allah and His Messenger, Allah will let a foreign enemy dominate them and seize their wealth.
5. When leaders fail to implement the Book of Allah and follow what He revealed, Allah will sow discord and war among them.” [8]
The Prophet (PBUH) also mentioned severe earthquakes and trials near the Hour: On the authority of Abu Huraira (MABH), Imam Bukhari narrates: “The Hour will not be established until knowledge is taken away, earthquakes increase, time shortens, tribulations appear, chaos and killings spread, and wealth overflows among you.” [9]
Historical accounts indicate that no earthquakes occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH) in Mecca or Medina. However, during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه), an earthquake struck, alarming him and the companions. Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr in Al-Tamhid notes that: “No authentic report indicates an earthquake during the Prophet’s time, but in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab, one occurred, prompting him to say: ‘You are steeped in sin; if the earth shakes again, I shall leave.’”[10]
The Prophet (PBUH) also stated: “There are five types of martyrs: the one who dies of plague, the one who dies from abdominal disease, the drowned, the one who dies under collapse (earthquake), and the martyr in the way of Allah.” [11]
Reminder
Scholars differ on whether earthquakes, eclipses, and other natural events are divine warnings for human sins or purely natural phenomena. In the following section, the views of prominent scholars, especially Qur’anic commentators, will be presented.
Continues…
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References:
[1] Surah Al-Hajj, 1-2
[2] Surah Al-Waqi’ah, 4
[3] Surah Al-Muzzammil, 14
[4] Surah An-Nazi’at, 6
[5] Surah Al-Fajr, 21
[6] Surah Al-Haqqah, 13-14
[7] Surah Al-Zalzalah, 1
[8] Tehanuwi, Allama Ashraf Ali, Sa’adat wa Shaqat dar Partooy-e A’mal, pp. 22-23
[9] Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, p. 33, Hadith 1036
[10] Ibn Abdul-Barr Al-Andalusi, Al-Tamhid, 3/318
[11] Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, p. 1041, Hadith 2674
