Verily, Allah (SWT) does whatever He wills. Recently we heard the heart-breaking news of a tremendous earthquake striking Turkey and Syria. Looking at the condition of our brothers and sisters there, our hearts should tremble with the fear of Allah (SWT) and we should feel the pain that they are going through as Allah (SWT) said:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.
[Al-Hujurat: 10]
Allah (SWT) also said:
وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ
And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.”
[Al-Mu’minun: 52]
Narrated Abu Musa,the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.” The Prophet (ﷺ) then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced (while saying that).
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2446)
Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6011, Sahih Muslim 2586)
The Disbelievers attribute these disasters to science. They say it is due to gravity or it is because of the movement of tectonic plates, etc. A Believer understands that everything is under the control of Allah (SWT). And those plates that moved only were able to move with the permission of Allah (SWT). The crust of the Earth is under the control of Allah (SWT) and He is the one who is In-Charge of everything. Verily, the earth moves and there is a wisdom behind it whether we understand it or not.
Firstly it is a sign of the power of Allah (SWT). إن الله على كل شيء قدير. Every fast wind that comes and destroys, it is with the command of Allah (SWT). Every flood that floods a city is with the command of the Most High.
Didn’t we see that the buildings the people took decades to build but only in a few seconds Allah (SWT) destroyed them. Never should we feel safe from the power of Allah (SWT). This should cause us to be humble Infront of Allah (SWT), and we should realize our condition of how lowly we are and how sinful we are. Remember that we are slaves and Allah (SWT) is our Master.
Secondly. this earthquake may have been a punishment for many. The earth moves and it moves because of the sins of people. Allah (SWT) said:
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ
And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
[As-Shoora: 30]
He also said:
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].
[Ar-Rum: 41]
Allah (SWT) forgives sins. If He would have held accountable everyone for their sins then nothing would remain in this world and everything would be destroyed. Reflect upon this.
These earthquakes and calamities we face are a warning for us to turn back to Allah (SWT) and realize that death can come anytime. The Angel of Death will not send a WhatsApp message or a Facebook message that “Get ready, I am coming!” It will come unexpectedly. Even in our houses, we are not safe from the power of Allah (SWT). Remember that to death age is nothing but a number. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are. Angel of Death will take your soul at the appointed time, not half second after nor half a second earlier.
Allah (SWT) says:
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent.
[As-Sajdah: 21]
It is time we wake up from our deep sleep and not be like the people who say that the earthquake happened in that other country and nothing will happen to us. “We feel safe from the punishment of Allah (SWT).” Remember that those who turn away will be destroyed. When you abandon the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ then what what makes the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ think that they are going to have izzah (honor) and that their ranks will be uplifted or they will have authority?
There is a purification and rising of ranks for those who died from amongst the believers.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 5641, 5642)
Hence, those who were affected by the earthquake and died from amongst the believers perhaps it was that Allah (SWT) wanted them to be on a rank for which their deeds were not becoming a cause. And then they are sent this earthquake to purify and to raise their ranks. Wallahu Alam (And Allah (SWT) knows best)
For those who died in this earthquake, there is consolation in the following hadith:
Abu Hurairah narrated the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“The martyrs are five: Those who die of the plague, stomach illness, drowning, being crushed, and the martyr in the cause of Allah”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1063)
We hope, Insha’Allah these people will be from amongst the martyrs and those who are left behind from their families or those who are affected by this earthquake then for them this could be a test. Allah (SWT) says:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.
[Al-Baqara: 155]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”
(Muslim)
Remember, the closer you are to Allah (SWT), the more you will be tested. Prophets were the most tested of people. Don’t you remember that Ayyub عليه السلام suffered due to a disease for 18 years! Ibrahim عليه السلام was commanded to leave his family in the middle of nowhere, and then later on sacrifice his own child! Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was hurt by stones on his visit to Taif, injured badly in the battel of Uhud. When you follow the religion sincerely, you will be tested as to see whether you are really true in what you claim or not. This world however is insignificant. If not today, tomorrow you won’t be here.
Moving further, we heard so many incidents that happened in Turkey and Syria. Really, there were so many signs from the Most Merciful. We heard about a baby being born while rest of the family died. This young child had just opened his eyes, saw neither of his parents. She survived while the parents died. A man was stuck under the rubble and people told him that they are giving him a blanket. He asked for water, so he could make wudu’ and pray Salah. Allah ul Musta’aan. He is crushed – but he wants to pray!
How many of us really guard our prayers? In fact, we delay it as much as we can. Even when we pray, there is no khushu (humility). We just want to get done with it as soon as possible. Allah (SWT)’s aid is sought. Then another girl who was 5 years old was taken out from under the rubble after 4 days,. She asks, “What is going to happen of me. I haven’t prayed my prayers for the last 4 days.” We see so many signs of Allah (SWT). People coming out of the rubble after 4-5 days.
I remember one of the da’ees (preachers of Islam) saying regarding death: “When it’s meant for you it will never miss you, and when it’s not meant for you it will never reach you.” We really need to look at where we are. We claim to be Muslims, yet we leave something that takes us out of Islām – Salah.
We heard about the child stuck under rubble and the people are telling him to say the kalimah (testimony). Then we see another man after losing 12 of his family members he says: “Alhumdulillaah” (All praises are for Allah (SWT). Imagine if something like this happened to us (may Allah not make it happen) how many of us will be happy and pleased with the decree of Allah (SWT)? Yet we claim our Lord is Allah (SWT). And when we are unhappy upon the decree of Allah (SWT), then we are not fulfilling the first type of Tawheed i.e. Tawheed Ar-Rubobiyyah (Singling out Allah (SWT) in Lordship). Be content with what Allah (SWT) has given you and thank Him for His tremendous blessings upon you.
My advice to all my readers is: Help your brothers and sisters who are affected by the earthquake in whatever way you can. The least you can do is at least make du’ā for them.
We are busy running behind the dunya. We are busy wasting our time in things that will bring no benefit. We are busy looking at daramas, movies, listening to music, etc. We don’t realize that next few minutes it could be that we are wrapped in a white cloth, laid into the grave. It could be that the chair you are sitting on and you never get up from it, the article you are reading you never finish reading it. What have we prepared for that life? Return back to your lord Ya Abdullaah wa Ya Amatullaah! How many more signs of your Lord do you want to see?? Wake up! Learn and practice your religion.
Obey Allah (SWT) and follow the command of His Messenger
Enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil
Befriend the righteous
Guard your prayers don’t invent into the religion
Ask Allah (SWT) for khatima hasanah (good ending)
Go to sleep repenting and forgiving people
Increase in righteous deeds and keep away from the evil deeds
Guard your tongue
Worship your Lord until death comes to you.
Even after seeing all of this we don’t wake up then فماذا بعد الحق الا الضلال. Then what is after truthfulness except misguidance. May Allah (SWT) make us from amongst the people to take heed and work for their aakhira. May Allah (SWT) forgive the people who passed away in this earthquake and make them from amongst the martyrs. May Allah (SWT) help those whose lives have been effected due to this earthquake and grant them patience. (Aameen)
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