Why are there so many E-a-r-t-h-q-u-a-k-e-s ???
Abd al-'Azeez ibn 'Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (May Allaah have mercy on
him).
Question: Many countries have had earthquakes, such as Turkey,
Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, etc. Does this mean anything (from an Islamic point
of view)?
Answer: 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 : "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 : "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 :
"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 : "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 : "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 salafs (the firs three generations of Muslims)
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."
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." (Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (2/30) & 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 : "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 Masjids)], 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.
--------------------------------------------
Abd al-'Azeez ibn 'Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on
him).
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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