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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God, dear brothers. When we say that an earthquake is a divine warning that befalls people due to their sins, and it is a warning for them to return to their Lord, we see some people saying: "This talk is not correct, earthquakes are phenomena with natural causes and have no relation to sins. Otherwise, in the lands of disbelievers, there are far more sins and transgressions than in the affected regions of the earthquake. If earthquakes were due to sins, they would strike those people instead of the poor among our displaced brothers or the relatively conservative regions in Turkey."
Look, brothers, first of all: the Muslim understands the Sunnah of Allah the Almighty in an integrated manner, with light from His noble Book, and does not compare the Sunnah and the verses with each other. Those who say that these are material causes and have no relation to sins or reminders from Allah do not realize that a single event can have both a material cause and a divine cause. Allah the Almighty tests His servants with good and bad through material causes, and all is from Allah: {To Him belongs creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.}
There is no contradiction between an event having a material cause and a divine cause. Allah the Almighty says: {And whatever strikes you of disaster, it is what your hands have earned. And He forgives much.} These disasters are known to have material causes, yet Allah the Almighty clarifies that they are due to our sins. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "No vein or eye twitches except due to a sin, and Allah averts much from him."
An earthquake occurred during the time of people who were better than us in Syria and Turkey. In a sound narration, the earth quaked during the time of Umar, may God be pleased with him, and he said: "O people, this earthquake was not except due to something you have done. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if it happens again, I will never dwell among you." He said this to the Companions and the Followers, who were better than all of us. This earthquake was a result of some transgressions you have committed.
The Muslim, however, does not assert that Allah decreed this event or that event for a specific wisdom. We do not say, for example, "An earthquake occurred as a result of such and such sin." No, rather the Muslim knows that what befalls him are reminders that make him turn to Allah the Almighty with gratitude in times of ease and with patience and repentance in times of hardship. In addition, all events in this universe and their material causes are accompanied by a divine cause, which is the will and decree of Allah the Almighty.
Secondly, dear brothers: why do disasters not strike disbelievers who have worse sins than all the sins of our afflicted brothers? Allah the Almighty answered us and said: {Let not the turning away of the disbelievers through the land deceive you. It is but a small enjoyment; then their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.} As for our brothers who patiently endure this trial and seek their reward with Allah, Allah the Almighty completes it: {But those who fear their Lord - for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein as accommodation from Allah. And what is with Allah is better for the righteous.} The disbeliever may be hastened to his punishment or it may be delayed until the Day of Judgment. Allah the Almighty says: {And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.} And He says: {And let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is good for them. We grant them respite only that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.} This world, brothers, is a place of trial, not a place of reward. Rather, you will be rewarded for your deeds on the Day of Judgment.
Thirdly, and this is a very important point: when you hear that the believer is afflicted with trials due to his sins, do not deal with this matter negatively as if it is pure punishment from Allah the Almighty, as if Allah is taking revenge on His Muslim servants. Rather, the trial for the Muslim is a mercy and purification and an elevation of degrees. This is a beautiful, comforting, and reassuring truth.
In a sound hadith, Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allah, how is righteousness after this verse: {Not your desires nor the desires of the People of the Scripture will avert; whoever does evil will be recompensed for it, and will not find for himself besides Allah a protector or a helper.} Is every evil deed we commit recompensed for?" The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "May Allah forgive you, O Abu Bakr. Do you not fall ill? Do you not get tired? Do you not feel sad? Do you not face hardships?" Abu Bakr said, "Yes." The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "These are what you are recompensed for."
These worldly trials and pains atone for your sins so that you may meet your Lord, the Almighty, purified from sins, unlike the disbelievers. So when we say that disasters occur due to sins, do not be disheartened, but rather remember this meaning of purification and mercy. It also does not mean that we are better than them because we were not struck by the earthquake like them. Rather, it may be that Allah has favored them by purifying them in this world, which is what the people of ease in this world will wish for when they see the honor of those who were tried on the Day of Judgment.
Fourthly, dear brothers: many of our brothers who were afflicted by the earthquake are in a good state, as we see them. However, among them are those who have committed great sins. So when the trial befalls both the righteous and the sinful, Zainab, may God be pleased with her, said: "O Messenger of Allah, will you destroy us while there are righteous people among us?" He said: "Yes, when evil becomes rampant." So what happens after that? On the Day of Judgment, each one will be held accountable according to his deeds and intentions.
Fifthly, brothers: for all of the above, do not lose the opportunity to reflect on this incorrect thinking and the false dichotomy: "Either a material cause or a divine reminder to leave sins." No, the division is not binary in this way.
Al-Bukhari narrated in "Al-Adab Al-Mufrad" from Said bin Al-Musayyib who said: I was with Salman when he fell ill in Kindah (Salman Al-Farisi, may God be pleased with him). When he entered upon him, he said: "Be glad, for the illness of the believer is made by Allah for him an expiation and a means of return. As for the illness of the wicked, it is like the beast that is tied by its people and then released, not knowing why it was tied nor why it was released." What does it mean for the illness to be "a means of return" for the believer? It means that it is a cause for him to account himself, turn away from evil, and awaken from his heedlessness, unlike the wicked, whose illness does not benefit him as he persists in sin. Therefore, he is like the beast that is tied and then released, not knowing why it was tied nor why it was released. Similarly, the wicked, if he falls ill, does not know why he fell ill or the wisdom behind the illness, and he does not seek reward nor turn to Allah.
As for the believer, he knows that Allah, the Most High, is Wise in all His actions, and that He brings forth servitude from His servants through trials of ease and hardship. Allah, the Most High, says: {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.} [Quran 2:155]
The believer always thinks: What servitude does Allah love from me in this situation?
As for the hypocrite, in many of his states, he has forgotten Allah, the Most High, so he does not interpret events in the light of faith in Allah's wisdom nor does he contemplate these servitudes. Allah, the Most High, says in admonishing the hypocrites: {Do they not see that they are tested once or twice every year but they do not repent nor do they remember?} [Quran 9:126]
Look at His saying: {nor do they remember}. So I seek refuge with Allah for you, my brother and sister, that you may be among those who miss the opportunity to learn a lesson.
In conclusion, my brothers: Our duty in these events is to help our brothers as much as we can, and to know that we are not farther from trials than they are, so we repent to our Lord, the Most High.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.