In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
The real life of many Muslims reflects negligence of Allah's rights. Most people are so heedless as if they are drunk with the elixir of immortality.
If we ponder on this reality many calamities that befall upon nations and people, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, famines, plane crashes, train derailments, epidemic, civil unrests and devastating wars that annihilate everything.
Allah (may He be Praised) points out in the Qur'an some of the punishments He sends down upon those who disobey His commands and deviate from the right path from among the perished nations who belied Allah's messengers. This is so people may receive admonition and beware of their deeds.
فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنۢبِهِۦ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّـهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ﴿٤٠[Qur'an Al 'Ankabut 29:40]
So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hâsib (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as on the people of Lut (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As¬Saihah [torment - awful cry, (as Thamud or Shu'aib's people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qarun (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allâh Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves. (40)
Sins have bad effects on heart, body and society. They incur Allah's wrath and punishment in this world and in the hereafter. No body knows the details of these bad effects and punishment except Allah alone.
They bring many kinds of corruption in the earth; in water, air, food, and houses.
ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿٤١[Qur'an Ar-Rum 30:41]
Evil (sins and disobedience to Allah) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that He (Allah) may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His Pardon). (41)
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَآ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ بِٱلسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿١٣٠[Qur'an Al-A`raf 7:130]
And indeed We punished the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops), that they might remember (take heed). (130)
There is a lesson in these calamities for those who Allah. In general, the evils that occur in this world and the penalties that are carried out in the hereafter are the result of sins and evil deeds. One of the signs of the hardness and rudeness of the heart is hearing Ayahs negligently that talk about these lessons and examples of the perished nations that may cause mountains to humble themselves if they had minds.
However, the hard and rough hearts continue with their aggression and sins because of being deceived by the delay of Allah's punishment. They devote themselves to their whims and desires and pay no attention to threat or warning.
Allah says,
وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿٧﴾ يَسْمَعُ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصِرُّ مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا ۖ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٨[Qur'an Al-Jathiyah 45:7-8]
Woe to every sinful liar (7) Who hears the verses of Allah recited to him, then persists arrogantly as if he had not heard them. So give him tidings of a painful punishment. (8)
Persisting in doing sins and evil deeds despite the occurrence of some punishments and penalties for it is a sign of weakness or lack of Iman (faith).
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾ وَلَوْ جَآءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ ءَايَةٍ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ ﴿٩٧[Qur'an Yunus 10:96-97]
Indeed, those upon whom the word of your Lord has come into effect will not believe, (96) Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful punishment. (97)
قُلِ ٱنظُرُوا۟ مَاذَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِى ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٠١[Qur'an Yunus 10:101]
Say, "Observe what is in the heavens and earth." But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe (101)
كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿١٤﴾ كَلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ ﴿١٥﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُوا۟ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ﴿١٦[Qur'an Al-Mutaffifin 83:14-17]
No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning. (14) No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned. (15) Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire. (16) Then it will be said [to them], "This is what you used to deny." (17)
We hear catastrophes in various parts of the world that have caused death of many people and animals, destruction of crops and vegetation and destruction of buildings and properties; a whole town displaced; people wounded and families lost their loved ones, homes and businesses; women widowed and children orphaned. Each of this catastrophe is lesson for us.
It is incumbent upon Muslims to take lessons from what happens in this universe.
Allah says,
فَٱعْتَبِرُوا۟ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ ﴿٢ ...[Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:2]
...So take warning, O people of vision. (2)
All these calamities happened within a short period of time which shows Allah's Might and Power. It also means that people are weak before Allah's Might regardless of the might and power they have attained. We should not fail to contemplate on why Allah has allowed this to occur and appreciate the power of Allah who can take our lives whenever He wishes. Therefore, we repent to Allah and constantly return to Him and avoid all that brings His wrath and anger.
We should reach out to those who are being inflicted with calamity. We pray for them and spend our money to sustain them in their calamity and relieve the grave impact of the catastrophe.
Allah says,
وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ ﴿٢٠[Qur'an Al-Muzzammil 73:20]
And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (20)
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ﴿٣٩[Qur'an Saba' 34:39]
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers." (39)
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:195]
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. (195)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and he who relieves a person in a crisis, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother.." [Reported by Muslim]
"Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs."
A faithful believer to a faithful believer is like the bricks of a wall, enforcing each other." While saying so the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, clasped his hands, by interlacing his fingers."
"The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, and fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever."
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to help our fellow Muslims who are in difficult situation so we may achieve the meaning of brotherhood in Islam that was mentioned by the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, in many Hadiths.
May Allah shower us with His mercy and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and protect us from stinginess and miserliness. We ask Allah to send relief to those in need wherever they may be and give them patience and compensate them with better than what they have lost. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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