إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا • وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا • وَقَالَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا لَهَا • يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا • بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَى لَهَا • يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ • فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ • وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ [الزلزلة: 1-8]
”When the earth will be trembled with its quake, and the earth will bring forth its burdens, and man will say: ‘What has happened to it?’ That day it will describe all its happenings because its Lord will have so commanded it. That day the people will come back (from the place of reckoning) in different groups, so that they may be shown (the fruits of) their deeds. So, whoever does any good act (even) to the weight of a particle will see it. And whoever does evil (even) to the weight of a particle will see it.” (Surah Al-Zalzalah)
The growing number of natural disasters depict the news of the arrival of the doomsday. Natural disasters like Lahars, Volcanic eruptions, Floods, Cyclonic storms, Blizzards, Droughts, Cyclonic storms, Hailstorms, Heat waves, Tornadoes, forest fires etc. are not in the control of mankind and thus it cannot be controlled by them either. Particularly earthquakes have caused great loss for mankind and can hit unexpectedly without even informing. One shake in the earth’s crust can destroy millions of life and give economic losses as well. The magnitude of earth Quakes vary and changes the intensity of the quakes. In scientific language we can say that earthquakes are reason of the geologic faults that are accumulated together and discharged by the earth’s crust.
According to the concepts of Islam, man is here for being tested. Though no one in this world is burdened more than he can bear. He is tested by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) in different manners by changing the circumstances he is in. Geological, climactic changes are a part of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Divine scheme. The world would come to an end and mankind would be gathered for the Day of Hisaab (Judgment).
Following are the Aayaat that explain the reasons of the earthquakes in Islam:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُ اللَّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الظَّالِمُونَ [الأنعام: 47]
”Say: ‘Have you considered if the chastisement of Allah should overtake you suddenly or openly, will any be destroyed but the unjust people?” (Al-An’aam 6:47)
ذَلِكَ أَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَافِلُونَ [الأنعام: 131]
”That (Allah sends messengers) is because your Lord is not to destroy any towns on account of any wrongdoing, while their people are unaware.” (Al-An’aam 6:131)
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ [هود: 117]
”Your Lord is not such that He would destroy the towns unjustly while their people are good in their way.” (Hood 11:117)
وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَى أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِمْ مَوْعِدًا [الكهف: 59]
”These are the towns that We destroyed when they (i.e. their people) transgressed, and We had appointed a time for their destruction.” (Al-Kahf 18.59)
كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنْ قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوْا وَلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ [ص: 3]
”How many a generation have We destroyed before them, so they cried out (for mercy), while no time was left for having any refuge.” (Saad 38:3)
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِنْ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا بَصِيرًا [الإسراء: 17]
”How many a generation have We destroyed after Nooh! And enough is your Lord to know, (and) watch the sins of His servants.” (Al-Israa 17:17)
Therefore it is the evil that has cross the extreme conditions, then the people come under the influence of such natural disasters. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) does not punish the ones who are just and on the right course. In this world the minority of good people faces the wrath of the Lord, too, if majority practices evil. In the life after death, they will be separated from them. It is quite alarming that not only the non-Muslim countries but also the Muslim countries come under the influence of the natural disasters.
According to the holy Quraan natural disasters are a form of setting up of examples for the mankind. It is a punishment for the unjust and evil people. As said in the Quraan:
فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنْبِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ [العنكبوت: 40]
”Thus We seized each one of them for his sin. So to some of them We sent a violent wind; and some of them were seized by a Cry; and some of them We made to sink in the earth; and some of them We drowned. And Allah was not to do injustice to them, but they used to do injustice to their own selves.” (Al-‘Ankaboot 29:40)
Allah saves those who are righteous from the natural disasters. As said in the Quraan:
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كَذَلِكَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نُنْجِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ [يونس: 103]
”Then We (used to) save Our messen-gers and those who believed. Similarly, it being undertaken by Us, We shall save the believers.” (Younus 10:103)
Muslims are coming under the influence of the natural disasters too. The growing numbers of natural disasters in the Muslim countries is quite shocking and it demands the Muslims to face the truth that they have made mistakes they shouldn’t have and they need to repent their mistakes. The creation of sects and groups and insisting upon the astray thoughts, leaving the simple and clear teaching of Quraan and Sunnah, examplified by the pious Sahabah (Companions) of the Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam). The main reason, however, is the weak faith of Muslims. This is the major cause of the problems Muslims are facing all over the world. As said in the Quraan:
وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ [آل عمران: 105]
”Do not be like those who became divided and fell into disputes after the clear signs had come to them. Those are the ones for whom there is a grave punishment.” (Aale ‘Imraan 3:105)