The Ruling on New Diseases and Their Relationship to Sins

Question:
May Allah reward you. This is Abu 'Abdullah from Riyadh, who sent a question saying: Regarding these numerous and varied psychological illnesses in our time, Shaykh, were they known in the life of the Salaf, or are they new? And what are their causes? May you be rewarded.

Answer:
Allah is capable of everything, (Glorified and Exalted is He). And He brings upon His servants punishments in proportion to the sins they commit. It has come in the hadith that the people changed their religion.
So Allah, (Glorified and Exalted is He), punishes them with plagues and diseases that were not in their ancestors. And proof of that is what the questioner pointed to, the occurrence of diseases that were not known, such as cancer, such as E. coli, such as types of incurable diseases for which there is no cure. It is a punishment for them. So much so that Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), brings about these diseases
in things they did not imagine, He brought it about in cows and He brought it about in birds, and He brings it about as He wills, (Glorified and Exalted is He), as is known now.
And what terrifies the world, and always people are in a state of flux regarding these diseases, holding conferences, seminars, and consultations to treat them. Indeed, this indicates the truth of what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed about, the occurrence of incurable diseases with the advancement of medicine. As they mention that medicine has now made tremendous progress, Allah, (Mighty and Majestic), is not prevented by anything, and there is no repeller of His decree, (Glorified and Exalted is He), except by His obedience, His supplication, and turning back to Him, (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.