The ruling on considering earthquakes natural phenomena and what is prescribed when they occur
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Question:
The second question concerns the earthquakes that struck a region near the city of Ays and others. Many people ask about the claims that these are natural phenomena and that they do not occur except due to sins. We seek guidance from our Shaykh on this matter, and what is prescribed when such events happen?
Answer:
These earthquakes that are occurring, and have occurred recently near us and in our lands, and which we fear may increase, are signs among the signs of Allah by which Allah frightens His servants. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:59] They are a source of fear for the servants, so that perhaps they will repent and return to their Lord. If they do not repent and do not return to their Lord, then the outcome will be worse and more severe, as He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said.
[Al-A'raf 7:94] Meaning they call upon Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Why did they not humble themselves when Our punishment came to them? This is an exhortation from Allah to us that when we are struck by a calamity in the land or in ourselves, we should humble ourselves to Allah through supplication and seeking forgiveness so that He may remove what is upon us. But their hearts became hard; they did not humble themselves, may Allah protect us from that. Their hearts became hard and the signs did not benefit them. Their hearts became hard against humility and supplication, and they became heedless. So then, they await what is more severe than the punishments. We ask Allah for well-being and safety. These are warnings, and these are omens by which Allah warns His servants so that they may repent to their Lord [Ash-Shuraa 42:30] [Ar-Rum 30:41] [Ar-Rum 30:41].
They are awakeners. As for the one who says that they are natural phenomena, he either has no faith at all, or no religion in his heart. This is the statement of the atheists and the disbelievers who, when Allah strikes them with hardship and distress, say[Al-A'raf 7:95], meaning that this is an ordinary thing, not caused by sins, but rather something that has happened to our fathers before. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has threatened the one who says such a statement. [Al-A'raf 7:95] We ask Allah for well-being. It is necessary to take heed and learn a lesson, to increase in supplication and seeking forgiveness, and to fear Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. This is among the wonders of the power of Allah: this earth which Allah made stable and secured with mountains. It is struck by these slight movements, which result in tremendous destruction in buildings, in souls, and in wealth, following a movement that does not last seconds or less. So how will it be if Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, shakes it? We ask Allah for well-being and safety, and that He may awaken the Muslims, and that He may benefit them with what is happening of events, benefiting them by taking heed, learning a lesson, and returning to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The second question concerns the earthquakes that struck a region near the city of Ays and others. Many people ask about the claims that these are natural phenomena and that they do not occur except due to sins. We seek guidance from our Shaykh on this matter, and what is prescribed when such events happen?
Answer:
These earthquakes that are occurring, and have occurred recently near us and in our lands, and which we fear may increase, are signs among the signs of Allah by which Allah frightens His servants. Allah the Exalted said:
And We send not the signs except as a warning.
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًاAnd We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allah].
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَAnd whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍCorruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِso He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].
لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَThey are awakeners. As for the one who says that they are natural phenomena, he either has no faith at all, or no religion in his heart. This is the statement of the atheists and the disbelievers who, when Allah strikes them with hardship and distress, say
Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease
قَدْ مَسَّ آبَاءَنَا الضَّرَّاءُ وَالسَّرَّاءُSo We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.
فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَThe presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
لقاء مفتوح [الزلفي] — alfawzan.live (11:29)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.