𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 [forwarded]

Written by Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz rahimahullah All praise be to Allah. May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger and upon his family, Companions, and those who follow his guidance! Allah (Glorified be He) is All-Wise and All-Knowledgeable with what He predestines and what He legislates and commands. He creates what He wills of portents. He predestines them to make His servants fear Him, reminds them of what they have to do and warn them against Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), disobeying His commands and violating His prohibitions. Allah (Glorified be He) says: “And We sent not the signs except to warn” [Al-Isra: 59] Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: “We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’ân) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?” [Fussilat: 53] Allah (Exalted be He) also says: “Say: “He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and make you to taste the violence of one another.”” [Al-An’am: 65] Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih on the authority of Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said when Allah’s saying was revealed: “Say: “He has power to send torment on you from above” the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I seek refuge in You.” Allah (Exalted be He) says: “…or from under your feet” the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I seek refuge in You.”” Abu Al-Shaykh Al-Asbahani reported from Mujahid in the interpretation of Allah’s saying: “Say: “He has power to send torment on you from above”” he said that it means an awful cry or a stone. “…or from under your feet” he said: “It means an earthquake and causing the earth to swallow them. There is no doubt that what happens these days of earthquakes in many countries are of these portents that Allah (Exalted be He) brings to make His servant fear Him. All the earthquakes that happen in this world and other things that cause harm to people are because of Shirk and evil deeds. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Qur’ân Verse 35:45).” [Al-Shura: 30] Allah (Exalted be He) also says: “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allâh, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.” [Al-Nisa: 79] Allah (Exalted be He) says about perishing nations: “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 Lût (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment - awful cry. (as Thamûd or Shu‘aib’s people)], and of them were some whom We caused the earth to swallow [as Qârûn (Korah)], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nûh (Noah), or Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allâh Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” [Al-Ankabut: 40] Therefore, it is incumbent upon Muslims and others to repent to Allah (Glorified be He) and to observe Istiqamah (integrity) upon his religion. They have also to avoid all that He prohibits of Shirk and evil deeds in order to have well-being and salvation in this world and the hereafter and to safeguard themselves against any calamity and evil. They have also to do that so that Allah (Exalted be He) might grant them all goodness. Allah (Glorified be He) says: “And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes).” [Al-A’raf: 96]