ummah, in Palestine our wounds are bleeding; in Chechnya our bodies
arecut; in Afghanistan our houses are destroyed; inthe Philippines and
in Kashmir... and now in Iraq.
Tomorrow only Allaah knows who will be meet this fate...
Are these calamities and these disasters that we see good or bad?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Disasters and calamities have been created for a reason, which none
can fully comprehend but Allaah. Some of the things that Allaah has
shown to us indicate this.
1 - Disasters and calamities are a test of the believer's patience.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as
came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with
severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger
and those who believed along withhim said, 'When (will come) the Help
of Allaah?' Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allaah is near!"
[al-Baqarah 2:214]
2 - This is a sign of man'sweakness and his need for his Lord, and
shows that he cannot succeed unless he realizes his need for his Lord
and starts beseeching Him.
3 - Calamities are a means of expiation of sin and raising one's
status. The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that
pricks him, but Allaah will record one good deed for him and will
remove one bad deed from him."
Narrated by Muslim.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Trials will continueto
befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their
children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on
them." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2399; classedas saheeh by al-Albaani
inal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2280.
And it was narrated that Jaabir said: The Messenger of Allaah(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "On the Day of
Resurrection, when people who had suffered affliction are given their
reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to
pieces with scissors when they were in the world." Narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, 2402. Seeal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, no. 2206.
4 - One of the reasons for calamities is so that people will not feel
content only with this world. If the world were free of calamities,
man would love it more and feel content with it, and would forget
about the Hereafter. But calamities wake him up from his negligence
and make him strive for the place in which there are no calamities or
trials.
5 - One of the greatest reasons behind calamities and trials is towarn
against falling short in some matters, sothat man can make up for the
areas in which hehas fallen short. This is like the warning that is
issued to an employee orstudent who is falling short. The purpose
behind it is to make him make up for his shortcomings. If he does
that, then all well and good, otherwise he deserves to be punished.The
evidence for that includes the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad).
And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss
in health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves
(believe with humility).
When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves
(believe withhumility)? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaytaan
(Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do"
[al-An'aam 6:42]
Another reason... is as a punishment for those who were previously
warned, but did not benefit from the warning and mend theirways, and
persisted in their sin. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"...so We destroyed themfor their sins ..."
[al-Anfaal 8:54]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And indeed, We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong,
while their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were
not such as to believe! Thus do We requite the people who are
Mujrimoon"
[Yoonus 10:13]
"And when We decide todestroy a town (population), We (first) send a
definite order (to obey Allaah and be righteous) to those among them
[or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who lead a
life of luxury. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of
torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with
complete destruction"
[al-Isra' 17:16]
Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Grief may be
accompanied by that for which a person will be rewarded and praised,
so it may be good in thatsense, not that grief is good in and of
itself, such as one who feels sad for falling short in religious
matters or for calamities that befall theMuslims. In this case a
person will be rewardedfor what is in his heart of loving good and
hating evil, and so on, but grief in itself, if it leads to failure to
do that which is enjoined, namely patience, jihad, seeking benefits
and warding off harm, is forbidden, but if the person does not give it
up, and it is not recorded as a sin for himthen he is fine."
So the one who wishes that Allaah would change his situation without
any effort on hispart and that of others like him needs to understand
this.
6 - Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad).
And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss
in health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves
(believe with humility)"
[al-'An'aam 6:42]
al-Sa'di (may Allaah havemercy on him) said: (Thismeans) We sent
(Messengers) to the nations who came before you, and they disbelieved
in Our Messengers and rejectedOur signs. So We seized them with
poverty, sickness, calamities and disasters as a mercy fromUs to them,
so that they might humble themselves before us and turn to Us at times
of hardship.
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Evil (sins and disobedience to Allaah) has appeared on land and sea
because of whatthe hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil
deeds), that He (Allaah) may make them taste a part of that which they
have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allaah, and
begging His Pardon)"
[al-Room 30:41]
al-Sa'di interprets the word fasaad (translated here as "evil") as
referring to the disastersthat develop on land and sea, which are
making people's lives difficult and causing a lot of problems with
regard to their livelihood and well-being.
And the disasters that befall them themselves, such as diseases,
plaguesand the like, which happen because of the things their own
hands have wrought of evil deeds that can only lead to bad
consequences.
This phrase "that He (Allaah) may make them taste a part of that which
they have done" means, so that they might know that Allaah is
requiting them for their deeds, so He gives them a foretaste of the
recompense of their deeds in this world, "in order that they may
return (by repenting to Allaah, and begging His Pardon)" i.e., repent
from their deeds that have had this bad effect on them, and set their
affairs straight.
Glory be to the One Who blesses by means of His punishment, for if He
were to make them tasteall that they have done, no living creature
wouldbe left alive on earth.
7 - Worship at times of hardship and tribulationhas a special flavour
anda special reward.
It was narrated from Ma'qil ibn Yasaar that the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Worshipping at times
oftribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me." Narrated by
Muslim, 2948.
Al-Nawawi said: "The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said, 'Worshipping at times oftribulation and confusion is like
migrating to join me.' The reason why worshipat such times is of such
great virtue is that people become negligent about worshipand are
distracted from it, and no one focuses onworship except a few."
Al-Qurtubi said: "Tribulation and great hardship will happen until the
matter of religion is taken lightly and people will care about nothing
but their worldly affairs and how to earn a living. So worship becomes
very important at times of tribulation, as Muslim narrated from Ma'qil
ibn Yasaar in the marfoo' report: 'Worshipping at times of tribulation
and confusion is like migrating to join me.'"
8 - Blessings that come after pain, hardship and calamity are more
precious to people.
So then they appreciate the blessings of good health and safety as
theyshould be appreciated.
Another of the benefits of calamity is a reminderof how Allaah has
blessed man, because the man who is created with sight - for example -
forgets the blessing of sight and does not reallyappreciate it, but if
Allaah tests him with temporary blindness, then restores to him his
sight, he will fully understand the value of this blessing. If things
are always easy a personmay forget this blessing and not be grateful
for it, so Allaah takes it awayand then restores it, as a reminder to
him to be grateful for it.
Calamity may remind theperson to whom it happens and others of the
blessings of Allaah. So when a person sees one who is insane, he
appreciates the blessing of sanity; when he sees one who is sick, he
appreciates the blessing of sound health. When he sees a kaafir who is
living like cattle, he appreciates the blessing of faith. When he sees
an ignorant man he appreciates the blessing of knowledge. Only the one
whose heart is openwill feel this. Those who have no heart do not give
thanks for the blessings of Allaah, rather they are arrogant towards
the creation of Allaah.
9 - The benefit of calamity is that it rescuesman from negligence and
alerts him to his shortcomings in keepinghis duty to Allaah, so thathe
does not think that he is perfect, which would lead to hardeningof his
heart and negligence.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble
themselves (believe withhumility)? But their hearts became hardened,
and Shaytaan (Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to
do"
[al-An'aam 6:43]
10 - One of the benefits of tribulations and hardships is purification.
Hardships reveal how people really are, and distinguish the good from
the bad, the true from the false, the believer from the hypocrite.
Allaah says of the Battle of Uhud and what happened to the Muslims on
that day, explaining part of the wisdom behind this trial
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Allaah will not leave thebelievers in the state in which you are now,
untilHe distinguishes the wicked from the good"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:179]
So the true nature of all things is shown clearly.
11 - When Muslims help those Muslims who have been afflicted by
calamity, they will be rewarded for that. The Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The likeness of the believers
in their mutual love, mercy and compassion isthat of the body; when
one part of it suffers, therest of the body joins it in staying awake
and suffering fever." Narrated by al-Bukhaari,6011; Muslim, 2586.
And he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "None ofyou
truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for
himself." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 13; Muslim, 45.
12 - At times of hardshipand war we see the true meaning of the words
ofAllaah (interpretation of the meaning):
"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
Ways of cooperating in da'wah and supporting Islam include: waging
jihad against the kuffaarand hypocrites for the sake of Allaah,
joining with the people of Islamic da'wah in fighting the followers of
kufr and misguidance, and preparing all means and tools for jihad for
the sake of Allaah.
One of the ways of cooperating in supporting Islam that was invented
at the timeof the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
is cooperating in killing those who claimed to beProphets, killing the
leaders of the mushrikeen and the apostates, including those who
insulted the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
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