Calamities from a shari’ah perspective

Calamities are not an evil omen as some perceive; rather a person may be tested with good things. Allah says: (Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.)
(21:35)

As for the type mentioned in the verse mentioned below… the trial of evil; Allah would test His slave to see if he bears it patiently or not. Allah says: (And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient.)
(2:155)

As for the second type, the trial of good; Allah would test His slave to see if he is grateful or not. Allah, the Exalted, relates to us the story of Prophet Sulaiman u: (... Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.” )
(27:40)

A person should understand that if he is tested with good things it is not a sign that Allah loves him and is pleased with him. Allah says about Qaroon: (Verily, Qaroon was of Musa’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.

Remember when his people said to him: ‘Do not exult with riches, being ungrateful to Allah. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult. But seek, with that wealth which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of (lawful) enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not those who commit great crimes and are corruptors.

He said: ‘This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.’ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations; men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of riches they had collected? But the criminals will not be questioned regarding their sins.



So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: ‘Ah, would that we had the like of what Qaroon has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune.’ But those who had been given knowledge said: ‘Woe to you! The reward of Allah in the Hereafter is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this no one shall attain except those who are patient.

So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.’)
(28:76-81)

Sahl Sa’d said that the Messenger of Allah (s) passed by Dhul-Hulaifah and saw a decaying bloated sheep whose leg was raised, and he (s) said: ‘Is this sheep worthless to its master?’ the Companions said: ‘Yes!’ He (s)then said: ‘By the One in Whose hands is my life, this world is more worthless to Allah than this animal to its master! Were the life of this world to equal even the wing of a mosquito, He would not have given the disbeliever even a drink of water.’
(Haakim)

Allah gives worldly riches to those whom He loves and to those whom He does not; whereas the success in the Hereafter is only granted to him whom Allah loves. Furthermore, if a person is struck with a calamity, it does not mean that Allah hates that person. Allah, the Exalted relates to us in the Qur’an the story of Prophet Ayoub u saying: (And Ayoub, when he called to his Rubb: ‘Indeed adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful. So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers.)
(21:83-84)



Mus’ab Sa’d Malik narrated that his father said: “O Messenger of Allah, who are the most tested and tried people in this world? He answered: ‘The Prophets, and then who are similar to them (i.e. the god-fearing and pious). A man would be tested and tried according to his piety and Deen. If the individual has strong faith, he would be tested and tried in a more intense manner; similarly, if the man’s Deen is weak, he would be tested accordingly. A person would be struck by a calamity until he would be sin-free.”
(Ibn Hibban #2901)

Abdullah Mughaf’fal said that a man groped a woman who was known to be a harlot during the Days of Ignorance as he walked past her. She exclaimed in disapproval: ‘Leave me alone! Allah has cleansed us from Shirk (polytheism) and honored us with Islam!’ He left her alone, but turned his head to look at her, (and while he was doing this) he walked into a wall and cut his face. He then went to the Prophet e and he said: “Allah desires good for you, for if Allah desires good for a slave, he would punish him in this life for the sins that he committed. But if he desires ill for a slave, he would delay the punishment of his sins till the Hereafter.”
(Hakim #8133)

The Prophet e said:‘A person would be afflicted and tried in his health, offspring and wealth until he would meet Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) sin-free.’
(Ibn Hib’ban #2924)

The reward that Allah has promised for those who bear patiently would only be for the patient believer!

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said1: ‘The person who dislikes something which is preordained for him should remember six different principles:

  • 1st Principle: Pure Tawheed
    such that a person would say, ‘Allah has predestined, preordained, created, and what He wills shall come to pass.’
  • 2nd Principle: Justice
    such that a person would say, ‘Allah is just, whatever He ordains is just.’
  • 3rd Principle: Mercy
    such that a person would say, ‘Allah’s mercy surpasses His anger.’
  • 4th Principle: Wisdom
    such that a person would say, ‘Allah is all-Wise, and He has ordained that this will come to pass, therefore there must be a divine wisdom behind it which we may or may not perceive.’
  • 5th Principle: Gratefulness
    such that a person would say, ‘All the praise belongs to Allah, alone.’
  • 6th Principle: Complete Submission to Allah
    such that a person would realize that he is a slave, and that whatever his Master ordains and wills shall come to pass.

  • (Fawaa'id pg. 32)


Reasons calamities befall man

  • Committing sins.

    Allah says: (And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.)
    (42:30)

    A’ishah said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: ‘Towards the end of time, there will be sinkholes, people will be transformed (into other forms) and the earth will be rained upon by meteors. She said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Would we be destroyed, and among us are the pious?’ He said: ‘Yes, if evil becomes widespread.’
    (Sahih al-Jaami’)

    Abu Musa said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: ‘Allah I would give the oppressor many chances to stop his oppression; but when He does decide to punish him [for his oppression] He I would not waive it. The Messenger of Allah (s) then recited:
    (And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.) (Quran 11:102)
    (Bukhari)

    The Companion of the Prophet, Ali ibn Abi Talib, said: ‘Every affliction which befalls (the Ummah) is due to a sin, and it would not be waived unless (people) repent (to Allah).’

    And the Poet said: Sins make one heedless, and if one continuously sins; he would be humiliated. When one abandons sins, his heart would revive, and it is better for him to disagree with his whims.

  • Love of this life and desiring it above everything else; heedlessness of the Hereafter, and not preparing for it.
    The Prophet (s) said: ‘Whoever intends and seeks out the Hereafter, Allah would make him content with what he has been given, and gather together for him his affairs (such as to be easy for him), and he would attain material success despite not seeking it.
    And whoever intends and seeks out this life, Allah would place poverty over his eyes (he would always see what he doesn’t have and thus never be content with what he has), and He would scatter for him his affairs (such that it takes him much time), and regardless of how hard he works, he would only gather what Allah has already decreed for him.’
    (Sahih al-Targheeb, Albaani)
  • Devouring Riba (usury), and facilitating it.

    Allah says: (O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.)
    (2:278-279)

    Devouring Riba would wipe out the goodness of the wealth. The Prophet (s) said: ‘No one devours Riba, except that he would become needy.’
    (Ibn Majah)

    The one who devours Riba, would be cast away from the mercy of Allah. Jabir said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: ‘Allah curses the one who takes Riba, and the one who gives it, and the one who writes (the contract) and the two witnesses who attest to it.’
    (Muslim)

    Another proof which proves its evil is the words of the Prophet : ‘Riba has seventy three levels, the least of which is similar to marrying one’s own mother; and the gravest is equal to violating a Believer’s honor.’
    (Hakim)

  • Sinning in public, beautifying it and hoping that it would spread among the people.
    Allah says: (Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.)
    (24:19)

    The Prophet (s) said: ‘All of my Ummah (nation) would be safeguarded except those who openly display sinful acts. Announcing the sins that a person did during the night, while Allah had screened (others from knowing what he had done) is also considered as openly displaying sinful acts. The person would say: ‘I did this and this last night’. He went to sleep while Allah had screened him and then he uncovered it himself.’
    (Bukhari)

    Abdullah. Umar said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said to them:‘O Muhajirun, (emigrants from Makkah to al-Madinah) you may be afflicted by five things; God forbid that you should live to see them. If fornication should become widespread, you should realize that this has never happened without new diseases befalling the people which their ancestors never suffered. If people should begin to cheat in weighing out goods, you should realize that this has never happened without drought and famine befalling the people, and their rulers oppressing them. If people should withhold zakat, you should realize that this has never happened without the rain being stopped from falling; and were it not for the animals’ sake, it would never rain again. If people should break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, you should realize that his has never happened without Allah sending an enemy against them to take some of their possessions by force. If the leaders do not govern according to the Book of Allah, you should realize that this has never happened without Allah making them into groups and making them fight one another.’
    (Hakim)

  • Forsaking and abandoning ordering with the good and forbidding the evil.
    This indeed would safeguard the Ummah. Allah says: (Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. They used not to prevent one another from the wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing. You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved. How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally. And if they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies; but many of them are defiantly disobedient.)
    (5:78-81)

    Abu Bakr said: ‘O people you read this verse: (O you who believe, upon you is [the responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. (Qur’an 5:105))
    and I have heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: ‘If people see the oppressor oppressing others, and do not stop him, the punishment of Allah would encompass them all.’
    (Tirmidthi)

  • Showing love to sinners (i.e., those disobedient to Allah), aligning himself with them, and exerting one’s effort to support them. Abdullah.
    Masood said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said:‘One of the first sins [of the] Children of Israel, was that a person would meet another person and he would say: ‘O so and so, fear Allah and stop doing whatever you are doing of sin! For it is not lawful for you.’ He would then meet him the next day, and [the fact that he was still sinning from the previous day would not prevent him from] eating, drinking and sitting with him. When they did this, Allah hardened their hearts (those who sinned and those who did not). He then recited: (Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. They used not to prevent one another from the wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing. You see many of them becoming allies of those who disbelieved... How wretched is that which they have put forth for themselves in that Allah has become angry with them, and in the punishment they will abide eternally. And if they had believed in Allah and the Prophet and in what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies; but many of them are defiantly disobedient.)
    He then said: ‘Nay, by Allah you will command the good and forbid the evil and prevent the oppressor from his oppression and make him abide by the truth.’
    (Abu Dawood)
  • Ridiculing the believers, spreading animosity against them, particularly the pious among them.
    Allah says: (Indeed Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allah does not like the treacherous and ungrateful.)
    (22:38)

    Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah (s) said that Allah says: ‘Whoever harms a wali (pious man) of mine, I have declared war against him.’
    (Bukhari)

    Ridiculing believers, would possibly lead one to ridiculing the Deen of Allah, which would cast a person out of the folds of Islam. Allah says: (And if you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only conversing and playing.’ Say, ‘Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved [i.e. rejected faith] after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you – We will punish another faction because they were criminals.)
    (9:65-66)
  • Showing contempt to people, belittling and mocking them.
    Allah says: (Those who criticize the pious among the believers concerning what they give in charity and the ones who find nothing to spend except their effort, so they ridicule them [as well]—Allah will ridicule them in return, and they will have a painful punishment.)
    (9:79)

    The Messenger of Allah (s) said: ‘Do not show contempt to your brother, for Allah may have mercy on him, and afflict you.’
    (Tirmidhi)
  • Plotting against the slaves of Allah, by tricking them or behaving treacherously towards them.
    Allah says: (But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.)
    (35:43)

    The Messenger of Allah (s) said that Allah says: “I have created some among men whose speech is sweeter than honey, and hearts are bitterer than Saber (the bitterest plant). I swear by Myself, I will afflict them with an affliction which makes the most patient person of them puzzled. Do they think they can fool Me? Or, do they think they can transgress My limits?”
    (Tirmidhi)
  • Enjoying the bounties of Allah, and not showing any gratitude to Him, or showing gratitude to other than Him on account of that.

    Allah says: (Verily, Qaroon was of Musa’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. Remember when his people said to him: ‘Do not exult with riches, being ungrateful to Allah. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult. But seek, with that wealth which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of (lawful) enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not those who commit great crimes and are corruptors. He said: ‘This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.’ Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations; men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of riches they had collected? But the criminals will not be questioned regarding their sins. So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: ‘Ah, would that we had the like of what Qaroon has been given! Verily, he is the owner of a great fortune.’ But those who had been given knowledge said: ‘Woe to you! The reward of Allah in the Hereafter is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this no one shall attain except those who are patient. So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves .)
    (28:79-81)

    Allah says:(So which of the favors of your Rubb would you deny?)
    (55:25)


    The exegete Abdurrahmaan as-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: ‘So which of the religious or worldly favors of Allah do you deny?’ and how excellent is the answer of the Jinn when he recited to them (So which of the favors of your Rubb would you deny?) They replied: ‘O our Rubb, we do not deny any of your favors, and to you belongs all the praise.’