Understanding Natural Disasters

Monsoon rains have caused devastating floods in Pakistan, leaving millions homeless, destroying buildings, bridges and roads and leaving vast swathes of the country under water. More than 1,000 are dead and many thousands injured, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un (“We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return”). It is important for us to comprehend the situation through the lens of faith (eman), where Allah reminds us of the nature of this world and our time within it.

“Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.” [Surah Al-Anbya 21:35]

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger, and a loss of wealth and lives and yields, but give good tidings to the patient who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to God, and indeed to Him we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

Our response to witnessing natural calamity or such events, should be to hasten to repent to Allah and pray to Him for safety, and to remember Him much and seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said when there was an eclipse: “If you see anything like that, hasten to remember Him, call on Him and seek His forgiveness.” [Bukhari (2/30) and Muslim (2/628)]

It is also highly encouraged to show compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity to them, because the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said: “Whoever relieves a believer of some of the distress of this world, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easier for one who is suffering hardship, Allah will make things easier for him in this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah will help a person so long as he helps his brother.” [Narrated by Muslim, 4/2074]

We ask Allah to help us be grateful to Him (through our words and actions), for all the blessings which we have before it is removed. And for us to humble ourselves as we realise how weak and fragile we are before Him. May Allah help the people who are grief stricken and facing challenges from across the world, Ameen.