✨Khutbah about Earthquakes

Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, has decreed that souls in this worldly life will be afflicted with good and bad, security and fear, bestowal and trials. Allāh Almighty said:
Al Imran (3) 186: You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allāh much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allāh – indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of resolve.

And that these afflictions, with all their types, bring out the inner strengths and activate potentials and open windows in the heart and channels in the souls that the people of iman (faith) would have not discovered except under the pressures of these trials.

And earthquakes are one of the forces of Allāh Almighty. Allāh Almighty said:
Al-Muddaththir (74) 31: And none knows the forces of your Lord except Him.

And it is from the wrath and retribution of Allāh that He directs to whom He wills of His servants. And this was mentioned in the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. Allāh Almighty said:
An-Nahl (16) 45: Then, do those who have planned evil deeds feel secure that Allāh will not cause the earth to swallow them or that the punishment will not come upon them from where they do not perceive?

And Allāh Almighty said:
Al-Israa (17) 68: Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate.

And Allāh Almighty said:
Al-Mulk (67) 16: Do you feel secure that He who is above would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?

And when the Prophet ﷺ supplicated for the Levant and Yemen to be blessed, he informed his companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, of the abundance of earthquakes and afflictions in the region of Iraq. And the Prophet ﷺ said:
This community of mine is one to which mercy is shown. It will have no punishment in the next world, but its punishment in this world will be trials, earthquakes and bloodshed. [Sunan Abi Dawud 4278, Grade: Sahih]

These incidents and calamities awaken heedless hearts. To return to tawhid (divine unity) and sincerity, such that they do not associate any other with Allāh; in His strength, ability and authority. And so that some of those who were deceived by their own strength will wake up and remember that Allāh who created them is stronger than them. And particularly those who are deceived by their numbers, power and strength and those whose term has been prolonged. And Allāh Almighty said of previous communities:
Fussilat (41) 15: As for ʿAad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, “Who is greater than us in strength?” Did they not consider that Allāh who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.

And Allāh Almighty said:
Ghafir 82-85: (82) Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn. (83) And when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they [merely] rejoiced in what they had of knowledge, but they were enveloped by what they used to ridicule. (84) And when they saw Our punishment, they said, “We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him.” (85) But never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment. [It is] the established way of Allāh which has preceded among His servants. And the disbelievers thereupon lost [all].

Earthquakes are one of Allāh’s signs. He dispatches them on the earth for a perfect wisdom. The decree, before and after events, is only with Allâh. And He creates what He wills and chooses. And He, the Most Exalted, is especially merciful upon His servants. And His mercy precedes His wrath. Rather, His mercy encompasses everything. However, that does not mean relying on His reward – Glory be to Him – and being heedless of His punishment. And it does not mean relying on His mercy and ignoring His wrath. And it does not mean relying on His forgiveness and ignoring His retribution.

And the scholars have mentioned that earthquakes are among the signs by which Allāh frightens his servants, just as He frightens them with sinkholes and other than that. So that they realize the blessing of the anchoring, stillness and stability of the earth, for the animals, plants, dwellings and belongings. And what happens within it of sinkholes, earthquakes and disruptions is a trial and test or a punishment and a warning, just as the earth shook Thamud and swallowed Qarun.

Ibn Hajr said, since the gusts of strong winds necessitates fearfulness leading to humility and repentance, earthquakes and similar signs are more deserving of that.Especially since the texts have stated that many earthquakes are among the signs of the Hour.

And reflect upon the guidance of your Prophet ﷺ and his fearfulness of His Lord even though Allāh Almighty made him a security for his companions. Allāh Almighty said:
Al Anfal (8) 33: But Allāh would not punish them while you, [O Muḥammad], are among them

Despite this, if a strong wind blew and the skies became thick with clouds, the apprehension could be seen on the Prophet’s ﷺ face. He would pace back and forth and enter his house. So when Aishah, may Allāh be pleased with her, asked him ﷺ about this he replied:
How do I know that it does not contain punishment? A people have been punished with wind. And a people saw punishment and said: This is a cloud bringing us rain! [Abu Dawood 5098, Grade: Sahih]

He ﷺ was like this until it rained and then he ﷺ was relieved.

And when the earth shook in Kuffa at the time of Ibn Masood, may Allāh be pleased with him, he said, oh people your Lord is admonishing you, so accept His admonishment and repent to Him before it does not matter in which valley you perish.

And Omar bin Abdulaziz instructed regarding an earthquake that happened in Levant, give charity for Allāh Almighty says:
Al A’la (87) 14-15: (14) He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself (15) And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.

And so it was from the guidance of Islam to take heed from the earthquakes. And the Muslim is required to perform the apparent causes of good for which Allāh brings good, and to leave the apparent causes of evil for which Allāh wards off evil.

So be conscious of Allāh, and do not be like those with hard hearts and with cold blood and with a thick covering from the signs of Allāh so they do not take heed or reflect. Do not be like those to whom the signs of Allāh came and they met it with laughter. Allāh Almighty said:
Yunus (10 ) 101-102: (101) Say, “Observe what is in the heavens and the earth.” But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe. (102) So do they wait except for like [what occurred in] the days of those who passed on before them? Say, “Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait.”

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