Recently, a devastating Earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, causing many thousands of buildings to collapse and leaving thousands of people homeless, injured, and dead. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) help those who have been affected, grant complete healing to the injured, forgive those who have lost their lives, and relieve the worries of troubled people. (Aameen)
There are some reasons and wisdom behind the occurrence of earthquakes that only Believers can understand. Some of these reasons and wisdom are mentioned below.
- Remembrance of the Blessing of Earth’s Stability
This Earth is a part of the universe created by Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and is a great sign of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s power and strength and is the only planet of the universe in which countless resources and blessings are provided for the survival of life. As Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً
It is Allah who made for you the Earth a place of settlement and the sky a ceiling
[Ghafir: 64]
There are countless blessings of Allah Almighty in this universe, and one of the greatest blessings is the Earth on which we live. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has made this land blessed, submissive, and stable for us. The Earth provides shelter for humans and all living beings in life and even after death, enveloping them even after their passing. Without this feature, no living being would be able to survive the putrid smell of decaying organisms. All the basic needs of humans, such as food, drink, and clothing, are dependent on the Earth. Without this quality, no living thing could survive here. These concepts are mentioned in various places throughout the Quran. According to research, despite the Earth’s rotation, it remains in its designated orbit as mentioned in the Qur’an:
وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
“and each, in an orbit, is swimming”
[Ya-Sin: 40]
Mufasireen (those who have knowledge to interpret the Qur’an) explain that in this verse, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) first mentioned the sun and the moon, and then used the word “kul” which is used for collective reference. This indicates that all the other planets, including Earth, are also rapidly rotating in the atmosphere. Despite this constant motion, the creatures living on it for thousands of years have been able to enjoy the peace and stability that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has bestowed upon them. This stability and peace on Earth has been granted by Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) through the force of gravity, which is considered one of the most significant blessings of the Creator of the universe. To remind us of the value of this blessing, the Creator sometimes sends Earthquakes to the Earth, serving as a reminder of the peace and stability that we have been blessed with.
- Manifestation of the Divine Power and Greatness
These calamities, trials, earthhquakes and signs are among the laws and signs of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) in the universe, and they serve as clear manifestations of His Might, Power, and Majesty, as well as evidence of human weakness, regardless of how powerful they may be. Therefore, the second wisdom behind earthquakes is the expression of the complete power of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and His Greatness, indicating that everything in the world is under His control and that their affairs are in His hands. He is capable of doing all things, so avoid disobedience to Him, or you will be subject to a devastating punishment, as Allah has guided us:
قُلْ هُوَالْقَادِرُعَلٰی اَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْکُمْ عَذَابًا مِّنْ فَوْقِکُمْ اَوْمِنْ تَحْتِ اَرْجُلِکُمْ اَوْ يَلْبِسَکُمْ شِيَعًا وَّيُذِيْقَ بَعْضَکُمْ بَاْسَ بَعْضٍ اُنْظُرْ کَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُوْنَ
Say, “He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another.” Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.
[Al-An’am: 65]
When the punishment of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) comes upon a nation, no power in the world can stop it, nor can the knowledge development of a nation save them from it, nor can modern devices of a nation help them in this regard. In another place, Allah Almighty says:
سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?
[Fussilat: 53]
If we contemplate the evidence of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s existence and His Oneness, which can be found in all the universe, including the Earth and sky, such as the sun, moon, plants, animals, etc., as well as in the nature of human beings, from conception to birth, childhood to death, and the incredible complexity of their existence, which reveals new wonders every day, we will become certain that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is Haqq. (the Truth)
- Fostering Fear of Divine Punishment among Servants
One of the reasons for earthquakes is to instill fear of divine punishment among the servants of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and remind them of their accountability before their Lord, so that they may repent for their sins and mistakes. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has mentioned in His commandment:
ومَا نُرْسِلُ بالآياتِ إلا تَخْوِيفا
And We send not the signs except as a warning.
[Al-Isra: 59]
Undoubtedly, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is All-Knowing and All-Wise in His judgments. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) creates His signs as He wills and then manifests these signs on the Earth for the purpose of warning and admonishing His servants. Through these signs, He reminds His servants of the orders He has made obligatory, and it indicates that people should turn away from their sins, and heed advice and admonishment. Do not disobey Allah’ (عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s commandments and do not indulge in the sin and disobedience that has been prohibited.
- Deliverance from the Hereafter
One of the wisdoms of earthquakes is that they provide salvation for Muslims from the punishment of the Hereafter and a source of mercy in this world, as Abu Musa Ash’ari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
This people 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 being killed.
(Sunan Abi Dawud 4278)
In one hadith, there is mention of a volcano in place of murder. It was narrated from Abu Musa (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
This people 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 volcanoes.
(Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 2536)
That is, the unbearable punishment of the Hereafter, i.e. severe, permanent, painful, and humiliating, is for the deniers and hypocrites, but the temporary and bearable punishment in the form of trials, e arthquakes, and killings befalls all disbelievers and Muslims due to their sins. These punishments are a means of saving Muslims from the punishment of the Day of Reckoning and Judgment in the Hereafter, and a manifestation of Allah(عَزَّوَجَلَّ)’s Mercy for His believing servants in this world.
- Remembrance of the Day of Resurrection
One wisdom behind earthquakes is that they remind Believers of the great earthquake of the Day of Judgment when none will be safe except those who have prepared some means of salvation. Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌعَظِيمٌ
O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the convulsion of the [final] Hour is a terrible thing.
[Al-Hajj: 01]
Because when the Day of Judgment comes, the Earth will shake and tremble and an earthquake will occur. As Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا ، وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
When the Earth is shaken with convulsion (4) And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
[Al-Waqi’a: 4-5]
The word رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا , (rujjatil-ardhu-rajja) in this verse refers to Earthquakes. (Tafsir al-Qurtubi)
This verse indicates that the strength and stability of the Earth is a blessing from Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), as He is the one who establishes and maintains it and reminds His servants of the Day of Judgment through earthquakes.
- A Sign of the Day of Judgment
Earthquakes are among the signs of the Day of Judgment. As the Prophet of Allah ﷺ has guided us:
“The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), Earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1036)
- The Authenticity of the Holy Qur’an and the Truthfulness of the Prophet ﷺ
One of the reasons for earthquakes is so that atheists and non-believers may investigate and acknowledge the authenticity of the Quran and the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Earthquakes are a sign of the Day of Judgment, and their occurrence is a testimony to the truth and miracle of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet ﷺ being the true Messenger and Prophet of Allah. This is because the Prophet ﷺ has mentioned in his teachings that these signs will increase in frequency in the last days. And also accept that the matters of the unseen that the Prophet ﷺ has mentioned were not from his own accord, but rather were conveyed through divine revelation. As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty says:
وَمَا كُنتَ تَتْلُو مِن قَبْلِهِ مِن كِتَابٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ إِذًا لَّارْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt.
[Al-Ankabut: 48]
Regarding Earthquakes, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) swore in the Holy Qur’an and said:
وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ ﴿١١﴾ وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ ﴿١٢﴾ إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ
By the sky which returns [rain] (11) And [by] the Earth which cracks open, (12) Indeed, the Qur’an is a decisive statement,
[At-Tariq: 11-13]
In this verse, Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) has sworn by the cracking Earth. Through research, scientists and scholars have discovered underground tectonic plates where Earthquakes occur, and it is the center of most Earthquakes in the world.
What the Qur’an and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ proclaimed fourteen hundred years ago is being proven true today through research. Thus, it is evident that Allah’s statement by swearing by the shaking and trembling Earth is a miracle that provides evidence for the authenticity of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet of Islam ﷺ.
- Relief from the Hardships and Difficulties of the World
Death in earthquakes is a means of salvation from the hardships and difficulties of the world for good people, as mentioned in the hadith, narrated by Abu Qatada bin Rib’i Al-Ansari:
A funeral procession passed by Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) who said, “Relieved or relieving?” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! What is relieved and relieving?” He said, “A believer is relieved (by death) from the troubles and hardships of the world and leaves for the Mercy of Allah, while (the death of) a wicked person relieves the people, the land, the trees, (and) the animals from him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6512)
- Forgiveness of Sins
Earthquakes are a type of calamity and distress. If any calamity or distress befalls people of faith, it is a test and a means of increasing their ranks and good deeds. However, if those who disbelieve, drink alcohol, or eat usury are afflicted with any calamity, it is a punishment for them. It is narrated from Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with them, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 5641)
- Elevation of Ranks
The sudden calamities such as earthquakes and the resulting deaths are a cause of punishment for the unbelievers, but for the believers, they are a means of forgiveness of their sins and elevation of their ranks. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Verily, the righteous are tested more. And indeed, a believer is not afflicted with a thorn, or what is greater than that, except that Allah will raise him in rank thereby, and remove his sins.”
(Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 1610, Sahih al-Jami’ 1660)
- Source of Mercy and Forgiveness
Sayyida Aisha (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When evil appears on the Earth, Allah sends His punishment upon its inhabitants, even if there are righteous people among them. They will be afflicted as other people are, but then they will be returned to Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.”
(Sahih al-Jami’ 680)
- Reform of Behavior
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) sends down calamities and troubles in the form of earthquakes and floods so that we may reform our behavior and turn away from our sins. Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent.
[As-Sajda: 21]
This punishment refers to the punishment of this world before the punishment of the Hereafter, as narrated by Al-Tabari on the authority of Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that:
“It refers to the troubles, diseases, and trials of the world, in which Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) afflicts His servants so that they may repent.”
In other words, before the major punishment of the Hereafter, small troubles occur in a person’s life in this world so that they may reflect on their behavior and avoid sins. This verse indicates that during times of calamity in the world, one should turn to Allah Almighty, repent for their sins, and strive to reform their behavior. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) give us the ability to see these signs provided to us with clarity so we can reflect and reform. Aameen
