Calamities...

Everything that is happening on this earth is due to what people committed with their own hands. Allah Ta’ala is Just. It is Insaan who does injustice. And through this, he puts himself in trouble.

Allah Ta’ala revealed the Deen for the welfare of humanity. If people live according to the commandment of Allah Ta’ala, no one will have any problem. People face difficulties because they are not doing what they were supposed to do. They lie instead of telling the truth. They are dishonest instead of being honest. They have rancour instead of giving affection. They do not hesitate to take the lives of people when they find their advantage in doing so. If they had not done such, everyone would have had tranquillity and everyone would live in peace and harmony. In the Qur’an-e-Kareem, Allah Ta’ala says:

"Corruption has appeared on land and at sea because of the actions of man and so that Allah may let them taste of some of their actions, so that they may turn back.” (S 30: V 41)

This verse shows that all difficulties that people are facing on earth are somehow the consequences of what people themselves committed with their own hands. Similarly, this verse includes the calamities, natural disasters, epidemics and diseases that the entire globe is undergoing. All this is the result of their bad behaviour.

But Allah Ta’ala is extremely good. He is not doing this to punish us. He does it so that people realise their mistakes and correct themselves. He sends these calamities just as a "warning" and an admonition so that people can repent and reform before it is too late.

... the solution and the cure

People are suggesting and are proposing several measures to solve these problems. But there are very few who are proposing what should be proposed. The means and measures that are being proposed to remedy or stop these problems are secondary measures. The main thing in all this is the eradication of the germ of this abscess itself. And this is the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. On several occasions in the Qur’an-e-Kareem, Allah Ta’ala drew our attention to the fact that sin is the root of all problems that Insaan is facing. Thus, the only solution is to refrain from committing sins and to ask for forgiveness for previous sins. The solution to all our problems lies in this itself. Nowadays, when all kinds of diseases are threatening our well-being and the well-being of our close ones, there is no way to protect us from that besides threading the way of Allah Ta’ala. According to a Hadith of Abu Dawud, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

"Whoever adheres to the principle of asking for forgiveness, Allah Ta’ala will make a way out for him from all his difficulties, he will relieve him of all his sufferings and will grant him his needs in an unimaginable way." (Abu Dawud)

We will help ourselves greatly if we remain engaged in asking for forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala for our shortcomings and our mistakes. This is a very effective means to protect ourselves from all kinds of difficulties. It is good to advise our children, our family members and our close ones to do it. 

[English version of "Calamités …" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.10]