Allah sent His Divine Laws and Guidance to save us all from destruction. If we defy His Authority, He may choose to punish or remind us to correct our ways. If we remain defiant, He may continue to serve more severe punishments, until eventually there are no more reasons left for Him to hold back His most severe punishment - death. This is the worst punishment, as it puts an end to any chance of saving one's self through repentance and correction. Instead we shall be answerable for all our wrong actions on the Day of Judgment. Proofs of Allah’s destructive powers are cited throughout the Qur'an, with reference to the nations of past prophets.
He sent floods to the disbelieving people of Nuh. He sent plague and floods to the people of Musa and drowned the idol worshippers. He rained stones upon the disbelieving people of Lut for practicing acts of homosexuality, and sent earthquakes to devastate the polytheists of Salih and Shua'ib. Allah's proofs are endless. Evidence of these disasters can still be seen today and Allah knows best the reasons behind these. However, we must not attribute these events simply to the destructive forces of nature, without acknowledging the Power behind Allah's Divine Intervention.
'See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc). Yet they turn not in repentance nor do they learn a lesson from it.' [28. Surah At-Taubah 9:126]
Non-believers are often ignorant of the purpose of Allah's punishment. Instead, they accuse Him of being wicked and unjust for taking the lives of so many 'innocent' people, especially women, children, the frail and the elderly. However, Allah is not wicked or unjust. He is Most Merciful, Fair and Generous. If Allah sends a punishment upon a nation, then it befalls the whole population indiscriminately. Each person will then be resurrected (and judged) according to his own deeds. [29. Narrated by Ibn Umar (Bukhari)] If Allah takes the lives of the believers and the innocent, it is perhaps as a mercy to remove them from their pain and suffering in this world. If He takes the lives of the disbelievers, tyrants and oppressors, it is perhaps to stop the harm and injury they cause to others. Whatever His reasons, justice will always prevail, whether it is in this life or in the Hereafter.
Unfortunately, non-believers place too much emphasis on this life and perceive death as an end in itself. However, death is just the beginning of the eternal life of the Hereafter.
Not all punishments result in death, however. Some are just merely unpleasant. The only way we can stop them is to refrain from prohibited habits and lifestyles, as Allah has warned that He will never change our situation unless we make the effort to change ourselves. This not only applies to us on an individual level, but also on a wider, more collective scale:
'For each person there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by sinning and being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it and they will find Him no protector.' [30. Surah ar-Ra'd 13:11]
Punishments are often perceived negatively, when in fact they should be viewed positively. When Allah serves His punishment in this life, it provides the opportunity for self-scrutiny, repentance and correction. Punishment in this life is also expiation for our sins and lessens the punishment we (as believers) would have received for our sins in the Hellfire:
When Allah desires good for His servant, He gives him punishment beforehand in this world, but when He desires an evil purpose for His servant, He refrains from dealing with his sin till he takes from him full payment for it on the Day of Resurrection. [31. Narrated by Anas (At- Tirmidhi, Riyad us-Saliheen)]
When Allah withholds His punishment, some people continue to indulge in their 'sinful' or immoral behavior because they believe they can 'get away it'. This is like the child who thinks that he has escaped punishment from his parents for being naughty and so continues to be naughty. However just like the child, these people lack the maturity and foresight to realize that punishment can often be delayed and be more severe later on. Hence the above hadith warns us not to be lulled into a false sense of security. We should constantly monitor our actions and behavior and correct ourselves. If we do not, we will continue to accumulate sins and incur the corresponding escalation of punishment in the Hereafter.
Although we would prefer to receive Allah's punishment in this life rather than in the Grave and the Hellfire, we should never ask Allah for this. Instead, we should ask Him to grant us good in this life and in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Hellfire. [32. Narrated by Anas (Muslim)]
Overcoming Trials and Tribulations
By: Ruqaiyah Abdullah
He sent floods to the disbelieving people of Nuh. He sent plague and floods to the people of Musa and drowned the idol worshippers. He rained stones upon the disbelieving people of Lut for practicing acts of homosexuality, and sent earthquakes to devastate the polytheists of Salih and Shua'ib. Allah's proofs are endless. Evidence of these disasters can still be seen today and Allah knows best the reasons behind these. However, we must not attribute these events simply to the destructive forces of nature, without acknowledging the Power behind Allah's Divine Intervention.
'See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc). Yet they turn not in repentance nor do they learn a lesson from it.' [28. Surah At-Taubah 9:126]
Non-believers are often ignorant of the purpose of Allah's punishment. Instead, they accuse Him of being wicked and unjust for taking the lives of so many 'innocent' people, especially women, children, the frail and the elderly. However, Allah is not wicked or unjust. He is Most Merciful, Fair and Generous. If Allah sends a punishment upon a nation, then it befalls the whole population indiscriminately. Each person will then be resurrected (and judged) according to his own deeds. [29. Narrated by Ibn Umar (Bukhari)] If Allah takes the lives of the believers and the innocent, it is perhaps as a mercy to remove them from their pain and suffering in this world. If He takes the lives of the disbelievers, tyrants and oppressors, it is perhaps to stop the harm and injury they cause to others. Whatever His reasons, justice will always prevail, whether it is in this life or in the Hereafter.
Unfortunately, non-believers place too much emphasis on this life and perceive death as an end in itself. However, death is just the beginning of the eternal life of the Hereafter.
Not all punishments result in death, however. Some are just merely unpleasant. The only way we can stop them is to refrain from prohibited habits and lifestyles, as Allah has warned that He will never change our situation unless we make the effort to change ourselves. This not only applies to us on an individual level, but also on a wider, more collective scale:
'For each person there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by sinning and being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it and they will find Him no protector.' [30. Surah ar-Ra'd 13:11]
Punishments are often perceived negatively, when in fact they should be viewed positively. When Allah serves His punishment in this life, it provides the opportunity for self-scrutiny, repentance and correction. Punishment in this life is also expiation for our sins and lessens the punishment we (as believers) would have received for our sins in the Hellfire:
When Allah desires good for His servant, He gives him punishment beforehand in this world, but when He desires an evil purpose for His servant, He refrains from dealing with his sin till he takes from him full payment for it on the Day of Resurrection. [31. Narrated by Anas (At- Tirmidhi, Riyad us-Saliheen)]
When Allah withholds His punishment, some people continue to indulge in their 'sinful' or immoral behavior because they believe they can 'get away it'. This is like the child who thinks that he has escaped punishment from his parents for being naughty and so continues to be naughty. However just like the child, these people lack the maturity and foresight to realize that punishment can often be delayed and be more severe later on. Hence the above hadith warns us not to be lulled into a false sense of security. We should constantly monitor our actions and behavior and correct ourselves. If we do not, we will continue to accumulate sins and incur the corresponding escalation of punishment in the Hereafter.
Although we would prefer to receive Allah's punishment in this life rather than in the Grave and the Hellfire, we should never ask Allah for this. Instead, we should ask Him to grant us good in this life and in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Hellfire. [32. Narrated by Anas (Muslim)]
Overcoming Trials and Tribulations
By: Ruqaiyah Abdullah
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