CALAMITIES – WHY ARE WE FACING THEM AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

On 7 January 2021, London was declared a “major incident” because the virus infection is out of control and the number of people in hospital is so high that all hospitals are stretched to the limit. The pandemic has not even reached the peak value. On 8 January 2021, the number of daily infections is over 68,000 and the number who died due to Covid-19 is over 1,320. Many parts of the world are suffering from this pandemic and the Muslim countries have also not be spared from this infection. Saudi Arabia has stopped issuing Visas for Umrah.

So, the BIG QUESTION is – Why is thing pandemic happening? Aren’t there now over 1.8 billion Muslims in the world? Isn’t Allah Pleased that the number of Muslims is increasing and the number of mosques has also increased.

1. QADR OF ALLAH

We have to remember that everything happens with the Will of Allah.

قُل لَن يُصيبَنا إِلّا ما كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنا هُوَ مَولانا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَليَتَوَكَّلِ المُؤمِنونَ

Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust. 9: 51

• QUANTITY DOES NOT REFLECT QUALITY OF ISLAM

The first of these narrations is that of Thawban – radhiallahu ‘anhu – the freed slave of the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He related that the Messenger of Allah said: “The nations are about to call each other and set upon you, just as diners set upon food.” It was said: “Will it be because of our small number that day?” He said:

“Rather, on that day you will be many, but you will be like foam, like the foam on the river. And Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and will throw wahn (weakness) into your hearts.” Someone said: “O Messenger of Allah! What is wahn?” He said: “Love of the world and the hatred for death.”Sahih: Related by Abu Dawud (no. 4297), Ibn ‘Asakirin in Tarikh Dimashq (2/97/8) and others. It was authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Sahihah (no. 958)

This hadith explains the first form of weakness, which has befallen the ‘Ummah in all corners of the world, as being a result of inclination to this world, love of it, and being preoccupied with it, whilst turning away from the Hereafter, being distant from it and hatred of death. Hatred of death is a sign of loving this world, since the one who loves this world, hates death. Since, with death, comes the meeting with Allah – the Most Perfect.

• OUR DISOBEDIENCE TO ALLAH

ظَهَرَ الفَسادُ فِي البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ بِما كَسَبَت أَيدِي النّاسِ لِيُذيقَهُم بَعضَ الَّذي عَمِلوا لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ

“Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.), that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His Pardon)”. 30: 41

وَما أَصابَكُم مِن مُصيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَت أَيديكُم وَيَعفو عَن كَثيرٍ

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” 42: 30

ما يَفعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذابِكُم إِن شَكَرتُم وَآمَنتُم ۚ وَكانَ اللَّهُ شاكِرًا عَليمًا

“Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.” 4: 147

We have to reflect upon these 3 verses – on what areas have we disobeyed Allah? Middle Eastern countries allowed “freedom of co habitation”, etc

• EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS NATIONS

If we read verses before the verse below, Allah was reminding us on the people of:

1. Madyan – prophet Shu’aib (AS) was sent to people who are cheating
2. Prophet Lut (AS) – who indulged in homosexuality
3. Thamud – Prophet Saleh (AS) was sent to remind them on Tawheed
4. ‘Ad – Prophet Hud (AS) was sent to remind them on Tawheed

All the people were punished. Every nation was involved in acts which caused Allah to be displeased with them. Are these acts committed today? Yes

• A lot of cheating and lying in the markets, especially in Muslim countries. Corruptions are rampant.
• A lot of homosexuality occurring even in Muslim countries
• A lot of shirk done, even in Muslim countries, for e,g. from the “eye” that was sold in Turkey to the celebrations of Christmas and New Year in Muslim countries.

Why should we emulate the west when emulating them is causing displeasure in Allah. That was why Allah Warned us:

وَلَو أَنَّ أَهلَ القُرىٰ آمَنوا وَاتَّقَوا لَفَتَحنا عَلَيهِم بَرَكاتٍ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرضِ وَلٰكِن كَذَّبوا فَأَخَذناهُم بِما كانوا يَكسِبونَ

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.) 7: 96

IMPORTANT HADITH REPORTED BY IBN MAJAH

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’”

Reference	: Sunan Ibn Majah 4019
In-book reference	: Book 36, Hadith 94
English translation	: Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4019

WHY WAS A PLAGUE SENT BY ALLAH?

Aisha reported: She asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about plagues and he said, “It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whoever he wills, but Allah has made it a mercy for the believers. Any servant who resides in a land afflicted by plague, remaining patient and hoping for reward from Allah, knowing that nothing will befall him but what Allah has decreed, he will be given the reward of a martyr.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5402

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الطَّاعُونِ فَأَخْبَرَهَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابًا يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقَعُ الطَّاعُونُ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي بَلَدِهِ صَابِرًا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُصِيبَهُ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ الشَّهِيدِ

5402 صحيح البخاري كتاب الطب باب أجر الصابر في الطاعون

This hadith above explains about this Coronavirus.

It is sent as reminders and to punish those whim He Wills. To the believers – affected by it, it is from His Mercy. Why?

• Perhaps it is an expiation of the sins of a believer so that inshaAllah at the time of death, there will be absolutely no sins left;
• Perhaps it is a test to elevate his/her status if he/she remains patient;
• Perhaps it has been Decreed that the believer will enter Jannatul Firdaus and the deeds in this world that he/she does is insufficient to allow him/her to enter Jannatul Firdaus. Therefore, this is the only way to elevate his/her ranking of Jannah
• Perhaps to allow the believer to die in a high state of martyr.

IN CONCLUSION

Do reflect on this verse: Qur’an surah 13 verse 11:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُغَيِّرُ ما بِقَومٍ حَتّىٰ يُغَيِّروا ما بِأَنفُسِهِم

“…Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)…”

Evaluate what is our relationship with Allah. In the Muslim Ummah, being 1.8 billion in number – closer to Allah in terms of obedience, or are we even worse in our submission to Him? We have to be honest with this issue. I think that despite the masses of people who called ourselves Muslims, many are only Muslims by name. Our submission to Allah has become less and the Qur’an is just a mere book for us. We fail to ponder over the verses in order to seek Allah’s Guidance and Help.

May Allah Guide us, Forgive us for our shortcomings, and Remove this pandemic from us so that we are able to lead a life full of freedom to submit to Allah even more.