In an Earthquake

All of us have witnessed in the past number of days, the images and the videos of the catastrophic earthquakes that have struck in Turkey and in Syria.

21,000 people so far are reported to have died. And that death toll is only expected to rise.

And 75,000 people are reported to be injured.

This is one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit this earth in terms of its impact.

And we've all seen videos, videos of buildings, collapsing

videos of entire families trapped underneath the rubble.

People dying while holding on to their children.

And all of these images can be very difficult to see.

It can be heartbreaking

to feel and it can be difficult to understand.

And when we see these images, often we feel paralyzed. We feel helpless,

both physically and mentally.

Many of us might know people who live in these areas, some of us may have visited there.

And so suddenly, these familiar and comforting, comforting memories that we have, of these places, and of these people has been reduced to rubble.

And just mean in just minutes, millions of people lost their homes,

and their lives are transformed. And entire families were lost.

How should we as Muslims respond,

both internally and externally?

When we see these massive kinds of disasters, these massive tragedies, when we see suffering in the world, how do we respond internally and externally? How do we understand and take lessons from it? theologically, morally, and practically?

The first point

is that we have to understand this as an analogy for the dunya.

This world, this dunya and everything within it. Allah subhanaw taala sends in its science for the believer, whatever happens, good or bad.

Everything is assigned for the believer.

And the hard difficult truth is that yes, in the blink of an eye, the state of some people was changed entirely. 1000s died, became injured, became homeless in a moment in the blink of an eye.

And even though this happened in reality, this is also an analogy for our lives.

We live here, in our homes, in our cities, in our lands, like we have no purpose.

We live like we're here for fun.

We wasted our time routinely.

We spend sometimes much of our time and what displeases Allah subhanaw taala.

One day we're going to wake up

maybe we're not going to live through an earthquake.

In fact, maybe we're not blessed enough for Allah to send us an earthquake to wake us up.

But we're gonna wake up.

Maybe we're only gonna wake up after we die.

And we're gonna figure out at that point

that our heedlessness was destroying us.

This world and everything in it can always go away in a moment.

And if it doesn't go away with an earthquake or natural disaster, then death is going to take it away. Could illumine la half Han Allah subhanaw taala tells us this everything on this earth is going to perish one way or another. It's all going away.

And we have to take death in every of its forms. Whether it's the death of an old man who is very old and very sick, or whether it's the death of 1000s in a tragedy, every form of death is a sign for the believer. It's a reminder for the believer. It reminds us to prepare ourselves for the fact that everything in this world is going to perish

and nothing will help us when that happens, except whatever good deeds we have put forward and dedicated sincerely for the sake of Allah subhanaw taala

the second point

Many of you are feeling pain. You see these images, you feel pain.

If you've been feeling pain,

it's not a bad thing.

It's actually a good thing. We should feel pain for our brothers and sisters in the SNAM who are going through a painful situation. This in and of itself is a mark of faith. It's a mark of Eman. It connects the OMA to each other. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said Tara, Nina feed Seraphim Him you will see the believers

Vitara Vitara hang in there mercy for each other their mutual mercy

and their mutual love and their mutual compassion. They are like a single body. When one part of the body is in pain, the rest of it aches and sleeplessness and in fever.

The pain that we feel connects us to each other. It makes us one body. It makes us one OMA that we we hurts when another part of the body is in pain.

And perhaps this is one of the many wisdoms that Allah subhanaw taala either sometimes causes the Ummah, to have painful situations. Because it makes us love each other more. It makes us think of each other more. So whether it's our brothers and sisters today in Turkey and in Syria,

or whether it's our brothers and sisters in Kashmir who are in front of spleen, or in Burma, or in China, or in Somalia, and whatever place in the world, when we think of them and we feel pain.

This is Allah subhanaw taala blessing us with a sincere love for one another, connecting us for each other. This is a mark of Eman.

The next point is that these moments should also bring us gratitude. They should make us grateful to Allah subhanaw taala.

When the earth shakes somewhere, it should make us thankful that the earth beneath our feet is stable.

When a building collapses somewhere, it should make us feel grateful that we have a home and we have shelter.

When a family is separated, we should feel grateful that Allah has given us a family to go home to and to hug.

And the reality is that we are so blind, of the blessings of Allah subhanaw taala we are so blind of all the blessings that surround us. Winter doing that and met Allahu Allah to Allah. Allah subhanaw taala tells us if you were to try to count all of the blessings of Allah, you could never enumerate them.

Whereas before an equal number of all hirato adult

he says that he has an envelope to you, in His favors.

The apparent and the hidden. There are favorites of Allah that are apparent we can sense them, we can see them we can feel them. The home that we have the food that we eat, the family that we can go home to. That's law, Hera. But there are so many blessings of Allah that are baffling, that are hidden.

You can't even be grateful to them because you don't even understand that you have them.

We see these videos, one after another, people emerging from the rubble, pulling them out of this building. And what's the first thing that person says, and hamdulillah the person sees their home collapsed, that they spent their life earning money to build it to buy it to raise their family that home is gone. And the person says it comes in that

Allah Subhana Allah gives us so much and we don't deserve it. And these are opportunities for us to recognize blessings. If those people in those moments can recognize the blessings of Allah subhanaw taala what's wrong with us that we cannot recognize all the blessings that we are surrounded in, suffocated in the blessings of Allah subhanaw taala

and because of this, sometimes the moments of trial and hardship are themselves blessings, but we don't understand it. Allah says letter Cebu Sharon lacunae Bell who

Allah says, don't consider this an evil for you rather, it is good for you. We don't even see it and understand it. So many of the things that we see and perceive as being evil, that we perceive as being difficult, are actually good things for us that we don't even know.

These are opportunities to allow us to enhance our vision, not our physical vision, our spiritual vision, that we can start to sense the blessings of Allah subhanaw taala that he has given us.

The fourth point

the pain of this dunya

the pain of this world

is not worth what you think it's worth.

When this dunya is everything to us, then the pain of the dunya becomes everything to us.

That's a fact. People fall into crisis of faith. How can I believe what I see all the suffering? The reality is that the person only sees the dunya. So the suffering of the dunya becomes the most prominent.

It becomes everything in their eyes. And so the question for them becomes, How can everything be suffering?

Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned to us the Hadith,

that the man who suffers the most in this world, he doesn't tell us who this man is, what his suffering is, we can imagine.

This person must have been living in poverty, must have been on the streets, must have had diseases in their health, must have lived the worst life.

The Prophet says the person most in most difficulty in this dunya whoever this person is, is brought forward.

And Allah so tells the angels of musu who filled Jana, just dip him a moment a second into paradise and bring them out.

So he's dipped into paradise and brought out and Allah subhanaw taala asks him

hell there are a two books and paths. Have you ever seen hardship before? This person who lived maybe 80 years in this dunya was an orphan was homeless was sick went through everything difficult in this world? Allah asks him, did you ever see hardship before? And he says, allow Allah he says no Bible, I've never seen it before.

The one second in paradise removes all of the hardship of this dunya because once the mind can understand the spirit can understand the vastness of the athlete.

The world becomes inconsequential.

And the prophet tells us the opposite the person who lives the most luxurious life, and Allah says dip him into into the hellfire, a second in the hellfire, and Allah asks him had right now Amen. But have you ever seen any luxury before? And this person must have been a billionaire, on private jets, eating the best food. And he says, I've never seen a blessing before in my life. Because a moment in the after understanding

the vastness of the athlete all makes this world inconsequential. But when we make the dunya everything, then we cannot understand the suffering in it's because it becomes the entire consequence. It becomes the entire reality.

The experience of this dunya becomes worthless, literally worthless, when you experience a moment of the Astra.

And so let's not aggrandized this dunya sanctify the Estonia, even the pain of the dunya the suffering of this world, we cannot make it everything. Because by doing so we're making the dunya everything.

The next point is that the suffering of this world is not in vain.

The difficulties of this world for the believer is not in vain. It doesn't go to waste. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, given the Emerald movement in Umbra hyung Kula who hire how amazing are the affairs of the believer all of his affairs are good for him. If something good happens, for Shaka, he is thankful to Allah and that's good for him. And if something difficult happens, a calamity happens to him. He is patient and that too is good for him. The Prophet said lie you'll see when Muslim meanness have been what I also didn't mean whatever men what hasn't been well either had to showcase Sharkey who had in laka for Allah who behalf UCLA. He said no believer

experiences fatigue or sorrow or sadness or hurt or distress, even the prick of a thorn, except Allah will expiate sins for him. Whatever suffering a believer suffers through Allah subhanaw taala is removing sins, Allah is raising the rent. Allah is compensating them for it in this world and in the next in our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, I Shahadat Hamsa. Those who are shaheed our marches are five. And he mentioned amongst the Maasai, that had them the one who dies, by something collapsing upon them.

And so Allah subhanaw taala is taking shahada through this act.

But also and this brings me to the next point, we should remember and understand and be aware that Allah subhanaw taala can punish

us

we have to realize the mighty and the power of Allah subhanaw taala when you see these hurricanes, sorry when you see these earthquakes

when you see these earthquakes How can you not think about the earthquakes of the hour?

Yeah, you had NASA Topo would have come in essence zealot, Assa T shake.

All mankind Fear your Lord indeed the earthquakes of the hour are a terrible thing.

Yo Mataro in Ohio Ted Hello khulumani

What are the Okaloosa? to Hamlin Pamela, what's our NASA So Kara went to Home Depot Canada, with our kin adab Allah He shouted. He said the day that you will see it every nursing mother will forget her baby. Every pregnant person will drop

her load. You will see mankind like they are drunk even though they are not drunk. But severe is the punishment of Allah azza wa jal.

You think about this, these families that are desperate for each other,

that are holding on to one another. But the earthquake is pulling the person's hand out of the hand of their spouse, ripping them literally apart.

And Allah mentions the earthquakes of the hour, the mother is dropping and running away from her baby.

You'll meet a federal model woman as well only he will be also hibbity He will be in

the Colombian minimum. Y'all may even shut down your knee.

On that day, the man is man is going to run away from his brother and his mother and his father.

They're not striving and struggling to remove the rubble to be reunited with their families. That's what we're doing in these earthquakes. But on that day, everybody will be running away from each other. On that day, everyone will have something to me can careless of others.

And Allah subhanaw taala

he tells us well, now I saw the

mean see it's infirm, enough sick. Whatever misfortune befalls you. It's from yourself, the causes our own actions. And I know some people are going to think,

Who does he think he is? Isn't Allah merciful?

How can you say that? We can be punished. disasters can happen because of our sins.

And my response is, yes, Allah is merciful. And yes, we should never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah subhanaw taala but Allah is also severe and punishment. And the believer must have a healthy balance and understanding these two. When I saw the one that I saw the coming musi button for bina kasowitz ad Kumar for oncofetal. Whatever of misfortune befalls you Allah says it is because of what your own hands have earned because of your own deeds. Well yeah for I'm Kathy and he has pardoned already so much. Allah has forgiven so much of what we've done.

So much of what we are deserving to earn and punishment Allah already forgave out for I'm Kathy

and these punishments in these signs occur even though Allah pardon so much. Imagine what would happen if Allah did not forgive our sins. Did not overlook our sins did not part in our sins. Well, no, you asked me the Allahu NASAA between me him. Matt Tanaka ani Hammond dabka. Allah says that if he were to punish men for the wrongdoing, he would not leave on Earth a single living moving creature.

So yes, Allah is merciful, but our sins are huge.

How many of the Muslims abandoned even their sludge? Even there is a cow. We don't fulfill our interest payments. We backed by we slander we withhold the rights of one another. And on top of that, we have an apathetic view of the world. We see our brothers and sisters attacked and destroyed we shrug our shoulders

How can we feel secure against the punishment of Allah azza wa jal?

I mean to Memphis Sama, Josefa be coming out for either here to more Allah subhanaw taala asks you rhetorically, do you feel secure that He who was in the heavens will not cause the earth to sink with you?

And I'm in tune Memphis Santa Alikum house even

facilitate Ala Moana Kayfun adhere or do you feel secure that He was in the heavens will not send against you a violent wind? And then you will know how true the warning of Allah is?

I mean, I don't Quran and yet to whom that sunnah they are to, well now you mourn. Allah says Did the people of the towns feel secure

against the coming of our punishment while they are asleep?

Ask yourself that question. Why do we sleep?

Why do we go to sleep thinking we have another chance tomorrow.

Why do we go asleep? thinking we are secure, and nothing will happen when we wake up tomorrow? Why do we go to sleep thinking

that our entire world cannot change in a split second?

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam

if he felt the strong winds, if he saw the dark clouds, his face would change someone loved where he was send them, and he would start pacing back and forth.

And the people noticed this and I shuffled the hola hola Anna, she asked the Prophet Why do you do this? And he said to her entity, he said, I don't know what it is. I don't know what the wind is. I don't know what the clouds are. And he said maybe it will be like what Allah subhanaw taala said about own hoods. I thought the people of Hood fell in Morocco who already done was to be done. I would call her

that when they saw the clouds come in. They said this is going to give us rain. And Allah subhanaw taala tells them but hold on Mr. Gentle rather, this is the punishment that you were hastening to receive. If the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is afraid of the punishment of Allah, if the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa send them when he feels the wind is worried the punishment of Allah might come, why don't you and I feel secure? Why do you and I feel like this has never happened to us. The believer has to have a balance between the hope and mercy of Allah subhanaw taala and also fear Allah azza wa jal, we hope and His mercy, and we recognize that we have so many shortcomings,

that we are deserving of punishment. And even if we lived in this world, without experiencing any earthquake, or hurricane or flood or disaster of any kind, we have to be reminded of the day of judgment and the day we're going to stand in front of Allah subhanaw taala and answer for our deeds.

i For me, Norma Corolla.

Are these Do they feel secure against the plan of Allah? subhanaw taala. It's a sign of the lack of Eman. If we think these things are never gonna happen to us, if we think completely secure against the punishment of Allah azza wa jal. Some will say these are just natural disasters. These are just the plates of the earth and when they move an earthquake happens. It's of course, there are worldly means for these things happening. One part of the world is susceptible to earthquakes, another to floods, another two hurricanes, another just a non tsunamis, but who is the one by his will, the earthquake will happen or the flood will occur as a tsunami will take place? Nothing happens without

the will of Allah subhanaw taala not even the leaf that falls off of the tree. And Firmino Nicola filet mignon McCullough ill kamikaze one, do they feel secure against the plan of Allah, no one feels secure against the plan of Allah except the people who are losers.

And so the believer has to fear the punishment of Allah subhanaw taala and be aware of it.

Another point is one of the sufferings of this world is that it derives good from us. One of the reasons Allah causes suffering in this world is that good comes from us. When there's an orphan, we treat them with kindness. The existence of the orphan causes the manifestation of the good of kindness. When we see poverty, we give charity and Zika good manifests in the face of evil. If we were to eliminate all the evil in this world, we would be eliminating so much good.

And Allah and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says rightly when you're hungry man or woman fell out of your hammock,

the Most Merciful shows mercy to those who are merciful. Show mercy on the earth in the one who is in the heavens will show you mercy. And so we have an obligation to respond to these situations with mercy to give for the sake of Allah subhanaw taala to help those who are in need. And the final point, Allah subhanaw taala either says,

Well, Matt can Allah Who do you

want to two three him? Well, McCann Allahumma exhibit Hmong is the one that Allah would not punish them while you are Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam are amongst them, nor would Allah punish them while they are seeking the forgiveness of Allah. If we uphold true love for Rasul allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and follow his sunnah and secretes the form of Allah azza wa jal, Allah azza wa jal will forgive us, and will prevent us from these punishments.

And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said for either a timesheet and VALIC Fen zero inadequacy he will do what he was the father he says, If you ever see something of this nature, then turn to the remembrance of Allah and call upon Him and seek his forgiveness. And so seek the forgiveness of Allah when we see these things. ask Allah to have mercy.

I'm asking them and to not take us to punishment because of what the ignorant amongst us who have done

churn and seek the forgiveness of Allah azza wa jal seek to enjoin, good and forbid evil. These are matters that protect us against these punishments and cause our forgiveness May Allah subhanaw taala forgive all of the Muslims and protect all of us army and pull for the hard or soft modular stuff brought in for Rahim.