Earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, tornadoes, storms, fires… These are all disasters which have different levels of ferocity and effect. Their shared quality however is that in a short time, they are able to wipe out a city, as well as many of the human beings and animals living in it, and create huge damage. Most of the time, it is impossible to prevent this damage from occurring.
Natural disasters are a reality which most people don't want to think about as long as they are not confronted with one. And actually, life on Earth is so well-balanced that natural disasters are not a common occurrence. There is a special protection in place for all creatures, including humans. However God does sometimes show people how unsafe their lives and homes can be. The signs contained in natural disasters, a few examples of which will be shown in this chapter, are reasons to consider the weakness of humans before God, and to pay heed.
On the Day the first blast shudders. (Qur'an, 79:6)
When the Earth is convulsed. (Qur'an, 56:4)
When they saw it as a storm cloud advancing on their valleys they said: "This is a storm cloud which will give us rain." No, rather it is what you desired to hasten – a wind containing painful punishment. (Qur'an, 46:24)
[A wind] destroying everything at its Lord's command! When morning came you could see nothing but their dwellings. That is how We repay the people of the evildoers. (Qur'an, 46:25)
We unleashed a howling wind against them on a day of unremitting horror. It plucked up men like uprooted stumps. (Qur'an, 54:19-20)
That is some of the news of the cities which We relate to you. Some of them are still standing, while others are now just stubble. (Qur'an, 11:100)
We did not wrong them; rather they wronged themselves. The gods they called upon besides God did not help them at all when God's command came upon them. They did nothing but increase their ruin. (Qur'an, 11:101)
It is He Who shows you the lightning, striking fear and bringing hope; it is He Who heaps up the heavy clouds. The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear [and respect] of Him. He discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone He wills. Yet still they argue about God when He is inexorable in His power! (Qur'an, 13:12-13)
When harm occurs to you at sea, those you call on vanish – except for Him alone! But when He delivers you to dry land, you turn away. Man truly is ungrateful. (Qur'an, 17:67)
Do you feel secure against Him causing the shore to swallow you up or sending against you a sudden squall of stones? Then you will find no one to be your guardian. (Qur'an, 17:68)
Yet they play around in doubt. So be on the watch for a day when heaven brings forth a distinctive smoke, which enshrouds humanity. This is a painful punishment! (Qur'an, 44:9-11)
When the oceans surge into each other. (Qur'an, 81:6)
[I swear] By the overflowing ocean. (Qur'an, 52:6)
No indeed! He will be flung into the shatterer. And what will convey to you what the shatterer is? The kindled fire of God reaching right into the heart. (Qur'an, 104:4-7)
On the Day the sky is like molten brass and the mountains like tufts of colored wool. No good friend will ask about his friend even though they can see each other.… (Qur'an, 70:8-11)
The Day when heaven is split apart in clouds, and the angels are sent down rank upon rank. The Kingdom that Day will belong in truth to the All-Merciful. It will be a hard Day for the unbelievers. (Qur'an, 25:25-26)
How many generations We have destroyed before them! Do you see a trace of any one of them or hear even a whisper of them? (Qur'an, 19:98)
[Are you going to be left secure] amid gardens and clear springs, and cultivated fields and palms with supple spathes? Will you continue hewing houses from the mountains with exultant skill? (Qur'an, 26:147-149)
Pharaoh exalted himself arrogantly in the land and divided its people into camps... (Qur'an, 28:4)
Pharaoh called to his people, saying: "My people, doesn't the kingdom of Egypt belong to me? Don't all these rivers flow under my control? Don't you then see?" (Qur'an, 43:51)
Aren't they guided by the many generations We have destroyed before them, among whose dwelling places they walk about? There are signs in that for people of sound intellect. (Qur'an, 20:128)
Aren't they guided by the many generations We destroyed before them, among whose ruined homes they walk around?... (Qur'an, 32:26)
Whereas for those who do not believe there will be the fire of Hell. They will not be killed off so that they die and its punishment will not be lightened for them. That is how We repay every thankless man. (Qur'an, 35:36)
Hell, where they will roast. What an evil resting-place! This! So let them taste it – boiling water and scalding pus and other such torments. (Qur'an, 38:56-58)
... Safeguard yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is people and stones. Harsh, terrible angels are in charge of it who do not disobey God in respect of any order He gives them and carry out what they are ordered to do. (Qur'an, 66:6)
... when they arrive there and its gates are opened, its custodians will say to them: "Didn't messengers from yourselves come to you, reciting your Lord's signs to you and warning you of the meeting on this Day of yours?" They will say: "Indeed they did, but the decree of punishment is justly carried out against the unbelievers." (Qur'an, 39:71)
