Why do natural calamities affect the poor and not the rich?
Question
The Natural calamaties always affect the poor people and the rich and powerfull always avoid them. If the natural calamaties are a result of our deeds then the rich and powerfull are the ones that have played a larger role in corrupting the earth.
How should one make sense of this- a good example is the recent earthqauke in balochistan pakistan as scores of poor people died , the leaders of the country were busy polishing their egos in the united nations.
What is the lesson learned from this?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Allah Taala has stated the meeting between Musa Alaihi Salam and Khidar Radiallahu anhu. Khidar Radiallahu anhu damaged a boat of innocent people, he then killed a child and he also straightened a wall in a locality that refused to host them. [1]
All three incidents did not make sense to Musa Alaihi Salam for which he objected. It was only when the hidden wisdom behind the three incidents were explained did he understand what he could not comprehend before.
It is clear from this incident that we can never make sense of all that happens in this world including catastrophes and calamities.
While we feel sympathetic to the needy and disadvantaged, Allah is Rahmaan, Raheem (The Most Merciful), and Hakeem (The Most Wise). In spite of His infinite mercy, if He decrees to destroy a nation, that is Allahs will and choice. [3]
In such situations we focus on the following verses:
Allah is the one who does whatever he intends (Surah Burooj-16)
Allah is not questioned about what he does but they (people) will be questioned (Surah Nissa-23)
Allah is the all-knowing, The wise (Surah Nissa-17)
Allah is Al Hakeem and His decrees are full of wisdom. We cannot comprehend the wisdom of Allahs decrees.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Dawoodjee
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
فعال لما يريد
لا يسئل عما يفعل و هم يسئلون
و كان الله عليما حكيما
[1] سورة الكهف من اية 70-77
[2] ما شاء الله كان وما لم يشاء لم يكن (ابو داود ج2 ص634 رشدية دهلي)
ان الله غفور حليم(سورة ال عمران-155)
ان الله عزيز حكيم(سورة البقرة-240)
- Answered by
- Ismail Dawoodjee
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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