Why Does Allah's Punishment Befall Nations?
Authored by: Dr. Abu Jaber Abdullah Damanvi➊ Allah Almighty states:
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ... (An-Nahl: 112–113)Allah presents the example of a town that was living in peace and security, receiving its provision abundantly from every place, but it denied the blessings of Allah. Consequently, Allah made it taste the garment of hunger and fear because of what they used to do. And indeed, a Messenger from among themselves came to them, but they denied him; thus, the punishment seized them while they were wrongdoers.
➋ Allah Almighty also says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ... (Al-A'raf: 94–102)"And We did not send any Prophet to a town but We seized its people with hardship, adversity, and calamities so that they might humble themselves before Us. Then We replaced their adversity with prosperity until they flourished and said, 'Indeed, our forefathers were also touched by adversity and prosperity.' So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive it. And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would have surely opened upon them blessings from the heavens and the earth, but they denied, so We seized them for what they used to earn.
Are the people of the towns then secure from the coming of Our punishment upon them at night while they are asleep? Or do the people of the towns feel secure from the coming of Our punishment upon them in the forenoon while they play?
Are they secure from the plan of Allah? None feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people. Does it not guide those who inherit the land after its people (who were destroyed) that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? And We seal their hearts so they do not hear.
Those towns – We narrate to you some of their stories. Surely their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in what they had denied before. Thus does Allah seal the hearts of the disbelievers. And We found not for most of them any covenant, but indeed We found most of them defiantly disobedient."
➌ Furthermore, He said:
فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ... (Al-Ankabut: 40)"So each of them We seized for his sin. Among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast, and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah was not unjust to them, but they wronged themselves."
From this, it is evident that due to the rejection of Allah and His Messenger, turning away from the true religion, and indulging in evil deeds, Allah Almighty annihilated these nations from the earth. Today, the condition of the Muslim Ummah is similar. Despite the presence of the Qur'an and Hadith, this Ummah is not willing to act upon the commandments of Allah. Nor are they ready to implement the bright laws of the Qur'an and Hadith upon themselves. Instead, the majority have abandoned the path of the Book and Sunnah, clinging instead to self-invented pathways, associating partners with Allah, and embracing innovations in religion.
[Al-Hadith: 64]
