Al Uqubaat- The Punishment of Allah

1. الْعُقُوبَاتِ

Al Uqubaat

(Punishment of Allah)

Imam abu bakar ibn abuid dunya (rh) (ah 207-281)

أَسْبَابُ الْعُقُوبَاتِ وَأَنْوَاعُهَا

Causes and types of punishments

Final times of human destruction

[1] Abul Bukhtari (rh) said: I was told by the Companions of the Prophet that the Prophet (saw) said:

لَنْ يَهْلِكَ النَّاسُ حَتَّى يَعْذِرُوا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ

Man will not be destroyed until he deserves punishment for the excess of sin.

 [2] Hadhrat Zubayr bin Nufayr said that when Qubrus was conquered, the Muslims sat together and wept. Hadhrat Abu Darda (ra) was also crying. I asked him why he was crying and said, “Is it any wonder that you are weeping on a day when Allah has given victory and strength to Islam (and Muslims) and humiliated the shirk and mushrik (polytheists and polytheists)” Then he said, O youth! leave (And know that) when the creature disobeys Allah, he becomes worthless to Allah. Although they are a strong and mighty nation.

When the righteous people will be punished

[3] Hadhrat Umm Salama (ra) said. The Prophet (saw) said: When evil deeds prevail in the earth, Allah will send down His punishment on those who live on the earth. Hadhrat Umm Salama (ra) said, I said, O Messenger of Allah! Even though there are good people among them? He said, “Yes, although there are good people among them.” Like ordinary people, they will be punished. Then Allah will draw them to His mercy.

[4] Narrated from Hadhrat Hasan (ra). The Prophet (saw) said: This Ummah will always be under the protection and help of Allah, unless the doers of this Ummah (persons educated in religious teachings) run towards the rulers. Righteous people will not speak well of transgressors and sinners. Good people will not flatter or flatter evil people. When they do so, Allah will remove the hand of mercy from their heads. Then the wicked and the oppressors will punish them. Then they will fall into poverty and destitution.

When the disbelievers and the polytheists attack the Muslims

[5] Narrated by Thawban (ra): The Prophet (saw) said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (saw) He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.

 [6] Narrated by Anas (ra). The Prophet (saw) said:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ تَمْنَعُ الْعِبَادَ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُؤْثِرُوا صَفْقَةَ دُنْيَاهُمْ عَلَى دِينِهِمْ، فَإِذَا آثَرُوا صَفْقَةَ دُنْيَاهُمْ عَلَى دِينِهِمْ، ثُمَّ قَالُوا: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، رُدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: كَذَبْتُمْ

Kalima ‘La ilaha illallah’ protects the servant from the torment and punishment of Allah – unless he gives priority to the affairs of this world over the affairs of the Hereafter. But when the servant puts the affairs of this world before the Hereafter and says ‘La ilaha illallah. Then this Kalima was revoked against him and Allaah said: You are a liar.

Punishment for gaining the world by religion

[7].Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:

يَخْرُجُ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ يَخْتِلُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِالدِّينِ، يَلْبَسُونَ لِلنَّاسِ مُسُوحَ الضَّأْنِ مِنَ اللِّينِ، أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ أَحْلَى مِنَ السُّكَّرِ، وَقُلُوبُهُمْ قُلُوبُ الذِّئَابِ، فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: أَبِي تَغْتَرُّونَ، وَعَلَيَّ تَجْتَرِئُونَ؟ فَبِي حَلَفْتُ لَأَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَى أُولَئِكَ مِنْهُمْ فِتْنَةً تَدَعُ الْحَلِيمَ مِنْهُمْ حَيْرَانَ

“In the end of time there shall come men who will swindle the world with religion, decieving the people in soft skins of sheep, their tongues are sweeter than sugar and their hearts are the hearts of wolves. Allah [Mighty and Sublime is He] says: ‘Is it me you try to delude or is it against me whom you conspire? By Me, I swear to send upon these people,among them, a Fitnah that leaves them utterly devoid of reason.”

When the scholars will be the worst and fitna will revolve among them

[8] Hadhrat Ali (ra) said-

سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لَا يَبْقَى مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَّا اسْمُهُ، وَلَا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِلَّا رَسْمُهُ، مَسَاجِدُهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَامِرَةٌ وَهِيَ خَرَابٌ مِنَ الْهُدَى، عُلَمَاؤُهُمْ شَرُّ مَنْ تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ، مِنْهُمْ خَرَجَتِ الْفِتْنَةُ، وَفِيهِمْ تَعُودُ

There will come a time when only the name of Islam will remain on the people. Only the traditions of the Qur’an will remain. Mosques will seem to be inhabited externally but in reality they will be without guidance. The scholars of that time will be the worst under the roof of heaven. And then fitna will arise from among them and it will revolve among them.

Destruction of settlements due to adultery and usury

[9] Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Masu’d (ra) said:

إِذَا ظَهَرَ الزِّنَا وَالرِّبَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ أُذِنَ بِهَلَاكِهَا

When adultery and usury spread in a town, orders are given to destroy and ruin that town.

When people will be cursed

إِذَا النَّاسُ أَظْهَرُوا الْعِلْمَ وَضَيَّعُوا الْعَمَلَ، وَتَحَابُّوا بِالْأَلْسُنِ وَتَبَاغَضُوا بِالْقُلُوبِ، وَتَقَاطُعوا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ، لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَى أَبَصَارَهُمْ

[10] Hadhrat Hasan (rh) said- When people will boast of knowledge and ruin the deeds. will express love and affection By tongue and will keep hatred and enmity in the heart. Will sever ties with relatives. Then Allaah will turn them into curses and make them blind and deaf (heedless and indifferent).

To be continue

The retribution of five sins

11.‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said: Ten people of the Muhajireen were sitting near The Prophet (ﷺ). I was the tenth person among them. The Prophet (ﷺ) turned his blessed face and turned his attention to us and said-

يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، خَمْسُ خِصَالٍ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ: مَا ظَهَرَتِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى أَعْلَنُوا بِهَا، إِلَّا ابْتُلُوا بِالطَّوَاعِينِ وَالْأَوْجَاعِ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي أَسْلَافِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا، وَلَا نَقَصَ قَوْمٌ الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ إِلَّا ابْتُلُوا بِالسِّنِينِ وَشِدَّةِ الْمَئُونَةِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ، وَمَا مَنَعَ قَوْمٌ زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَلَوْلَا الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا، وَلَا خَفَرَ قَوْمٌ الْعَهْدَ إِلَّا سَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوَّهُمْ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ، وَمَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَتَخَيَّرُوا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَّا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ

 ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them:

(1).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.

2).They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers.

(3).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.

4).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.

(5).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.’”

When Allah will break down each other’s hearts

12.Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When the Children of Isra’il fell into disobedience, their scholars forbade them from it. But they did not stop, so they sat with them in their gatherings, and participated in eating and drinking with them. So Allah pitted their hearts against each other, and cursed them upon the tongue of Dawud and ‘Eisa bin Mariam.

ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ

That was because they disobeyed and were ever transgressing.-surah al baqarah 61

I swear by the entity in whose hand is my soul! You must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And restrain the wrongdoer, and turn him to justice. Otherwise, Allah will break down your hearts into one another. And you will be cursed as they were cursed.

When the righteous are destroyed along with the sinners

13.Ibrahim ibn Am’r as Sana’ni said- Allaah sent revelation to Hadhrat Yusha Ibn Noon (as) and said:

إِنِّي مُهْلِكٌ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ أَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفًا مِنْ خِيَارِهِمْ، وَسِتِّينَ أَلْفًا مِنْ شِرَارِهِمْ

I will destroy 40,000 good people and 70,000 sinners of your people. Hadhrat Yusha Ibn Noon (as) said- O Lord! It is right to destroy sinners, but what is the crime of righteous people? Allaah says,

إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَغْضَبُوا، وَكَانُوا يُؤَاكِلُونَهُمْ وَيُشَارِبُونَهُمْ

They were not angry with them (because of the sins of the sinners). And they used to eat and drink with them.

14.Abi Hazzan (rh) said, Allaah sent two angels to a village with the command to destroy and annihilate the people of that village. The angels found a man praying in the mosque. The angels asked: O my Lord! We have found one of your servants in this village who is praying in the mosque. Allaah says:

دَمِّرَاهَا وَدَمِّرَاهُ مَعَهَا، فَإِنَّهُ مَا تَمَعَّرَ وَجْهُهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ قَطُّ

Destroy that village and ruin that prayer. Because his appearance has never changed (seeing sinful deeds).

15.Wahab ibn Munabbih (rh) said- When the error of the Prophet Daud (as) was revealed, he said: O my Lord! forgive me. He said, “I have forgiven you, but I have set a disgrace for the Children of Israel.” The Prophet Daud (as) asked, O Lord, how is it? You are the Judge and the Just. You do not wrong anyone. I have committed a crime and his punishment will be determined on someone else?

Allah revealed to him:

يَا دَاوُدُ، إِنَّكَ لَمَّا اجْتَرَأْتَ عَلَيَّ بِالْمَعْصِيَةِ لَمْ يُعَجِّلُوا عَلَيْكَ بِالنُّكْرَةِ

O Daud! When you dared to commit a sin, why did they not dare to forbid you?

To be continue

16.Hadhrat Misaa’r (rh) Said-

بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ مَلَكًا أُمِرَ أَنْ يَخْسِفَ بِقَرْيَةٍ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، فِيهَا فُلَانٌ الْعَابِدُ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ: أَنْ بِهِ فَابْدَأْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَتَمَعَّرْ وَجْهُهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ قَطُّ

The news has reached me that an angel has been instructed to destroy such and such a village. The angel prayed: O Lord! There is one of your worshipers there. Allaah commanded the angel to start the punishment from him. Because his appearance has never changed (seeing sinful deeds).

Hadith about Earthquakes

17.Narrated from Hadhrat Anas (ra). He went to Hadhrat Aisha (ra) with a man. The man Said, O mother of believers! Tell me a hadith about earthquakes. She said-

إِذَا اسْتَبَاحُوا الزِّنَا، وَشَرِبُوا الْخَمْرَ، وَضَرَبُوا بِالْمَغَانِي، وَغَارَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي سَمَائِهِ فَقَالَ لِلْأَرْضِ: تَزَلْزَلِي بِهِمْ. فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَنَزَعُوا، وَإِلَّا هَدَمَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ

When the people thinks that adultery is legal, starts drinking alcohol and is intoxicated with music, then the dignity of Allah is hurt. Then He instruction the earth to vibrate. If people quickly repent and forsake sin, they become safe. Otherwise, Allah will turn them upside down.

The narrator said, then I wanted to know that, O mother of believers! Is this a punishment for the believers? She said-

بَلْ مَوْعِظَةٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَبَرَكَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَنَكَالٌ وَعَذَابٌ وَسَخَطٌ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ

Rather, it is an admonition, a mercy, and a blessing for the believers. And for the disbelievers and the disobedient is torment and wrath.

Hadhrat Anas (ra) said: I have never heard such a fascinating hadith after the death of the Prophet (saw).

18.Narrated from Hadhrat Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan. He said: Once when there was an earthquake in the time of the Prophet (saw), the Prophet (saw) put his hand on the ground and said

اسْكُنِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَأْنِ لَكِ بَعْدُ

O earth! Stop! You haven’t had that time yet.

Then the Prophet (saw) turned his attention to the Companions and said:

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ يَسْتَعْتِبَكُمْ فَأَعْتِبُوهُ

Your Lord is instructing you to repent. So please him.

Then when there was an earthquake in the time of Hadhrat Umar (ra). Hadhrat Umar (ra) said- O people! This earthquake is happening because of some of your sins. I swear by the entity in whose hand is my soul! If there is another earthquake, I will never let you live on this earth again.

19.Hadhrat Ibn ‘Umar (ra) said: Once when there was an earthquake in Madinah during the caliphate of Hadhrat Umar (ra), he put his hand on the ground and said:

مَا لَكِ، مَا لَكِ؟

(O earth!) What happened to you, what happened to you?

Be careful! Had it been an earthquake of the Hour, the earth would have told us its news. I heard the Prophet (saw) say-

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ، فَلَيْسَ مِنْهَا ذِرَاعٌ وَلَا شِبْرٌ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يَنْطِقُ بِالنَّاسِ

When the Resurrection takes place, every part of the earth will be informed of the condition of the people, no matter how small (the part of the earth).

20. Narrated from Hadhrat Safiyya (ra). She said: When there was an earthquake in Madinah during the caliphate of Hadhrat Umar (ra), he said to the people:

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، مَا هَذَا؟ مَا أَسْرَعَ مَا أَحْدَثْتُمْ، لَئِنْ عَادَتْ لَا أُسَاكِنُكُمْ فِيهَا

O people! What is it? Have you done (sin)? If there is another earthquake here, I will not let you stay here.

To be continue

[21[ Hadhrat kaab al ahbar said
إِنَّمَا تَزَلْزَلَتِ الْأَرْضُ لِأَنَّهَا خُلِقَتْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ حُوتٍ، فَلَعَلَّ الْحُوتَ إِنْ تَحَرَّكَ، أَوْ تُعْمَلُ عَلَيْهَا الْمَعَاصِي، فَتَرْعَدَ فَرَقًا مِنَ الرَّبِّ تَعَالَى إِذْ يَطَّلِعُ عَلَيْهَا
Earthquakes are caused by the fact that the earth was created on the back of a fish. Maybe when that fish moves or when there is sin in the earth, the earth trembles in fear of Allah.

[Note: This is an Israeli description. Scholars have criticized it. So that is not acceptable.]

[22] Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) said: Allah has created a mountain called Kaf, which encompasses the whole world. Its roots extend as far as the earth. When Allah wants to cause an earthquake in any place, He gives instructions to that mountain. Then the root of the mountain which is connected to the respective place starts swaying. This caused an earthquake in that place. This is the reason why earthquakes happen in the relevant places and not in any other place.

[Note: This is also an Israeli description. So this description is also unacceptable. Allama Ibn Kathir (rh) said: “The traditions which have been made permissible to be adopted from the Bani Israel are those traditions which are at least understood. Not the ones that are clearly against conscience. ” See Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Kaf]

[23]Hadhrat Jafar bin Burqan (rh) said: Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (rh) wrote to me after Hamd and Salat: Know that this earthquake is the thing by which Allah punishes His servants. I told all the city dwellers that everyone should come out on a certain day of the month. And whoever has something to give, let him give alms. Allaah says

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى ، وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى
Successful is the one who purifies himself and remembers the name of his Lord and prays. – Surah Al-A’la: 14-15
At the same time you will pray in the same way as your father Adam (as) prayed:

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
O our Lord! We have done a lot of injustice to ourselves. If you do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be destroyed. – Surah A’raf: 23
You will pray more as the Prophet Nuh (as) prayed:

وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُنْ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
(O Allah!) If You do not forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers. – Surah Hud: 48
You will pray more as Hadhrat Yunus (as) prayed-

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
(O Allah!) There is no god but You. You are holy. I have wronged myself. [Surah Ambiya: 6]

When humiliation and disgrace are sent down from heaven

When humiliation and disgrace are sent down from heaven

[24]Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) said: There has been a time when no one has more right to dinar and dirham than his Muslim brother. I heard the Prophet (saw) say-

إِذَا ضَنَّ النَّاسُ بِالدِّينَارِ وَالدِّرْهَمِ، وَتَبَايَعُوا بِالْعِينَةِ، وَتَرَكُوا الْجِهَادَ، وَأَخَذُوا بِأَكْتَابِ الْبَقَرِ، أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ ذُلًّا، لَا يَرْفَعُهُ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّى يُرَاجِعُوا دِينَهُمْ
When people show extreme stinginess in respect of dinars and dirhams or money, exchange debts (and interest), abandon jihad, and engage in farming with cows and calves – then Allah will send down humiliation and disgrace on them from heaven. Do not exalt them until they return to the religion.

[25] Hadhrat Hasan said
إِنَّ الْفِتْنَةَ وَاللَّهِ مَا هِيَ إِلَّا عُقُوبَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ تَحِلُّ بِالنَّاسِ
By God! Fitna is the punishment of Allah which is sent down to the people.

To be continue

[26]. Narrated from Hadhrat Ammar Ibn Yasar (ra) and Hadhrat Hudhayfah (ra). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ بِالْعِبَادِ نِقْمَةً أَمَاتَ الْأَطْفَالَ، وَأَعْقَمَ أَرْحَامَ النِّسَاءِ، فَتَنْزِلُ بِهِمُ النِّقْمَةُ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِمْ مَرْحُومٌ
Surely, when Allah wants to punish His servants, He kills the children and makes the women barren. Then the punishment fell on the people. Then no one else deserves mercy.

[27] Narrated from Hadhrat Ali (ra). The Prophet (saw) said:
النِّقَمُ كُلُّهَا جَائِرَةٌ
The whole of the punishment (of Allah) is destructive.

Cry and tense of Danniel (as)

[28] Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abil Hudhail (rh) said: Hadhrat Danniel (may Allah be pleased with him) wept when he saw the tyranny and injustice of Bukht Nasr and said:
بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِينَا، وَبِالْعَارِ الَّذِي أَتَيْنَا سَلَّطْتَ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُكَ وَلَا يَرْحَمُنَا
All of this is because of the dangers of our actions and the faults that we have done. O Allah! You have placed on us a person who neither knows you nor is kind to us.

[29] Narrated from Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Abil Hudhail. He said: Bukhat Nasr said to Hadhrat Danniel (as): Why am I attacking your community (can you tell)?
Danniel (a) said- This is your great sin. Secondly, my people have wronged themselves (sin and transgression).

The King of Kings
[30] Hadhrat Malik Ibn Dinar (rh) said: I have read in the words of wisdom that Allah says:
أَنَا مَلِكُ الْمُلُوكِ، قُلُوبُ الْمُلُوكِ بِيَدِي، فَمَنْ أَطَاعَنِي جَعَلْتُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةً، وَمَنْ عَصَانِي جَعَلْتُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ نِقْمَةً، وَلَا تَشْغَلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ بِسَبِّ الْمُلُوكِ، وَلَكِنْ تُوبُوا إِلَيَّ أُعَطِّفْهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ
Surely I am the King of kings. The hearts of kings are under my control. So whoever makes obedience to me, I will make them a cause of mercy. And whoever disobeys me, I will punish them and cause them distress. So establish a relationship with me instead of kings, then I will make them merciful to you.

 

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