Whenever any natural disaster occurs in the world, those who fear God are frightened lest any such future disaster puts them in difficulty. That any act of theirs may become a source of God’s displeasure. Such thinking is only of true believers who have the insight and the perception that God does not need anyone and thus, with fear of God in their hearts, they try and tread the paths that lead to His pleasure. God states in the Holy Qur’an: ‘Verily, those who, out of fear of their Lord, always stand guard against sins. And those who believe in the Signs of their Lord,’ (23:58-59). The Surah goes on to state that these people do not ascribe partners to God and are not those who only remember God in difficult, turbulent times and forget Him in peaceful times. They turn to God with greater intensity in times when they face difficulties or observe climatic changes.

The blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is there for us to follow for the rest of time. Hadhrat ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: ‘Whenever there was a strong wind, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used to say: ‘O Allah! I ask You for what is good in it, and the good which it contains, and the good of that which it was sent for. I seek refuge with You from what is evil in it, what evil it contains, and the evil of that what it was sent for; and when there was a thunder and lightning in the sky, his colour underwent a change, and he went out and in, backwards and forwards; and when the rain came, he felt relieved, and I noticed sign of relief on his face’. Hadhrat 'A'ishah asked him about this and he answered: ‘It may be that these clouds are like those that had overcast the people of Ad. When they saw a cloud formation coming to their valley they said: ‘It is a cloud which would give us rain’. However, the cloud brought them a calamity.

Such was the deportment of the perfect man (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who had indeed been given countless promises by God. He was aware that no calamity would befall his life, in fact others were protected because of him. He was aware that the wickedness of any Dajjal (anti-Christ) was not going to avail against him, he also had the knowledge that wind and storms blew to his advantage, as it happened in battles of Badr and Ditch when stormy winds destroyed the enemy. Yet, he would feel concern. His anxiety was borne out of his immense compassion, as he was ‘Mercy for all the worlds’. His concern also stemmed from the fact that God does not need anyone or anything and he feared that the arrogance of people and their misconception of His power may destroy the whole nation. He had said that Surah Hud had aged him. Hudhur explained that Surah Hud relates destruction of nations. No one understood God’s Words more than the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), he was thus ever concerned that it was his responsibility that the Ummah should walk on the right path, as God has stated: ‘So stand thou upright, as thou hast been commanded, and also those, who have turned to God with thee; and exceed ye not the bounds,’ (11:113). Thus, the Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) concern was that the believers repented with sincerity. His anxiety over stormy clouds and winds was due to his disquiet lest bad deeds of believers invited calamity. Hudhur explained that here believers are enjoined that once they repent, they should follow the Prophet’s blessed model. For they should be mindful that God does not need anyone and they should not be like those who remembered God only in calamities and returned to their bad practices when troubled times were over. Hudhur said a true believer’s repentance should be real and constant. The Qur’an states: ‘And when waves engulf them like so many coverings, they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in faith; but when He brings them safe to land, then some of them take the right course. And none denies Our Signs save every perfidous and ungrateful person.’ (31:33).

Hudhur explained that a true believer continues to call on God after trouble is averted while the ungrateful get embroiled in bad ways. As the blessed model of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) demonstrated, true believers do not just fear God at the time of their own trouble, rather when affliction falls on others, it instils fear of God in them. Hudhur said whether the calamities be of the past or current times, if a true believer fears God through the bad ending of ancient people, how much more should the present disasters make one turn to God and fear Him. However, the majority attributes natural disasters to simply climatic changes and laws of nature. It is correct that natural disasters occur due to the laws of nature. Earthquakes happen when the earth’s plate tectonics move. It is correct that New Zealand, Japan and many islands are located on plate tectonics and that is why they experience more earthquakes. However, it is also noteworthy that the one commissioned by God in the current age foretold earthquakes.

Many years ago, during his Tabligh efforts, one of our missionaries in Ghana Mubasher sahib, was told by the local ulema (religious leaders/scholars) that earthquakes were one sign of the coming of the Mahdi and if his claim about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was truthful, then they wanted a sign of earthquake in their country. Earthquakes are not common in Ghana. The missionary sahib prayed and it so happened that an earthquake occurred in Ghana. This created a lot of restlessness among the Christians and many came into the fold of Ahmadiyya Islam and this sign became most renowned. Hudhur said we observe that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has indeed connected his advent with earthquakes and other natural disasters. Having being informed by God, he foretold that natural disaster would take place as a sign for him. He wrote: ‘Addressing me God Almighty said: ‘You are a warner on my behalf. I have sent you so that the guilty ones be separated from the righteous, ‘and He said, ‘A warner came unto the world but the world accepted him not, yet God will accept him and demonstrate his truthfulness with mighty onslaughts.’ And, ‘I shall bless thee, so much so that kings shall seek blessings from thy garments.’ And God informed me of another impending earthquake which would be of utmost severity and said: ‘Again the spring came and again the word of God was fulfilled.’ Thus another massive earthquake is bound to occur, but the righteous are safe from it. Be righteous, therefore, and fear God that you may be saved. Fear God today so that you may remain safe from the fear of that Day. It is inevitable for the heaven to show some sign for the earth to do likewise. But those who fear God shall be saved. God’s Word informed me that many calamities will occur and many disasters will descend on the earth – some during my life time and some after I have gone. And He will promote and advance this Jama’at to the full. A part of it will happen at my hands, and some after me.’ (The Will, pp. 3 – 5).

Hudhur said he has explained it before that the natural disasters that have occurred in the last 100 years have exceeded all previous records. God is repeatedly demonstrating these signs in different part of the world. Therefore, we should repeatedly keep this warning in view and strengthen our faith and take this message to the world.

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