Seven Lessons from the Melbourne Earthquake Today 22/9/21

When the earth is shaken with her (violent) shaking. And the earth brings forth her burdens. And man says, “What is it with it?” (Qur’an, 99:1–3)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, who holds the heavens and the earth lest they cease.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا

Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. (35:41)

The earthquake today are no doubt a reminder, so the intelligent person pays heed to it and takes lessons and derives benefits.

فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ

So take a lesson, O people of beholdings! (59:2)

Here are seven lessons from the Melbourne earthquake today

1. Death can come any time.

Dear reader, death does not come announced. It comes when Allah wills for it. So be prepared for it.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ

Frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures. (Tirmizi, 2307, Hasan — Darussalam)

2. Do not Feel Safe from Allah’s plan

Dear reader, do not become complacent of Allah’s punishment. Fear it and be on guard.

أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah ? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the people (who) are the losers. (7:99)

3. Flee to Allah

Dear reader, this is a reminder to flee to Allah, leave His disobedience, and go to the obedience of Allah and the path of righteousness.

فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

So flee to Allah . Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner. (51:50)

It is a reminder to seek His forgiveness, and turn back to Him in repentance.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا

O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. (66:8)

4. Save Yourself and Your Families

Dear reader, when earthquake strikes, we want our family and loved ones to be saved. Just like that, try to save them from Allah’s disobedience and anger.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones (66:6)

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا

And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. (20:132)

5. Put Allah First

Dear reader, no other gods can help us in times of this dire need. The people, job, commitments, and anything else we put before Allah, they vanish from us in times of our real need.

Put Allah first, and make your religion sincere for Him.

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah , [being] sincere to Him in religion… (98:5)

The One who answers you in times of difficulty is worthy of being worshipped in times of ease.

Others who cannot help you when you really need it are not worthy of being put before Allah.

6. Allah is Merciful

Dear reader, had Allah wished He could have wiped us out because of our misdeeds. But He gives us chances, and time. He is truly Merciful and Forbearing. Love Him for that!

7. Reminder of the Day of Judgement

Dear reader, the earthquake is a strong reminder of Judgement day and the end.

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا
وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا
وَقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا
يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا
بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ

When the earth is shaken with her (violent) shaking,
And the earth brings forth her burdens,
And man says, “What is it with it?”
That Day, it will report her news
Because your Lord has inspired her.
That Day, people will go forward in different groups to be shown their deeds.
So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it,
And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. (Surah Zalzalah, 99)