In Arabic Calamity is known as al-kārīṡah which means a condition that is totally overwhelmed by huge problems. Other terms include jāāīha, hādīṡah means something that human’s dislike, such as mishap, distress, and disaster. Natural calamities, an undeniable fact of life, often attack unexpectedly and sharply, causing damage and other negative effects such as death, disability, loss of property, and livelihood. This understanding and these answers usually emerge as a description of the solution when people are presented with the question of what a calamity and they answer that it is Allah’s will. Natural Calamities can strike any country, community, or individual at any time. In Islamic perspective, disaster is considered as a destiny from Allah. In the Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Whatever hardship befalls you is because of what your own hands have committed, while He overlooks many (of your faults).” According to Islamic teachings, natural calamities can also be a warning from Allah to humans to immediately return to Him. In another verse of the Quran, Allah says “Thereafter, when they forgot the advice they were given, we opened for them doors of everything, so that when they became proud of what they were given, we seized them suddenly and they were left in despair.” (Surah Ash-Shuraa 42: 30) and (Surah Al-An’am 6:44). Allah’s warning in the form of calamities can also occur because humans have forgotten the living conditions, so people commit sin and disobedience without remembering. Therefore, Modern man is arrogant in his advancement in science and technology, believing that he has conquered nature with his knowledge.
“The Quran and Sunnah provide comprehensive instruction on all aspects of human life, including how to deal with all dangers and calamities”.
However, natural calamities like this remind him of his insignificance and powerlessness in the face of Almighty Allah. People deal with a variety of issues and circumstances in life. People must always respond to events in their lives patiently and change the circumstances for the better “All this is because Allah is not the one who may change a favour He has conferred on a people unless they change their own condition, and that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”(Al Quran). The preceding verse affirms that Allah’s rules and decrees concerning natural calamities faced by humans are based on Allah’s goodness and justice in order for them to remember and return to Allah’s command. The above explanation signifies that Allah is the Supreme and firmly executes fairness. Every natural event is often accompanied by Allah’s goodness and fairness. Prophet (SAW) stated in one of the Hadith “Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience.”(Al-Bukhari & Muslim) Calamity is a manifestation of Allah’s goodness and compassion for man. In his words, Allah says: Who, when a suffering (calamity) visits them, say: “We certainly belong to Allah, and to Him we are bound to return.” And so on. The Quran and Sunnah provide comprehensive instruction on all aspects of human life, including how to deal with all dangers and calamities.
