Corruption in Land & Sea Deeds Have Consequences

Allah ﷻ says in Surah Ar Rum

ظَهَرَ ٱلۡفَسَادُ فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ أَيۡدِي ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعۡضَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

Corruption has spread on land and sea as a result of what people’s hands have done, so that Allah may cause them to taste ˹the consequences of˺ some of their deeds and perhaps they might return ˹to the Right Path˺.

[30:41]

Ibn Kathir mentioned two opinions regarding this in his Tafsir:

1. Widespread Hardship like Famine and Drought.

2. The Killing of the Sons of Adam on land and Piracy.

This Trial and Punishment that occurs is because of Disobedience to Allah ﷻ. Abu Al-`Aliyah said: Whoever disobeys Allah in the earth has corrupted it, because the good condition of the earth and the heavens depends on obedience to Allah.

لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْض الَّذِى عَمِلُواْ

that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done

Means, He tries them with the loss of wealth, souls and fruits as a test and as a punishment for what they have done.

لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

that perhaps they will return.

Means, from disobedience.

This is like the Ayah

وَبَلَوْنَـٰهُمْ بِالْحَسَنَـتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

And We tried them with good and evil in order that they might turn

[7:168]

سبحان الله

Look how Allah ﷻ answers that Question people ask.

"Why does this all happen, all the chaos around the world?"

Here is your answer!

The collective disobedience from the people has brought upon themselves Trial and Punishment!

We lack Obedience to Allah, We lack an Eagerness to follow Allah and His Messenger ﷺ in every single matter.

Those who came before us submitted totally to Allah ﷻ and that is why they were victorious.

We who exist today don't do this and that is why we are humiliated.

We must start following Islam to the letter only then will we see victory.

The change should come within ourselves. As Allah ﷻ says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمۡۗ

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.

[13:11]

May Allah ﷻ grant us forgiveness. 

 آمِيْن

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This text is one of the many fatwa (answers to questions based on authentic Islamic provisions) that are made available by a WhatsApp group, HIKIMOMIN MALAMAN SUNNAH (THE PHILOSOPHIES OF SUNNI SCHOLARS).