When you ask your friend the question “Hey man how’s the weather there?” you expect an answer of either, “It’s beautiful” or “It’s pretty cold” or “It’s burning hot”, like the summer in Iraq lol.

Normally when we think of weather we think of calm nice weather, but if you look at what’s happened recently in Indonesia, it’s not too nice nor calm.

Over 1200 people were killed after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and Tsunami hit the Southeastern Asian country last Friday. Thousands of homes and shops destroyed as the survivals look for their family and friends under the rubble.

Truly a devastating natural disaster and our prayers go to the victims and their families.

Now in this article we will talk about natural disasters.

Can we do anything to prevent them?

Some say yes we can reduce the death toll and damage if we prepare by building stronger houses and on solid ground.

While other say no because it may be considered a punishment by God and there is no way out of it.
 

A natural disaster is a major event caused by the natural processes of the Earth including extreme weather. Examples include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and other geologic processes.

Many natural disasters are profoundly destructive. They leave in their wake a trail of injury, death, loss of lives, property damage and economic loss.

Now what are the effects of natural disasters?

• Loss of life.
• Injury to human Being.
• Damage and destruction of property.
• Damage and destruction of production.
• Disruption of lifestyle.
• Loss of livelihood.
• Disruption of essential services.
• Damage to national infrastructure like, Road, Railway, Bridge, Port.
• Disruption of government systems.
• National economic loss.
• Sociological and psychological after effect.
   

How do we judge the scale of the disaster?

• Available lead time
• Intensity of hazard
• Duration
• Spatial extent
• Density of population & assets
• Time of occurrences
   

If you’re wondering about the deadliest natural disaster in history, it is the Central China floods of 1931. Contemporary government numbers put the number of dead at around 2 million, but others, including NOAA, say it may have been as many as 3.7 million people.

Different types of natural disasters include floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, landslides, fires, tsunamis.

Because of its geographic location, Vanuatu is the world’s most at-risk country for natural hazards, according to a UN University World RiskIndex.

Now the safest country in the world is Qatar. EM-DAT, a catalog of more than 11,000 major natural disasters, has no record of fatal floods, droughts, earthquakes, or severe storms in Qatar from 1900 to 2009.

Now technology has advanced and geologists can predict when the next natural disaster will occur and its severity.

Now let’s say your area is on the list, God forbid, don’t worry #LNT has got your back, let’s go through ways to protect yourself when a natural disaster hits.
 

Earthquake

Crawl under a sturdy table and cover your face and head with your arms. Stay away from windows. If you become trapped under debris, cover your mouth with a cloth or shirt, and tap against a pipe or other object to make noise. (Don't yell for help unless you have to; you risk inhaling dangerous quantities of dust.) If you are able, leave the building once the shaking stops--aftershocks can bring down a structure compromised by the initial quake. Finally, if you're outside during the quake, steer clear of buildings and utility wires.

Tornado

Seek refuge in a basement or go to an emergency shelter. As a last resort, stay on the lowest floor of your home. If you're in a car as a tornado approaches, get out and seek shelter indoors. If you're caught in the open, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head with your hands.

Flood

Move to higher ground immediately--don't wait to gather belongings. In any flood, avoid downed power lines and moving water. Six inches of moving water can make a pedestrian fall, while a foot will float most vehicles.

Hurricane

Move to an interior room and close all doors.
 

These methods MAY help protect you but can you really prevent a natural disaster?
 

Most people believe that natural disasters occur merely due to the natural processes of the Earth, but that’s not quite true.
 

Now let’s look at it from an Islamic point of view.

Natural disasters are warnings for those who are sinners. This fact has also been elaborated in the holy Quran.

“And verily, We will make them taste the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities, etc.) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam).” (As-Sajdah 32:21)

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (2:155)
 

Let’s mention some worthy incidents recorded in history books about how Allah brought these warnings in forms of natural disasters.
 

Tribe of Prophet Noah:
The tribe of Prophet Noah practiced polytheism and didn’t regard his message. As a result, they had to face flood as punishment. A brief description of the event is as follow:
“So We opened the gates of heaven with water pouring forth. And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs. So the waters (of the heaven and the earth) met for a matter predestined. And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, floating under Our eyes, a reward for him who had been rejected! And indeed, We have left this as a sign, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)? Then how (terrible) was My torment and My warnings? (54:9-16)
 

2. Tribe of Ad:

The people of Ad also practiced polytheism and rejected their messenger Hod. They used to claim that they were the super power.

“As for 'Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.” (41:16)

They were punished by Allah by a windstorm. 

3. People of Sodom:
The people of Sodom indulged in homosexuality. Prophet Lot invited them to the right path but they did not refrain from their bad habit; as a result Allah rained them down with a rain of stones.
 

4. Pharaoh:
Pharaoh was disobedient to Allah and denied the clear signs brought to him by Prophet Moses. He was afflicted by Allah from time to time but he did not reform himself. As a result, he was finally caught by Allah and drowned. 
 

Now to the best of our ability how can we be safe from afflictions including natural disasters?

The Messenger of Allah says: “Charity prevents the misfortunes.”

Imam Sajjad says: “Supplication prevents the misfortunes.”

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, stresses on charity and maintaining the ties of kinship.

The Prophet described any affliction that afflicts the believer, whether minor or major, even the thorn that goes in your feet is a type of expiating the sin. Basically, Allah wants to forgive the sinner at the moment so he afflicts him with an affliction in this world as it is much better for him than the one after.

The hadeeth says: .

“So the affliction does not leave the slave until it leaves him walking on the earth, and there is no sin on him.”

God’s afflictions elevate the status of the believers and the most people that were afflicted are the prophets and then the righteous.

Scholars says that the afflictions fall on the prophets to multiply their good deeds, and to be role models for the believers after them in their patience.

But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.” (29:3)
 

When we read the holy Quran and Hadiths thoroughly, we can conclude three points:
1. Natural disasters are a type of expiating the sins of the disbelievers.
2. Natural disasters are a warning for the sinners.
3. Natural disasters are test for the believers.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that whenever a natural disaster does occur, Salat Al-Ayat is mandatory.Instruction on how to pray Salat Al-Ayat can be found online.