The Reality of Earthquakes Through the Lens of the Quran

The earthquake is one of the signs of Allah. The Quran reminds us of this great event. Sometimes it is a warning, other times a harbinger of the Day of Judgment. These tremors are a means of contemplation that turn our hearts towards our Lord. Let us try to understand these divine messages together.

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إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا

Iżā zulzilati-l-arḍu zilzālahā

“When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake.”

(Surah Al-Zilzal, Verse 1)

The Great Harbinger of The Day of Judgment: Surah Al-Zilzal

Assalamu alaykum, my brothers and sisters.

Whenever we hear news of a tremor, whenever we feel how truly unstable the ground beneath our feet is, a shudder runs through our hearts. In that very moment of trembling, one of the first things that comes to our minds and hearts is undoubtedly the 99th chapter of the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Zilzal. In this surah, our Lord informs us not merely of a worldly earthquake, but of the final, ultimate tremor that will disrupt the order of the entire universe.

The surah begins by directly depicting the moment of Qiyamah (the Day of Resurrection). On that day, the earth will be shaken in a way it has never been shaken before. It will expel all its “burdens”—the minerals, the treasures, and most importantly, the dead—like a pregnant woman laying down her load (Al-Qurtubi, al-Jāmi’ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān). Stunned by the terror of that moment, humankind will cry out, “What is happening to it?” And on that day, the earth itself will bear witness to every good and every evil deed committed upon it.

Just imagine, the very ground we walk upon, the soil upon which we prostrate in prayer or commit a sin, will be given voice by the permission of our Lord on the Day of Gathering and will speak… This reality is one of the greatest lessons Surah Al-Zilzal reminds us of. Every earthquake we experience is, in fact, a rehearsal, a reminder of that great “Zilzal.”

A Divine Warning and a Sign of Power

Although the geological causes of earthquakes are explained by science, for a Muslim, there is a divine wisdom and message behind every event. Not a single leaf falls without His permission (Surah Al-An’am, 59). Earthquakes, too, are clear signs of Allah’s power and majesty. At any moment He wills, our Lord can shake our most trusted refuge—the very ground beneath our feet—like a cradle. This truth is expressed in Surah Al-An’am as follows:

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلٰٓى اَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَاباً مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ اَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ اَرْجُلِكُمْ

Qul Huwa-l-Qādiru ‘alā an yab’atha ‘alaykum ‘adhāban min fawqikum aw min taḥti arjulikum

“Say, ‘He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet…'”

(Surah Al-An’am, Verse 65)

The commentators of the Quran have interpreted the affliction “from beneath your feet” as disasters like earthquakes and the earth swallowing people up (Al-Razi, Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb). This verse reminds us how helpless we are before the command of our Lord, “Be!”, no matter how much we boast of our technology and our buildings. This is not to frighten, but to warn; it is an invitation to awaken from heedlessness and to know our place before His infinite power.

A Lesson From The Past: Tremors as a Cause of Destruction

The Holy Quran does not only offer warnings about the future but also provides lessons for us by narrating the events that befell past nations. Some communities that denied their prophets and persisted in injustice and immorality were destroyed by severe earthquakes.

The tragic end of the people of Madyan, who rejected Prophet Shu’ayb (peace be upon him) and threatened to expel him and the believers from their city, is described in Surah Al-A’raf:

فَاَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَاَصْبَحُوا ف۪ي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِم۪ينَۚ

Fa’akhadhat-humu-r-rajfatu fa’aṣbaḥū fī dārihim jāthimīn(a)

“So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.”

(Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 91)

The word “rajfah” means a violent tremor that makes hearts tremble. Due to their arrogance and rebellion, their homes became their graves in an instant (Ibn Kathir, al-Bidāyah wa-al-Nihāyah). These stories teach us that injustice and disobedience to Allah do not go unpunished and that divine justice will prevail, sooner or later.

The Stance of a Believer In The Face of Tremors

So, when the earth shakes, how should a believer’s heart shake, and what should their stance be? Islam commands us to have both precaution and trust (tawakkul). Of course, it is our duty to build our structures soundly and take scientific precautions. But the real test begins in our hearts.

1. Self-Assessment and Repentance: Every calamity is an opportunity to question ourselves. We should ask, “Where am I going wrong? What is my relationship with my Lord?” and sincerely repent for our sins.
2. Patience and Trust (Tawakkul): To be patient in the face of adversity instead of complaining is one of the greatest signs of faith. After taking all precautions, leaving the outcome to Allah—that is, having tawakkul—brings peace to the heart.
3. Supplication (Dua) and Seeking Refuge: Our greatest weapon is dua. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised us to seek refuge in Allah in the face of hardships and calamities. How meaningful is this supplication he taught us:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ، وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ

Allāhumma innī a’ūdhu bika min zawāli ni’matik, wa taḥawwuli ‘āfiyatik, wa fujā’ati niqmatik, wa jamī’i sakhaṭik.

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the withdrawing of Your blessing, and the passing of Your safety, and the suddenness of Your vengeance, and all of Your wrath.”

(Muslim, Dhikr, 96)

With this dua, we seek refuge in His infinite mercy not only from earthquakes but from every situation that could incur His wrath.

Final Word

My brothers and sisters, just as earthquakes are a reality of the earth, they are also a reality of this world of trials. They are not meant to instill fear, but to awaken. Every tremor shouts to us how transient this world is and how near the Hereafter is. Our duty is to let these tremors shake our hearts, to increase our prostrations, and to live our lives in a way that we can easily account for on the day of the greatest tremor.

May our Lord protect us and the entire Ummah of Muhammad from all calamities, seen and unseen. May He keep our feet and our hearts firm on His path. Ameen.

Bibliography

• Al-Qurtubi, Abū ‘Abdillāh Muḥammad b. Aḥmad. al-Jāmi’ li-Aḥkām al-Qur’ān.
• Al-Razi, Fakhr al-Din. Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb (Tafsīr al-Kabīr).
• Ibn Kathir, Abū al-Fidā’ ‘Imād ad-Dīn Ismā‘īl b. ‘Umar. al-Bidāyah wa-al-Nihāyah (The Beginning and the End).
• Muslim, Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim b. al-Ḥajjāj. Sahih Muslim.
• Yazır, Muhammed Hamdi. Hak Dini Kur’an Dili.