Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I have learned that we should avoid places where a Divine punishment has struck before. For modern day, would that include not visiting places where the Tsunami had devastated the region? What would be avoid areas now?
Answer: In the Name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate
Thank you for your question. May Allah grant you the best of states and guide you to what is pleasing to Him.
VISITING PLACES WHERE DIVINE PUNISHMENT HAS DESCENDED
It is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were once passing by the place of the Thamud people. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Do not enter upon these people who are being punished, unless you are weeping. If you are not weeping then do not enter upon them, lest there befall you the like of what befell them. [al Bukhari, Muslim].
Al Haafiz Ibn Hajar further clarifies that, ‘This includes the dwellings of Thamud and others who were like them, even though the hadith refers specifically to the dwellings of Thamud. [Fath al-Baari]
It is easy for us today to not fully comprehend this warning. After all, the world has changed much, and these were ancient people, long gone from our memories and relegated to the annals of history and religious literature. But this is a mistake. We cannot afford to take the Prophet’s words lightly, the threat remains a reality; for we do not know in what way, or when, the affliction may befall us, if God willed it.
For these reasons, Muslims should not visit places where it is known that the Divine Punishment has descended purely for leisure and tourism purposes.
PLACES OF UNCERTAINTY
There are some places which are commonly believed to be a site where the Divine Punishment descended, but there is not absolute certainty that it is. An example of this is the Dead Sea, overwhelmingly held by scholars and Lay-Muslims alike, as the site where God’s punishment descended on Prophet Lut’s people (Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible). Indeed, the classic books of Tafsir do not specifically mention the Dead Sea as the place of destruction, though modern books of Tafsir do.
There is, however, strong reason to believe that the Dead Sea is directly connected to the destruction of Lut’s people, if not the exact site, and therefore one should avoid visiting it for leisure and tourism purposes. At best, it would be disliked to do so.
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE
Allah Most High tells us in the Qur’an, when informing us of the punishment that befell the people of Prophet Lut (peace and blessings be upon him), ‘And We have certainly left of it a sign as clear evidence for a people who use reason.’ [29.35]. Therefore, these places have been left as a sign for us to reflect upon and take heed. Imam Nawawi states, ‘Anyone passing by such places should be cautious, have fear, weep, and take admonition from them and their destruction, and should seek refuge in Allah from that.’ [Sharh Sahih Muslim]
Based on the above discussions, scholars have stated that if one visits such places with the intention of increasing one’s fear of God, to reflect, weep, take admonition from the destruction that befell transgressors and tyrants, and to turn to God in remembrance and humility, then this would be permissible.
PRODUCTS MADE FROM PLACES WHERE THE DIVINE PUNISHMENT HAS DESCENDED
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Companions stopped at al-Hijr, the land of Thamud, with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and they drew water from its wells and made dough with it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told them to throw away the water they had drawn from its wells. [al Bukhari]
It is clear from the hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not allow his companions to drink the well water due to the water source being from a place where Divine Punishment had descended. For this reason, products made from such places should not be purchased or used.
As for places where there is uncertainty, such as the Dead Sea, then as mentioned above, one should also not buy or use products sourced from it, and at the least, it would be disliked to do so.
NATURAL DISASTERS vs DIVINE PUNISHMENT
When natural disasters happen, it is not possible to know the reason behind their occurrence. Repeated sinners can be liable to punishment through afflictions, for Allah Most High tells us, ‘Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because on the things your hands have wrought’ [42.30]. While at same time, the most pious servants are often afflicted with misfortunes also. When asked which people are tested more severely, The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) answered that, ‘They are the Prophets, then the next best, then the next best.’ [al Tirmidhi].
On a very general level, we may look to the state of the person, or community, to get an idea of what is happening. The continual disobedience, heedlessness, and transgression of an individual or a people, or alternatively, the piety, god-fearing states, and good works of an individual or people, can be broad indicators to why certain calamities occur.
However, and most importantly, unless stated in the Qur’an, hadith, or verified by the census of the Muslim scholars, we should not pass any verdict or claim that a specific event is a Divine Punishment, or that specific people are being punished, for only Allah the Exalted knows the true nature of such matters. At worst, it is talking about what one does not have any knowledge of, and at best, it is passing judgement and insensitive to the suffering of others.
Instead, Muslims should provide both the faces, and places, of solace during times of calamity. In a world that is increasingly cold and filled with anger and hate, it is imperative that we, the Muslims, become the emblems of human empathy, care, and guidance, regardless of the reasons why things happen.
Therefore, the only beneficial things we can do, and indeed, the only factors we can be certain of during times of catastrophes is:
1. Know that they occur only through the permission of God, as Allah Most High tells us, ‘Misfortunes can only happen with God’s permission. [64.11]
2. Understand that adversities, punishment or not, natural disasters or man-made, are all a test from Allah and a chance to turn to Him and set things right. Depending on the scale and intensity, natural disasters that affect many people are a test and a lesson that requires groups, whole nations, or perhaps the whole of mankind to take heed and reflect.
3. Come to the aid of those who are suffering, if possible. The very least being making supplication for them, and this is possible for everyone. Tests or punishments are not just sent as a test for those directly affected by the misfortune, but actually a test for all of us who know about it. How do we react? What do we do to help? How concerned are we?
Lastly, we should also not overlook the fact that calamities come in various forms for different individuals and different nations. We are shocked by freak and violent extremes of nature as it overflows and destroys towns and cities, but we forget the continual affliction and suffering many endure in the form of disease, droughts, starvation, and wars.
VISITING AREAS WHERE NATURAL DISASTERS HAVE TAKEN PLACE
As for visiting areas where natural disasters have taken place, such as the areas where recent tsunamis or earthquakes have hit, these are not categorised in the same group of places we know, or strongly believe, to be sites of Divine Punishment.
As such, there is no dislike in visiting them. However, if one visited them with the intention of reflecting upon the Greatness of Allah, the unexpectedness of death, and to supplicate for those who suffered and died, then this would be praiseworthy.
AREAS TO AVOID TODAY
The areas to avoid today are no different to the areas that are well known as being sites on which the Divine Punishment befell people, such as Petra, Al Hijr, the Dead Sea etc.
Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah
Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.