The living examples of people of Lot (Prophet Lut, peace be upon him) when the Divine wrath befell on them in form of burning rocks when they refused to give up their practice of homosexuality.
* You may read our previous post: Prophetic Supplication of Prophet Lot (Lut عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) when the revered prophets in desperation called upon his Lord to help him against the wicked
There have been other examples of defiance of prophets of Allah by people of Ad and Thamud who too were destroyed by the Divine wrath, And when the Divine wrath befalls, everyone, guilty or otherwise perishes.
This is the message contained in the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 92 Afflictions and the End of the World / كتاب الفتن / Chapter 19: If Allah sends a punishment upon a nation / باب إِذَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ عَذَابًا الْمَاءِ ) as Hadith 7108, given herein under:
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If Allah sends punishment upon a nation then it befalls upon the whole population indiscriminately and then they will be resurrected (and judged) according to their deeds. "
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي حَمْزَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ عَذَابًا، أَصَابَ الْعَذَابُ مَنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ، ثُمَّ بُعِثُوا عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمْ ".
The hadith highlights a concept related to collective punishment and individual accountability. This hadith is understood in the context of both the Qur'an and other Hadiths. Let’s break down its meaning and implications with supporting evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah.
1. Understanding Collective Punishment:
The hadith suggests that when Allah sends a punishment upon a nation, it can affect everyone within that community, regardless of whether they are righteous or wicked. This concept is echoed in various parts of the Qur'an.
- Qur'anic Evidence:
- In Surah Al-Anfal (8:25), Allah says: "And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty."
- This verse warns the believers to avoid actions that could lead to a punishment that affects everyone, not just the wrongdoers.
- This verse, along with the hadith, highlights the reality that when a society or nation collectively engages in wrongdoing or fails to prevent evil, Allah’s punishment may encompass the entire community. This serves as a warning to the believers to not be complacent or silent in the face of widespread corruption or immorality.
2. Individual Accountability After Death:
While the collective punishment might befall an entire community in this world, individual accountability remains in the Hereafter. The hadith states that despite the indiscriminate nature of worldly punishment, each person will be judged based on their own deeds after resurrection.
- Qur'anic Evidence:
- In Surah Al-Muddathir (74:38), Allah says: "Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained."
- Similarly, in Surah Al-Zalzalah (99:7-8), Allah says: "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."
- These verses clearly affirm that each individual will be judged according to their deeds, regardless of what punishment they may have faced in the world.
3. Supporting Hadiths:
- Another hadith reported by Imam Al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2168) and others mentions the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saying: "When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him, it is likely that Allah will punish them all."
This hadith emphasizes the responsibility of individuals within a community to prevent wrongdoing, reinforcing the idea that neglecting this duty may lead to collective punishment.
- In Sahih Bukhari, there is a hadith narrated by Zainab bint Jahsh: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to me in a state of fear and said, 'La ilaha illallah (there is no god but Allah)! Woe to the Arabs from the evil that has drawn near! Today a hole has been opened in the wall of Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) like this.' Then he made a circle with his thumb and index finger." She asked, "Shall we be destroyed even though there are righteous people among us?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "Yes, if evil increases."
This hadith reinforces the notion that even the presence of righteous people may not prevent collective punishment if the society as a whole engages in widespread corruption or evil.
4. Balancing the Concepts: The combination of these teachings highlights a balance in Islamic theology:
- Worldly Consequences: Communities and nations may face collective consequences for widespread wrongdoing.
- Individual Judgement: In the Hereafter, each person will be judged and rewarded or punished based on their individual actions, regardless of the collective punishment they faced in this life.
5. Practical Lessons:
- Active Participation in Good: The teachings encourage believers to actively promote good and prevent evil within their communities.
- Personal Piety and Responsibility: Even if a person lives in a corrupt society, they are encouraged to maintain their piety and trust that they will be judged fairly by Allah in the Hereafter.
The hadith thus underscores the dual aspects of collective punishment in this world and individual accountability in the Hereafter. While entire communities might suffer for collective wrongdoing, in the afterlife, each person will be judged according to their own deeds. This teaching emphasizes the importance of both communal responsibility and personal righteousness in Islam.
Let us not live in the fallacy of the notion that we have been absolved of the original sin any sin more sin that we will commit will be condoned automatically due to Divine mercy. Beware of such falsehood being spread and be ready to face the consequences of all sins committed individually and be ready to be taken to task on the Day of Judgment. Qur'an and Hadiths warn us in very plain and open words to save ourselves from sinning, and if we do not repent and seek Divine Forgiveness while we are alive, then be ready to face a very harsh punishment in the life of the Hereafter.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above and explanation augmented by ChatGPT. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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