The Phenomenon of Earthquakes

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Conformity of the Prophet’s speech with the reality of earthquakes:

In his book of Prophetic Hadith Al-Bukhari narrated on authority of Abu Hurairah that Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), said:
“The Hour shall not come until knowledge has been lifted (from the Earth), earthquakes has increased, time has become shortened, troubles have appeared, turmoil, which is murder, has increased, and until wealth amongst you has increased and become abundant.”
[Al-Bukhari (989)]
Every now and then, we hear that an earthquake has taken place in a certain country or part of the world. Sometimes earthquakes are powerful enough to claim the lives of a great many people. The number and strength of such earthquakes verify the above Prophetic Hadith, which is not out of Prophet Muhammad’s invention but rather true Divine Revelation from his Lord, Allah, All-Mighty. In other words, such earthquakes are but exemplars of the Great Quake of the Day of Judgment, which Allah, All-Mighty, promises in His Divine Book, the Holy Quran, in which Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the Quake of the Hour is indeed a terrible thing!” [XXII; 1]

Scientific interpretation of the word “Quake”:

The Earth is the greatest planet of the Solar System in density, for its density is five times greater than that of water. Scientists explain earthquakes as movements inside the Earth’s interior, which produce an immense pressure that causes the Earth’s crust to crack. Earthquakes about which we hear all over the world every now and then manifest such cracking in the Earth’s crust. The Earth’s crust is more than 90 km’s thick and is made up of basalt rocks, which are the hardest of all kinds of rocks. Nevertheless, it cracks due to the enormous pressure that comes from the Earth’s interior. This reminds us of Allah’s Infinite Divine Power. He, All-Mighty, says,
“Verily, Allah is the All-Provider the Owner of Power, the Most Strong.” [LI; 58]
Earthquakes in history:

Scientists of geology reported that an earthquake took place in China in 1556 claiming the lives of more than 830,000 people in just a few seconds. Another earthquake took place in India in 1737, killing at least 180,000 people. In 1923, an earthquake took place in Japan, killing 100,000 people. In 1976, an earthquake happened in China, claiming the lives of 100,000 people. And another earthquake took place in Italy, killing 35,000 people in just a few seconds. In this context, Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the Earthquake of the Hour is a terrible thing!” [XXII; 1]
A distinguished geologist confirmed that despite the great advance in human science and technology, it is not possible for mankind to foretell the occurrence of an earthquake, even 15 minutes before its occurrence. Nevertheless, animals can pre-sense an earthquake 15 minutes before its occurrence. This is because animals are not religiously obliged like human beings and, therefore, earthquakes do not mean them. To this effect, Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“Truly, We did offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its responsibilities).” [XXXIII; 72]

Interpretation of Al-Zalzalah Sura:

Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“When the Earth is shaken its (final) earthquake,” [XCIX; 1]

The word “is shaken” here means that it is made to shake so violently and strongly, that it is made to lose its balance and is made to quake its final, greatest and most horrible earthquake, after which there will be no more earthquakes because the Hour is come. The earthquakes that we witness in this present world are but exemplars of that Final Quake which will happen when the Hour is come.
“…and when the Earth throws out its (heavy) burdens,” [ibid; 2]
The word “burden” here means mankind, who are obliged to observe the precepts of religion and who have been created for Paradise, whose width is as great as the heavens and the earth, simply because they have accepted to shoulder the burden of Divine Trust and, therefore, Allah, All-Mighty, has subjected for them all that is in the heavens and the earth and made them His Vicegerents on the Earth. If their minds overcome their desires and caprices, they prosper and excel angels in holiness and purity, but if their desires and caprices dominate over their minds, they become lower than brute animals.
“…and when man says: ‘What’s the matter with it?’,” [ibid; 3]
This is because man will be greatly bewildered and frightened.
“On that Day, it (the Earth) will declare its information (about all that happened on it of good or evil deeds).” [Ibid; 4]
The Earth will speak, in one way or another, about all that mankind did on it of good or evil deeds.
“(This is) because your Lord will have inspired it (to do so).” [Ibid; 5]
Allah, All-Mighty, will command the Earth and enable it to speak in one way or another.
“That Day, mankind will proceed individually,” [ibid; 6]
They will proceed individually and one by one. There will be no congregations, no groupings, no alliances, no coalitions, no hegemony, no arrogance, and no support for falsehood. To this effect, Allah, All-Mighty, says,
“This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn.” [XXXVI; 65]
“…that they may be shown their deeds.” [XCIX; 6],
i.e. whatever such deeds might be.

“So, whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it;” [ibid; 7]
“…and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.” [ibid; 8]
They will be most accurately and justly recompensed for their deeds: good for good and evil for evil. In this context, it is worth mentioning that after a very costly and long study, geologists found out that earthquakes are strongly linked to volcanoes, for an earthquake is sometimes caused by the movement of magma and its pressure on the Earth’s crust, and sometimes, an earthquake brings about a volcano. Geologists also found out that magma is of great density, i.e. it weighs heavily; and when a geologist once read Allah’s Words,“When the Earth is shaken its (final) earthquake, and when the Earth throws out its (heavy) burdens,…” he was greatly astonished.
Such linkage between earthquakes and volcanoes is clearly seen in the above-mentioned Quranic Verses, which gives crystal clear evidence that Allah, All-Mighty, Creator of all worlds, is the One Who revealed the Holy Quran to His Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad, (PBUH). Such is a Manifest Fact! Allah, All-Mighty, Who created one hundred thousand million galaxies, and Who created innumerable stars, planets, moons, meteors, comets, and shooting stars, is the One Who sent down the Holy Quran. Therefore, we should know who sent down the Holy Quran. Undoubtedly, it is Allah’s Message to mankind. It is the Word of Allah, Creator of all things, Whose Words are as superior to His slaves’ words as He is to His slaves.
It is indeed a great Blessing to wake up in the morning and find the earth stable and balanced. Such a Blessing is best perceived when one witnesses a horrible earthquake that makes the Earth heave. Allah, Most Gracious, calls our attention to such Blessing:

“Is not He (Allah) Who has made the Earth as a stable abode?!” [XXXVII; 61]
Without such stability no building could ever remain on the Earth’s surface. Allah, All-Mighty, calls our attention to a frightening fact, saying,

“And (I swear by) the Earth with clefts!” [LXXXVI; 12],
just as He says,

“And We send not the Signs except to warn and frighten.” [XVII; 59]
So, be obedient and dutiful to your Lord, Allah, All-Mighty, lest such horrible Divine Signs as earthquakes should visit you!
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Creations