Natural disasters in Islam: between divine punishment and a test, how science and religion differ

Mohamed Shafeen, Mohamed Ashath (2025) Natural disasters in Islam: between divine punishment and a test, how science and religion differ. Islamicity, NA (NA). pp. 1-2.

PDF - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

In recent days, the people of Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia have witnessed frightening scenes of rising floods, collapsing slopes, overflowing rivers, and deadly landslides. Families have lost homes, roads have been washed away, farmers have seen their fields destroyed, and thousands have been displaced. While science reports these events as the result of heavy rainfall, unstable soil, climate change, and rapid urban development, many people naturally turn to their religious traditions for comfort and explanation. In these moments of fear and uncertainty, religion and science become two important windows through which societies understand the world around them. This essay examines natural disasters from an Islamic perspective, exploring the concepts of divine punishment and divine testing. Natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides, wildfires, have shaped human experience since the beginning of time. They disrupt societies, take lives, and shake our sense of security. For believers, these events also raise deep theological questions: Why does God allow suffering? Are natural disasters divine punishment or a test? In the modern world, science explains disasters using natural laws, while religion places them within a moral and spiritual framework. Islam offers a balanced perspective that embraces both realities.

Item Type:	Article (Bulletin)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP160 General works on Islam
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr Mohamed Ashath
Date Deposited:	08 Jan 2026 16:01
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2026 16:01
Queue Number:	2026-01-Q1591
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/126783

Actions (login required)

View Item