Q wrote: Nay Samiya, you were right before that Allah warns of punishment beforehand but the people aren't wise enough to take notice of long STANDING warnings and keep on doing excesses to the mankind. Didn't Allah say, whosoever isn't in the rememberance of Allah, he is caught unawares because Allah doesn't guide the fasiqs, the excessers.
People killed in accidents, clamities etc. unawares are of 2 catagories. One, the fasiqs who are punished and two, the muslims who, Allah rewards them by shortening their worldly life.
Non Muslims think that the muslims killed in the forced wars on them or in clamities is a punishment. Let them be wandering in their skewed understanding.
My Response: I understand it a little differently: firstly, divine punishment in this world is different from the reward / punishment to be given after death. What you refer to and explain is the reward / punishment that is to occur after this life ends, while what I was explaining was the form of punishment which comes to a nation from Allah after clear warnings by Allah's messengers to desist from extreme corruption.
In this world, Allah has inscribed the rule of mercy upon Himself, while He has postponed judgement, reward and punishment for the Hereafter:
Say, "To whom (belongs) what (is) in the heavens and the earth?" Say, "To Allah." He has decreed upon Himself the Mercy. Surely He will assemble you on (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, (there is) no doubt about it. Those who have lost themselves, then they (do) not believe. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/12/ ]
Only extreme corruption is punished in this world, and that also is an act of mercy for the rest of mankind.
Corruption is criminal, and the extreme form of corruption is corrupting creation. According to my study of the verses pertaining to past civilisations, each of the punished civilisation had scientifically advanced to the point where they were indulging in corrupting the human genetically. We are again at the brink of such advancement in scientific technology. You may wish to search online the following terms: Eugenics, Transhumanism, Posthuman, Posthumanism; they promise a utopian superbeing who will no longer be 'human'.
Quran 30:30 is very clear that the 'fitrat' of humans must not be changed:
So set your face to the religion upright. Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. That (is) the religion the correct, but most men (do) not know. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/30/30/ ]
As mentioned in Surah Taha, Adam also attempted to change creation when Iblis suggested Immortality and A Kingdom that Never Decays:
Then whispered to him Shaitaan, he said, "O Adam! Shall I direct you to (the) tree (of) the Eternity and a kingdom not (that will) deteriorate?" [http://islamawakened.com/quran/20/120/ ]
Each of the stories mentioned in the Quran are meant to remind, warn and guide us. They are all relevant to us, and the relevance grows as our scientific and technological ability increases:
Do they not travel through the land and see how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier (in) strength and impressions in the land, but not availed them what they used to earn. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/82 ]
The beast / dajjal / anti-christ will be the outcome of ignoring these warnings:
And when (is) fulfilled the word against them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them, that the people were, of Our Signs, not certain. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/27/82/ ]
The believers in the scriptures, and especially we Muslims, need to shed our mantles of arrogance and ignorance, wake up to our responsibility, educate ourselves, and share the message with the world:
You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/110/ ]
I have explained the above in some detail in the following blogposts:
Mission of the Messengers:
Part II: Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective
Part IV: Balance & Guidance
Part V: Crime & Punishment
Which means that Allah permits lesser corruption! Am I wrong?
My Response: Allah permits us to purify or corrupt ourselves, and we are promised justice and recompense in the Hereafter.
However, in this world, when human corruption tends to upset the Balance, corrective measures are taken to restore it. Messengers warn the people, and after being given enough time to repent and reform, divine punishment is executed.
MSA asked: "However, in this world, when human corruption tends to upset the Balance, corrective measures are taken to restore it."
Allah waits for humans to upset the "Balance," and when it becomes "extremes, only then He reacts. Is it not what you are telling us and others as well?
My Response: This world is a place of trial to establish who are worthy of the Gardens (Jan-naat). In this world, we are given freedom of choice within certain limits. However, when our foolishness exceeds to a point where it aims to make humans extinct, divine intervention becomes necessary. Its a Most Merciful Lord to whom we owe gratitude for making it possible to live a life in this world, and it is He who lovingly invites us to earn His forgiveness and blessings for an eternity of bliss in the Gardens that are promised:
Extract from http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/10/creation.html :
Size of the Garden
The reward will vary in accordance with the quality of faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in 57:21 and 3:133, and as stated in 8:4 below. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 57:21, Translator: Shakir] Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers; that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 3:133, Translator: Shakir] And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil)
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 8:4, Translator: Shakir] These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades and forgiveness and an honorable sustenance.
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