Earth, Water, Wind and Fire; these very elements, necessary for the survival of man, can become a means of destruction when disobedience to Allah subhaaahu wata’ala becomes widespread.

His Power and Might shakes the earth and splits it open. Tall, seemingly indestructible buildings are swallowed up without a trace left on the earth. A cooling, gentle breeze turns into a destructive tornado or hurricane smashing everything in its path, overturning huge vehicle as though they were mere toys. A small fire can begin a journey, and rage for miles destroying everything in its path. Calm waters turn into raging tsunamis or floods wreaking havoc in surrounding areas.

Yet these same elements which we see so often nowadays as a means of destruction can be subservient to man when obedience to his Creator is prevalent as was the case in the time of the Companions of our Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam.

At one time during the rule of Ameerul Mu’mineen ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab RA there was an earthquake and ‘Umar RA while praising Allah subhaanahu wata’ala, struck a whip on the ground and said, “Oh Earth, be calm! Have I not ruled upon you justly?” The earthquake immediately subsided.

Again during the rule of ‘Umar RA, when Egypt was conquered, the Governor of Egypt found that the Egyptians had a custom where they would sacrifice a young virgin girl by throwing her into the River Nile without which they said it would not flow. The Governor wrote to ‘Umar RA who sent back two letters, one for the Governor instructing him to throw the second letter into the River Nile. The letter was addressed to the River Nile and said, “If you flow at your own will and discretion, then we are not in need of you, and if you flow upon the order of Allah the One and Almighty – and He is the One Who causes you to flow - then I ask Allah to make you flow.” The letter was thrown into the river and by morning it had begun to flow.

One day ‘Umar RA was delivering a sermon when suddenly to the surprise of those present he said three times, “Oh Saariyah, (take the refuge of) the mountain!” Now Saariyah RA had been sent out with an army and he was not present in Madinah. Upon his return when ‘Umar RA asked for an account, he said that they had been facing defeat when suddenly a voice was heard advising them to take refuge in the mountain, which they did and thereby gained victory over the enemy.

On another occasion a fire had broken out at a place called Harrah and ‘Umar RA instructed a Companion to extinguish the fire to which he replied that how could he? ‘Umar RA insisted and they both walked towards the fire. The Companion Tameem ad-Daari RA began “gathering” the fire with his bare hands and pursued it in this manner until the fire retreated back to its source.

The elements which we see today as means of mass destruction were in the “control” of the Companions RA by the will of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala as they led lives in total accordance with the commands of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala.

Adapted from the editorial by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah) in “Riyaadul Jannah” a monthly publication of Islamic Da’wah Academy...
An inspiring talk in urdu on the subject by our respected Shaykh:
“Annasir-e-‘Arba’a Insaan ke taabe kaise?” (U373)