Is it necessary to describe every action of Allah as wise, such as His action of destroying a village with an earthquake, even though all His actions are actions of perfection?
The essence of the question revolves around the wisdom behind Allah's actions, His decree and destiny, which may appear as evil to some people, yet in reality are pure good due to the profound wisdom Allah possesses therein. The ultimate answer lies in submission and acknowledgment that Allah is All-Wise and does nothing إلا وله فيه أتم الحكمة (except that He has the most perfect wisdom in it). The problem may arise from a person's desire to encompass Allah's wisdom. As for earthquakes, Allah has profound wisdom in them, such as demonstrating His power, the weakness of His servants, destroying the oppressors, and instilling fear in believers to prompt repentance. Ibn Taymiyyah stated that earthquakes are among the signs by which Allah frightens His servants, and Ibn al-Qayyim held that they are a consequence of sins. There are hadiths and narrations from the Companions and their successors indicating that earthquakes occur due to sins, and that they are an admonition and mercy for believers, and a punishment and torment for disbelievers. The righteous and children may perish in them, but they will be resurrected according to their intentions, and their demise will be a relief for them from the toil of this world, and death in such circumstances is a form of martyrdom.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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