Anyone who contemplates and thinks deeply about why blessings are withdrawn and afflictions and curses are brought about will certainly realize their causes. Disbelieving in Allah The Almighty and committing numerous sins and crimes as well as being far from the path of Allah The Almighty and being an enemy to His allies and Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, are among the major reasons behind this.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And how many a city was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment. And it tasted the bad consequence of its affair, and the outcome of its affair was loss. Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment; so fear Allah, O you of understanding who have believed.} [Quran 65:8-10]
· {And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah . So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing. And there had certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.} [Quran 16:112-113]
· {There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord." But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees. [By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?} [Quran 36:15-17]
As for the people of Nooh (Noah), Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the people of Nooh - when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment.} [Quran 25:37]
As for the people of ‘Aad, the likes of whom had never been created in the land, Allah The Almighty granted them huge and healthy bodies, and great sustenance, but they were arrogant. What was the consequence of what they did? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {As for ‘Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs. So We sent upon them a screaming wind during days of misfortune to make them taste the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more disgracing, and they will not be helped.} [Quran 41:15-16]
Allah The Almighty sent them a barren wind. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And in ‘Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind. It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.} [Quran 51: 41-42]
· {And as for ‘Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind. Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.} [Quran 69:6-7]
Thamood, who carved out the rocks in the valley and to whom Allah showed the right path, preferred blindness over guidance. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And as for Thamood, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.} [Quran 41:17]
Allah The Almighty sent them Prophet Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, and the she-camel; that used to drink one day and they used to drink its milk the other day, but they killed it and denied the bounties of Allah The Almighty. They disbelieved Prophet Saalih, may Allah exalt his mention, and the most wretched of them was sent forth and killed her, so Allah The Almighty destroyed them. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {When the most wretched of them was sent forth. And the Messenger of Allah [Saalih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink." But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them]. And He does not fear the consequence thereof.}[Quran 91:12-14]
About Pharaoh, owner of the stakes, who increased corruption, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And increased therein the corruption. So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.} [Quran 89:12-13]
Pharaoh transgressed and wronged people despite the fact that he had the kingdom of Egypt and rivers were flowing beneath him. He enjoyed having treasures and an honorable station, but he and his soldiers were arrogant in the land, without right, so what happened to them?
He was arrogant with the Prophets and said what Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"O my people, does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me; then do you not see? Or am I [not] better than this one who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?} [Quran 43:51-52]
The Almighty also Says:
· {And said, "I am your most exalted Lord."} [Quran 79:24]
· {And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me.} [Quran 28:38]
He strove throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. He slaughtered children, expelled men and kept women alive in order to use them. What happened to him after all this denial and stubbornness? Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning. They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one exalted in might and perfect in ability.} [Quran 54:41-42]
· {And there came Pharaoh and those before him and the overturned cities with sin. And they disobeyed the Messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a seizure exceeding [in severity].} [Quran 69:9-10]
· {So We removed them from gardens and springs. And treasures and honorable station.} [Quran 26:57-58]
This is the consequence of oppression, denial and disbelief. This applies at the level of nations as there are nations that were totally destroyed and their blessings turned to be curses. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So each We seized for his sin; and among them were those upon whom We sent a storm of stones, and among them were those who were seized by the blast [from the sky], and among them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow, and among them were those whom We drowned. And Allah would not have wronged them, but it was they who were wronging themselves.} [Quran 29:40]
This also applies at the level of individuals and groups.
The owners of the orchard had evil intentions and swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning without exception. They made a plan to refrain from giving the poor and the needy their right. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep. And it became as though reaped.} [Quran 68:19-20]
Another example is Qaaroon, the arrogant and oppressive man whom Allah The Almighty gave such treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men, but he was not grateful and he oppressed his people.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Qaaroon was from the people of Moosa (Moses), but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men; thereupon his people said to him, "Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant. But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." He said, "I was only given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him of generations those who were greater than him in power and greater in accumulation [of wealth]? But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked. So he came out before his people in his adornment. Those who desired the worldly life said, "Oh, would that we had like what was given to Qaaroon. Indeed, he is one of great fortune." But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are granted it except the patient." And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allah, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.} [Quran 28:76-81]
Satan was expelled from Paradise because of his disobedience and refusal to prostrate to Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {[Allah] said, "Get out of Paradise, reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."} [Quran 7:18]
· {[Allah] said, "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein.} [Quran 7:13]
· {So get out; indeed, you are of the debased.} [Quran 7:13]
These are the consequences of oppression, evil doing and corruption. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {so Allah seized them for their sins.}[Quran 40:21]
· {so Allah seized them for their sins.}[Quran 8:54]
· {So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did.}[Quran 16:34]
· {And when they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them all. And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.}[Quran 43:55-56]
· {"Indeed, we will destroy the people of that Lot's city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers."}[Quran 29:31]
· {Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.} [Quran 30:10]
· {[By] that We repaid them for their injustice. And indeed, We are truthful.}[Quran 6:146]
· {And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe.} [Quran 10:13]
· {But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam,}[Quran 34:16]
· {But they denied him and hamstrung her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].} [Quran 91:14]
· {And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.}[Quran 42:30]