[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

NEWS (North, East, West, South)

Abstract 
The Quran foretells the Great News as well as a prophesy for the Middle East. The geographical centre of the land surfaces of the Earth is located in the Middle East. The Quran also mentions about the regions farthest from the place of its revelation, so that the believers know that Allah has encompassed everything in knowledge. The Quran is a guidance for the believer to study, understand and adhere to the right religion, in preparation for the Day of Judgement. 



Full Text 

إِنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا

Only your God (is) Allah the One, (there is) no god but He. He has encompassed all things (in) knowledge.
[Al-Quran 20:98

Attribution: By TUBS , supported by Alexrk2 - Own work• Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com• (Credits to Alexrk2 who helped me plotting natural earth data), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15110562


News about the farthest regions of the Earth: 

The Quran foretells the Great News as well as a prophesy for the Middle East. It uses the term أُمَّةً وَسَطًا to describe the nation on whom the Messenger is a witness. It also mentions the الْقِبْلَةَ in the same ayat, which is located in the city of Makkah in the Middle East:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
[Al-Quran 2:143]

The geographical centre of the land surfaces of the Earth is located in the Middle East. The cities of Makkah and Medina are located in Saudi Arabia. It is shown to be located almost in the centre of most maps:

Attribution: By TUBS - Own workThis image was created with Adobe Illustrator.This file was uploaded with Commonist. This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  World location map (W3).svg (by TUBS)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15111642  


The Quran mentions the following about the regions farthest from the place of its revelation, so that the believers know that Allah has indeed encompassed everything in knowledge:


News of the North  
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا

[Al-Quran 18:86] 

The Arctic ocean in the North Pole is surrounded by land.




News of the East  
أَهُمْ خَيْرٌ أَمْ قَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ

[Al-Quran 44:37] 

Indonesia is the eastern-most country with land on the equator.  

Attribution: By TUBS - Own workThis image was created with Adobe Illustrator.This file was uploaded with Commonist. This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  World location map (W3).svg (by TUBS)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15111371 


News of the West 
The Shuar and Achuar are indigenous tribes living in Ecuador. I think Surah ash-Shua`ra mentions them:

وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ

[Al-Quran 26:224

Ecuador is the western-most country on the equator: 

 
Attribution: By TUBS [CC BY-SA 3.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons


News of the South  
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا

[Al-Quran 18:90] 

The continent of Antarctica lies at the South Pole:  
Attribution: By TUBS - Own workThis image was created with Adobe Illustrator.This file was uploaded with Commonist. This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this:  Antarctica (orthographic projection).svg (by TownDown)., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14959356


Purpose 

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ الْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ
مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ
لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

So set your face to the religion right, before [that] comes a Day not (can be) averted [it] from Allah. That Day, they will be divided.
Whoever disbelieves, then against him (is) his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness, then for themselves they are preparing, 
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds (out) of His Bounty. Indeed, He (does) not like the disbelievers.
[Al-Quran 30:43-45]


The Quran is a guidance for the believer. To prepare for the Day of Judgement, we must study, understand and adhere to the right religion:



Related Links

The Prophecy
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-battle.html

Humans: Extinct & Extant
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2017/12/humans-extinct-extant.html

Dhu al Qarnayn visited the Polar Regions?
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/06/dhu-al-qarnayn-polar-regions-of-earth.html

Smoke from the Sky
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2018/01/smoke-from-sky.html

The Shuar & The Achuar (الشُّعَرَاءُ)
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-shuar-achuar.html

The Same Religion (الدِّينِ)
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-same-religion.html

The Right Religion (Deen)
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-right-religion-deen.html

Mission of the Messengers & Related Posts
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html


References 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_centre_of_Earth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_and_water_hemispheres
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equator#Equatorial_countries_and_territories
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_projection



Last updated on: July 26, 2018

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

The Shuar & The Achuar (الشُّعَرَاءُ)

A Living Example 

Abstract 
The indigenous tribes called Shuar and Achuar, still living in South America, bear a striking similarity to the statements in The Quran using a similar term. Though the الشُّعَرَاءُ are mentioned at the end of Surah ash-Shu`ara`, the beliefs, culture and modern challenges of these indigenous tribes present a living example of the narratives mentioned in the surah. 



Full Text 

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ
يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ
وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ
وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانتَصَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ

Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?
They descend on every sinful, false one.
They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars.
As for poets (الشُّعَرَاءُ), the erring follow them.
Hast thou not seen how they stray in every valley,
And how they say that which they do not?
Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will come to know by what a (great) reverse they will be overturned!



Quran Translations & Dictionary 
All translations of Q26:224 in this link of 50+ English translations translate the word  الشُّعَرَاءُ as poets: https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/26/224/default.htm 

This is probably because the word الشُّعَرَاءُ shares its root with the words for poet, poetry and perception, symbols, monuments and the star Sirius: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=$Er#(26:224:1)

A key term in Q26:222 is أَثِيمٍ which means willfully sinful: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Avm#(26:222:5)  

It is preceded by another qualifying term أَفَّاكٍ which means liar, and shares its root letters with words meaning deluded, falsehood, turn away and overturned: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Afk#(26:222:4)



The Indigenous Tribes in South America  
The Shuar and Achuar tribes live in South America. They establish contact with 'devils'. Shamanism, witchcraft, uwishin, initiation, adulthood rituals, visions, arútam, wakaní, kakáram, tsentsak, muisak, soul of the victim, shrunken head, headshrinking, tsantsa, etc. are but some key words which have come to be associated with these people, their beliefs and their way of life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuar
The Shuar are an indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru. They are members of the Jivaroan peoples, who are Amazonian tribes living at the headwaters of the Marañón River. ...
In the 19th century muraiya Shuar became famous among Europeans and Euro-Americans for their elaborate process of shrinking the heads of slain Achuar. ... The result was an increase in local warfare, including head hunting, ... 

The Amazon 
The Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest is exceptionally rich in biodiversity. Though the الشُّعَرَاءُ are mentioned at the end of Surah ash-Shu`ara`, the surah mentions the diversity of the flora and fauna on Earth in the beginning of the surah, and questions:

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَمْ أَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
Have they not looked at the earth to see how We have caused all kinds of noble pairs to grow in it?
Surely in this there is a sign; yet most of them do not believe.
In fact your Lord is the Mighty as well as the Merciful.

The surah goes on to mention various civilisations who have been destroyed. The Ancient Egyptians  flourished when their region was fertile, and not the desert it is now. When they refused to repent, they were:
فَأَخْرَجْنَاهُم مِّن جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
So We expelled them from gardens and springs
[Al-Quran 26:57

Hud is quoted as telling his people, the Aad to: 

وَاتَّقُوا الَّذِي أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ
أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنْعَامٍ وَبَنِينَ
وَجَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And fear the One Who has aided you with what you know,
He has aided you with cattle and children,
And gardens and springs.
Indeed, I [I] fear for you (the) punishment (of) a Day Great."
[Al-Quran 26:132 - 135

Saleh warned his people, the Samood: 

أَتُتْرَكُونَ فِي مَا هَاهُنَا آمِنِينَ
فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
وَزُرُوعٍ وَنَخْلٍ طَلْعُهَا هَضِيمٌ
وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا فَارِهِينَ
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
وَلَا تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
الَّذِينَ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ 
Will you be left in what (is) here secure,
In gardens and springs,
And cornfields and date-palms its spadix soft?
And you carve of the mountains, houses skillfully.
So fear Allah and obey me.
And (do) not obey (the) command (of) the transgressors,
Those who spread corruption in the earth and (do) not reform." 
[Al-Quran 26:146-152



The Shrunken Head
While narrating the story of the people of Shoaib, Q26:183 quotes their messenger as stating:

وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
And (do) not deprive people (of) their things, and (do) not commit evil in the earth, spreading corruption.
[Al-Quran 26:183]

Almost all parents teach their children not to take people's things. Among all the prophets and messengers mentioned in The Quran, Messenger Shoaib particularly is quoted advising his people against depriving people of their things. I take it to mean they were doing something unusual which other nations had not been doing, perhaps taking body parts? As I understand it, the human is essentially its body: the dust it is made of, as explored in Human: Body or Soul?  To deprive the human (alive or dead) of any of its body part is depriving it of its thing! The Quran uses a similar sounding word أَشْيَاعِ but with a different root (ش ي ع) when mentioning the prior species of the genus homo


وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ فَزِعُوا فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
وَقَالُوا آمَنَّا بِهِ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ
وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِهِ مِن قَبْلُ وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ 
 وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍ  
And if you (could) see when they will be terrified but (there will be) no escape, and they will be seized from a place near. And they will say, "We believe in it." But how for them (will be) the receiving from a place far off? And certainly, they disbelieved in it before. And they utter conjectures about the unseen from a place far off.
 And a barrier will be placed between them and between what they desire, as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in doubt disquieting. 
 [Al-Quran 34:51-54


وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ
 وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ  
And not (is) Our Command but one, like the twinkling (of) the eye.
 And certainly We destroyed your kinds, so is (there) any who will receive admonition?
 [Al-Quran 54:50-51

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrunken_head
A shrunken head is a severed and specially prepared human head that is used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes.
Headhunting has occurred in many regions of the world, but the practice of headshrinking has only been documented in the northwestern region of the Amazon rainforest. The only tribes known to have shrunken human heads are of the Jivaroan tribes. These include the Shuar, Achuar, Huambisa and Aguaruna tribes, found in Ecuador and Peru. The Shuar call a shrunken head a tsantsa, also transliterated tzantza. Many tribe leaders would show off their heads to scare enemies.
....
https://www.dorotheum.com/en/auctions/current-auctions/kataloge/list-lots-detail/auktion/11190-tribal-art/lotID/284/lot/1878160-shuar-or-jivaro-equador-a-tsantsa-shrunken-head-with-long-hair-tied-up-mouth-and-carrying-strap-19th-century.html
The tribal group of the Shuar, formerly also known as ‘Jivaro’, lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in the three-country crossroads of Equador, Peru and north west Brazil. The Shuar are the only people in the world who once traditionally produced shrunken heads (up until the 19th century). The reason for this custom lies in the belief system of the Shuar.
...
http://www.ecuador.com/blog/the-indigenous-shuar-of-ecuadorDuring the nineteenth century, the Muraiya Shuar made headlines for their war trophies. The Tsantsa they created became known to the world as shrunken heads. The Shuar’s reasoning behind the shrunken heads was not as war trophies per say, but they believed that the shrunken head held the soul of the victim and would give them the power to control their daughters and wives. As these women cultivated the land, the men believed that their ancestors would bestow good crops on them.
...
... and would give them the power to control their daughters and wives.
When narrating the story of Moses, Q26:22 quotes Moses replying to Pharaoh:

وَتِلْكَ نِعْمَةٌ تَمُنُّهَا عَلَيَّ أَنْ عَبَّدتَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
And this (is the) favor with which you reproach [on] me, that you have enslaved (the) Children of Israel."
[Al-Quran 26:22]

The Quran informs us that the Pharaoh would kill the sons of the Bani Israel and save their women: 

وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And when We saved you from (the) people (of) Firaun (who were) afflicting you (with) horrible torment, slaughtering your sons and letting live your women. And in that (was) a trial from your Lord great.
[Al-Quran 2:49]

وَإِذْ أَنجَيْنَاكُم مِّنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُقَتِّلُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَٰلِكُم بَلَاءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And when We saved you from (the) people (of) Firaun who were afflicting you (with) worst (of) torment, they were killing your sons and letting live your women. And in that (was) a trial from your Lord great.
[Al-Quran 7:141]

إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
Indeed, Firaun exalted himself in the land and made its people (into) sects, oppressing a group among them, slaughtering their sons and letting live their women. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.
[Al-Quran 28:4]


Magic & Healing 
Continuing the narration of Moses in Surah ash-Shu`ara`, the Pharaoh is advised by his courtiers to send for the most learned magicians in the land, as they thought Moses' miracles were great magic:

يَأْتُوكَ بِكُلِّ سَحَّارٍ عَلِيمٍ
They (will) bring to you every magician, learned."
[Al-Quran 26:37]

https://ratical.org/LifeWeb/Articles/shuar.html
Tshuin and the Uwishin Tradition
Marcello: Anank, my uncle, and I are both Shuar medicine men, called curanderos by the Spanish settlers. In Shuar, the word is uwishin (pronouned oo-wee-sheen')-- a healer who works with medicinal plants and with spirit powers. It also means "someone who knows all the secrets."
...
To have become an uwishin is, for me, the best possible legacy I could have received from my forefathers, because it enabled me to learn everything that they were and that they knew. It is a long and difficult process, one in which you receive an entire book of all the knowledge and secrets of nature. It means receiving a new life, discovering a new world you have never seen before. It transforms you completely, enabling you to see behind you as well as before you every obstacle that can possibly present itself to you.
...
The shamans claim to be in touch with spirit powers who guide them. They revere these beings. Generally these beings appear in their trance. Quite often, they report them as snakes. 

While Abrahamic religions believe in the existence of other realms, hidden from normal human view, yet they are quite clear in their knowledge that there exists no God but the One and Only God. 

In Surah ash-Shu`ara`, the story of Moses is followed by the story of Abraham and quotes his conversation with his father and his people. Regarding their idols and what they worshipped, he states:  

فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Indeed, they (are) enemies to me, except (the) Lord (of) the worlds,
[Al-Quran 26:77]

Giving a comprehensive introduction about the Lord of the Worlds, one of the points Abraham makes is: 

وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ
And when I am ill, then He cures me,
[Al-Quran 26:80]

Abraham's speech concludes with the following scenario about the Hereafter:

وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِلْغَاوِينَ
وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ
مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ
فَكُبْكِبُوا فِيهَا هُمْ وَالْغَاوُونَ
وَجُنُودُ إِبْلِيسَ أَجْمَعُونَ
قَالُوا وَهُمْ فِيهَا يَخْتَصِمُونَ
تَاللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
وَمَا أَضَلَّنَا إِلَّا الْمُجْرِمُونَ 
And hell will appear plainly to the erring.
And it will be said unto them: Where is (all) that ye used to worship
Instead of Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?
Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers
And the hosts of Iblis, together.
And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein:
By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest
When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds.
It was but the guilty who misled us.


Poetry
In Surah Yasin, on the Day of Judgement, Allah will say to the criminals:

أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ
هَٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
اصْلَوْهَا الْيَوْمَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَطَمَسْنَا عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِهِمْ فَاسْتَبَقُوا الصِّرَاطَ فَأَنَّىٰ يُبْصِرُونَ
وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَمَسَخْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمْ فَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا وَلَا يَرْجِعُونَ
وَمَن نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ
لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ

Did I not charge you, O ye sons of Adam, that ye worship not the devil - Lo! he is your open foe! -
But that ye worship Me? That was the right path.
Yet he hath led astray of you a great multitude. Had ye then no sense?
This is hell which ye were promised (if ye followed him).
Burn therein this day for that ye disbelieved.
This day We seal up their mouths, and their hands speak out to Us and their feet bear witness as to what they used to earn.
And had We willed, We verily could have quenched their eyesight so that they should struggle for the way. Then how could they have seen?
And had We willed, We verily could have fixed them in their place, making them powerless to go forward or turn back.
He whom we bring unto old age, We reverse him in creation (making him go back to weakness after strength). Have ye then no sense?
And We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry, nor is it meet for him. This is naught else than a Reminder and a Lecture making plain,
To warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers.
http://www.poetrytranslation.org/poets/maria-clara-sharupi-jua
María Clara Sharupi Jua writes poetry in Spanish and Shuar, a language spoken by the indigenous community of the same name. Born and raised in the Amazon rainforest, María Clara's poetry mixes imagery from nature and the traditions of her indigenous culture, which pre-dates that of the Incas.'
... 'I want to convey the wisdom of my ancestors and the orality of my culture that inhabits every syllable I put into writing.
...

Sirius
Though Sirius (الشِّعْرَىٰ) and The Shuar (الشُّعَرَاءُ) share the same root word, I do not know if the Shuar used to worship Sirius. 
About Pre-Columbian Ecuador, Wikipedia mentions:
By far the most common object was a stone star with a hole through the middle. They were found everywhere between Ibarra and Riobamba.
In a website, which lists Ecuador's six most important archaeological wonders, is mentioned that Rumicucho was one of the most important temples for worshipping the Star-King. However, from the context, it seems to be referring to Sun-worship.  
The 'Star Woman' is mentioned in the title of the female initiation rite of the Shuar in the book Spirit of the Shuar: Wisdom from the Last Unconquered People of the Amazon



The Quran & The Shuar 
Allah is perfect in His Justice. He does not destroy a community unless it has received its warnings and the opportunity to repent. The Shuar are an ancient extant community who contact the devils. Curiously, one of the objections of some disbelievers was, and is, that The Quran has been revealed by the devil(s).  In Surah ash-Shu`ara', we read about various nations who were duly warned and then destroyed when they refused to believe and repent. After that, we read:   


وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ
ذِكْرَىٰ وَمَا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ
وَمَا تَنَزَّلَتْ بِهِ الشَّيَاطِينُ
وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُمْ وَمَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
إِنَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّمْعِ لَمَعْزُولُونَ
فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُعَذَّبِينَ

And We destroyed no township but it had its warners
For reminder, for We never were oppressors.
The devils did not bring it down.
It is not meet for them, nor is it in their power,
Lo! verily they are banished from the hearing.
Therefor invoke not with Allah another god, lest thou be one of the doomed.



Distance & Location 
If we look at the commonly available world maps, generally Saudi Arabia is depicted almost in the centre, while Ecuador  in the extreme left corner of the map. A especially-prepared Mecca-centred map also depicts Ecuador as far-removed from Saudi Arabia. So, whether we look at the rectangular or circular flat maps, or at the globe, this region of South America is far-removed from Mecca and Medina. Curiously, it is at the border of the Ring of Fire:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire
The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. In a 40,000 km (25,000 mi) horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate movements. It has 452 volcanoes (more than 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes). The Ring of Fire is sometimes called the circum-Pacific belt.
About 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. All but three of the world's 25 largest volcanic eruptions of the last 11,700 years occurred at volcanoes in the Ring of Fire.  ...   
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire#Ecuador
... Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano in the Andes, located about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, Ecuador, South America. It is the second-highest summit in the country, reaching a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft). Some consider it the world's highest active volcano, and it is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Since 1738, Cotopaxi has erupted more than 50 times, resulting in the creation of numerous valleys formed by mudflows around the volcano. ... 


Islam in Ecuador
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Ecuador
The Pew Research Center estimates that Ecuador has a Muslim population of about 2000, representing 0.011 % out of total population of 16,965,000 inhabitants. The first Muslim settlers in Ecuador were primarily Arabs who emigrated from the Middle East during World War I and thereafter ...  
Surah alMu`minun guides thus: 

قُل رَّبِّ إِمَّا تُرِيَنِّي مَا يُوعَدُونَ
رَبِّ فَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي فِي الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ أَن نُّرِيَكَ مَا نَعِدُهُمْ لَقَادِرُونَ
ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Say: My Lord! If Thou shouldst show me that which they are promised.
My Lord! then set me not among the wrongdoing folk.
And verily We are Able to show thee that which We have promised them.
Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best Aware of that which they allege.
And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones,
And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me,

[Al-Quran 23:93-98, Translation: Pickthal]

The surah concludes with the following prayer: 

أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ
فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ لَا بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ
وَقُل رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Deemed ye then that We had created you for naught, and that ye would not be returned unto Us?
Now Allah be Exalted, the True King! There is no Allah save Him, the Lord of the Throne of Grace.
He who crieth unto any other god along with Allah hath no proof thereof. His reckoning is only with his Lord. Lo! disbelievers will not be successful.
And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art Best of all who show mercy. 


Modernisation & Genetic Engineering
In spite of all their beliefs and practices, these native people have lived in their flourishing land, respecting and conserving its biodiversity. With the modern era and its globalisation, they are faced with demands to embrace genetic research and engineering. Although Ecuador's 2008 constitution prohibited genetically engineered crops and seeds, yet 2017 witnessed the passing of a law permitting GMO crop research. CIBB 2018 scheduled for later this year looks forward to exploring this controversial issue. As more and more countries are embracing biotechnology and its application, it remains to be seen how long the Ecuadorians will be able to resist it. 


Destroying the Ego (Psyche) 
The Quran informs us that Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within their NAFS:

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ
For him (are) successive (Angels) before him and behind him, who guard him by (the) Command of Allah. Indeed, Allah (does) not change the condition of a people, until they change what (is) in themselves their NAFS. And when Allah wills for a people misfortune, then (there is) no turning away of it, and not for them besides Him any protector.
[Al-Quran 13:11, translation edited] 

Growing popular openly, at an alarming rate, is the use of psychedelics: mind-altering medicinal plant derivatives, all over the world and particularly in the Amazon Jungle. The shamans administer and oversee the rituals. The consumers mainly report (i) destruction of the ego, (ii) healing, (iii) contact with strange creatures, (iv) the snake mother, (v) hybrid monsters, among other experiences. 

The polytheistic pantheon contains many strange creatures, and the snake is an essential part of their mythology. The snake || serpent || dragon, also known as the devil or Satan, is an essential part of the story of The Bible, Genesis 3, the Fall of Adam. It begins with the statement:

1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. 

The Quran also mentions the snakes and the reptiles. There is an entire Surah al-Jinn that delves in the details. More on this at: جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn) || The Creation & Emergence of Species || Q15 23-50 || Q12 

To quote Ruku #18 from Surah an-Nisa` which explicitly mentions that the worship of the female deity is actually the worship of the devil: 

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ اَنۡ يُّشۡرَكَ بِهٖ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُوۡنَ ذٰ لِكَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ​ ؕ وَمَنۡ يُّشۡرِكۡ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًاۢ بَعِيۡدًا‏  ١١٦ اِنۡ يَّدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اِنٰـثًـا​ ۚ وَاِنۡ يَّدۡعُوۡنَ اِلَّا شَيۡـطٰنًا مَّرِيۡدًا ۙ‏ ١١٧ لَّـعَنَهُ اللّٰهُ​ ۘ وَقَالَ لَاَ تَّخِذَنَّ مِنۡ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيۡبًا مَّفۡرُوۡضًا ۙ‏ ١١٨ وَّلَاُضِلَّـنَّهُمۡ وَلَاُمَنِّيَنَّهُمۡ وَلَاٰمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَـتِّكُنَّ اٰذَانَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ وَلَاٰمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلۡقَ اللّٰهِ​ؕ وَمَنۡ يَّتَّخِذِ الشَّيۡطٰنَ وَلِيًّا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ فَقَدۡ خَسِرَ خُسۡرَانًا مُّبِيۡنًا ؕ‏ ١١٩ يَعِدُهُمۡ وَيُمَنِّيۡهِمۡ​ ؕ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيۡـطٰنُ اِلَّا غُرُوۡرًا‏  ١٢٠
اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ مَاۡوٰٮهُمۡ جَهَـنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُوۡنَ عَنۡهَا مَحِيۡصًا‏ ١٢١
وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَعَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ سَنُدۡخِلُهُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِىۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِهَا الۡاَنۡهٰرُ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَاۤ اَبَدًا​ ؕ وَعۡدَ اللّٰهِ حَقًّا​ ؕ وَمَنۡ اَصۡدَقُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ قِيۡلًا‏ ١٢٢ لَـيۡسَ بِاَمَانِيِّكُمۡ وَلَاۤ اَمَانِىِّ اَهۡلِ الۡـكِتٰبِ​ؕ مَنۡ يَّعۡمَلۡ سُوۡٓءًا يُّجۡزَ بِهٖۙ وَ لَا يَجِدۡ لَهٗ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَلِيًّا وَّلَا نَصِيۡرًا‏  ١٢٣ وَمَنۡ يَّعۡمَلۡ مِنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ مِنۡ ذَكَرٍ اَوۡ اُنۡثٰى وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ يَدۡخُلُوۡنَ الۡجَـنَّةَ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُوۡنَ نَقِيۡرًا‏ ١٢٤ وَمَنۡ اَحۡسَنُ دِيۡنًا مِّمَّنۡ اَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهٗ لِلّٰهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٌ وَّاتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ حَنِيۡفًا​ ؕ وَاتَّخَذَ اللّٰهُ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ خَلِيۡلًا‏  ١٢٥ وَلِلّٰهِ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ​ؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ مُّحِيۡـطًا١٢٦

Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly gone far astray. They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan, Whom Allāh has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion. And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allāh." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allāh has certainly sustained a clear loss. He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from it an escape. 
But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allāh, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allāh in statement. It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allāh a protector or a helper. And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer - those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed. And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend. And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh, of all things, encompassing. 

Polytheistic beliefs and traditions stand in sharp contrast to the monotheistic Abrahamic faith in the One and Only Deity. The polytheistic mighty ancient civilisations progressed, and their relics testify to their technological prowess. It seems like they all share a similar love for this world and its immediate benefits, but at the cost of the Hereafter. 

The Quran is indeed absolutely factually accurate in all its details. It has informed us of the approaching Great Event, and that The Promised Hour is approaching. Some of the signs of its approach are already manifesting. All praise and thanks to Allah for revealing and preserving The Quran in its pristine form, and for the guidance in it!  

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
[Al-Quran 1:2, Translation: Yusuf Ali]



References & Links 

The Quran 


Shuar || Achuar 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-does-one-actually-shrink-a-head-5994665/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15509329
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuar_language
https://data.mongabay.com/indigenous_ethnicities/south_american/Shuar.html
http://pilgrimagethroughamericas.blogspot.com/2012/10/shuar-practices-beliefs-myths.html
http://www.eosecuador.travel/about/about-amazon.html


Plant Healing
https://ratical.org/LifeWeb/Articles/shuar.html
https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/17765/1/Thesis_Tym_Shuar%20People%27s%20Healing%20Practices.pdf
http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/02/shamans-and-herbalists/
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/source-our-cures-new-pharmaceutical-company-wants-provide
http://shamanismconference.org/vision-statement/
http://brightwater.weebly.com/shuar-magic.html


Geography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_rainforest
https://wikitravel.org/en/Amazonia
https://amazonwatch.org/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-cloud-forest-quijos-ecuador-archaeology-pollen/ 
Distance 
A Mecca Centered Map


Star 


Genetic Engineering 
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/06/20/ecuador-passes-law-allowing-gmo-crop-research/
https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Agricultural%20Biotechnology%20Annual_Quito_Ecuador_10-21-2013.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_in_South_America
https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.pk/&httpsredir=1&article=1345&;context=facultypub
https://www.npr.org/2014/08/12/339878562/ecuador-seeks-to-build-a-silicon-valley-of-its-own
http://www.cibb.espol.edu.ec/en


Others
https://www.ancient-origins.net/shuar
http://earth-chronicles.com/histori/the-ancient-giants-in-ecuador-were-killed-by-fire-from-the-sky.html
https://natureandculture.org/places/ecuador/

In this blog: 
https://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/subterranean-waters-in-pharaonic-egypt.html 

Thursday, July 5, 2018

When the Earth Sways!

Warnings & Examples  
… Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone … [Q12:40] 

Abstract
Our world is facing catastrophic changes. Surah alMulk draws attention to the ability of the Earth to swallow up objects when cracks or holes open up on its exterior, and informs us that the Earth will begin to move/sway/quake. 

Full Text

أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ

Do you feel secure (from Him) Who (is) in the heaven not He will cause to swallow you the earth when it sways?
[Al-Quran 67:16]

Can you ever feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you up when, lo and behold, it begins to quake?
[Al-Quran 67:16, Translation: Asad]

Do ye feel secure that He Who is in heaven will not cause you to be swallowed up by the earth when it shakes (as in an earthquake)?
[Al-Quran 67:16, Translation: Yusuf Ali]

Are you secure of those in the heaven that He should not make the earth to swallow you up? Then lo! it shall be in a state of commotion.
[Al-Quran 67:16, Translation: Shakir] 

Our world is facing catastrophic changes, the news of which is reaching us with increasing frequency, almost daily, from all over the world. Earthquakes are associated with volcanic activity, sinkholes and other phenomenon. Seismic activity is continuously going on in the Earth's interior.

Two key words in the ayat quoted above are: يَخْسِفَ and تَمُورُ . Looking up in The Quran:


يَخْسِفَ


Screenshot from corpus.quran.com
Surah alMulk draws attention to the ability of the Earth to swallow up objects when cracks or holes open up on its exterior. Q28:81 refers to an individual and his home which were swallowed up; while Q29:40 refers to entire cities being destroyed by earthquakes.

فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُنتَصِرِينَ
Then We caused to swallow up, him and his home, the earth. Then not was for him any group (to) help him besides Allah, and not was (he) of those who (could) defend themselves.
[Al-Quran 28:81

فَكُلًّا أَخَذْنَا بِذَنبِهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ حَاصِبًا وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الصَّيْحَةُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ خَسَفْنَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ أَغْرَقْنَا وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
So each We seized for his sin. Then of them (was he) who, We sent on him a violent storm, and of them (was he) who, seized him the awful cry and of them (was he) who, We caused to swallow him, the earth and of them (was he) who, We drowned. And not was Allah to wrong them but they were themselves doing wrong.
[Al-Quran 29:40

Historically, many earthquakes have occurred with devastating consequences, the ruins of which bear testimony to what the scriptures warn us about. Furthermore, there are many events happening in the world now, from major and minor earthquakes, to individual sinkholes opening up, swallowing up people, cars, homes, neighbourhoods! Many a cities are located on fault lines. Major rifts have opened up recently.
Links under References at the bottom of this post.    


تَمُورُ
Surah alMulk draws attention to a particular earthquake in the future:   
Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Q52:9 informs us of the sky being in commotion, and Q67:16 informs us that the Earth will begin to move/sway/quake! Nobody knows when the final quake will happen, yet those alive still have time to repent from sins and seek forgiveness before the time is up.

Surah alMulk begins by informing us that the Kingdom is in the Hands of God who is able to do all things, and that death and life have been created to test who is the best in deeds. It goes on to inform us of how the heavens are being protected from the devils, and that a dreadful punishment has indeed prepared for the disbelievers. As discussed in other posts, Hell is brewing within the planet [1, 2, 3]. In spite of a lot of violent processes going on within it, our Earth is a relatively safe place. Q67:15 draws attention to it:

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
He (is) the One Who made for you the earth subservient, so walk in (the) paths thereof and eat of His provision, and to Him (is) the Resurrection.
 [Al-Quran 67:15

Surah alMulk concludes thus:

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَدَّعُونَ
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِيَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ الْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ

And they say, "When (is) this promise, if you are truthful?"
Say, "Only the knowledge (is) with Allah, and only I am a warner clear."
But when they (will) see it approaching, (will be) distressed (the) faces (of) those who disbelieved, and it will be said, "This (is) that which you used to for it call."
Say, "Have you seen, if destroys me Allah and whoever (is) with me or has mercy upon us, then who (can) protect the disbelievers from a punishment painful."
Say, "He (is) the Most Gracious; we believe in Him, and upon Him we put (our) trust. So you will know who (is) it (that is) in error clear."
Say, "Have you seen, if becomes your water sunken, then who could bring you water flowing?"
[Al-Quran 67:25-30]


Like Surah alMulk, Surah Hud also informs us:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِن بَعْدِ الْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

And He (is) the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His throne has been upon the water that He might test [you] which of you (is) best (in) deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you (will be) resurrected after [the] death," surely would say those who disbelieved, "This is not but a magic clear."
[Al-Quran 11:7]



Water plays a key role in the creation and government of God. We are largely composed of water. Initially, water was sent to the Earth, and the end days signs include when the seas boil and/or are set on fire. The dynamic combination of water with other processes plays an important role in sinkholes and earthquakes. Even moving ice cause glacial earthquakes!



The Quran repeatedly invites us to believe, repent and seek forgiveness from God. Surah alAn`am warns us:

هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ رَبُّكَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آيَاتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِن قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا قُلِ انتَظِرُوا إِنَّا مُنتَظِرُونَ

Are they waiting except that comes to them the Angels or comes your Lord or comes some (of) (the) Signs (of) your Lord? (The) Day (when) comes some (of) (the) Signs (of) your Lord, not will benefit a soul its faith, (if) it had not believed before or earned through its faith any good. Say, "Wait. Indeed, we (are) those who wait."
[Al-Quran 6:158

About the ancient civilisations whose ruins still dot the Earth, Surah Ghafir informs us:

فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا سُنَّتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي قَدْ خَلَتْ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَافِرُونَ

But did not benefit them their faith when they saw Our punishment. (Such is the) Way (of) Allah which (has) indeed preceded among His slaves. And are lost there the disbelievers. 
[Al-Quran 40:85]



References & Links

Earthquake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake

Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/browse/

Seismic Monitor
https://ds.iris.edu/seismon/

Giant crack opens in East African Rift Valley
http://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/new-cracks-appear-in-east-african-rift-valley-6678/

Water distribution on Earth
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_distribution_on_Earth

Glacial earthquake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacial_earthquake

Induced seismicity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_seismicity

Hydraulic fracturing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing

Earthquakes—Rattling the Earth’s Plumbing System

Sinkhole
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole

Sinkholes
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/sinkhole/

What is a sinkhole?
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-sinkholes?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

Why a Massive Sinkhole Tore Open in New Zealand
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/new-zealand-sinkholes-volcanic-fault-lines-science-spd/

Top 10 Biggest Sinkholes In The World
https://exploredia.com/top-10-biggest-sinkholes-in-the-world/

Recent sinkholes around the world - and what caused them

Huge sinkhole near World Cup stadium
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-27954163/huge-sinkhole-near-world-cup-stadium

Florida 'sinkhole' swallows car
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-29996605/florida-sinkhole-swallows-car-in-pasco-county

Huge sinkhole opens up in Naples
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-31594542/sinkhole-opens-up-in-naples-following-a-broken-water-pipe

Sinkhole swallows S Korean pedestrians

First up-close look at Bucks sinkhole 

What causes sinkholes?

New sinkholes open in Florida, Maryland, at White House

Images (licensed for reuse


Nepal Earthquake 2015
Attribution: By Krish Dulal [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Good Friday Earthquake - Alaska 1964
Attribution: By A. Grantz. - http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/show_picture.cgi?ID=ID.%20Alaska%20Earthquake%20%20326&SIZE=large Web page includes photo descrption, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12206328
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Good_Friday_Earthquake#/media/File:1964_Alaska_Quake_L_Street_Slide.jpg 

Collapse sinkhole in karstified gypsum; near 25 m in diameter, some 25 m deep. Chinchón, Madrid, Spain. c.1991
Attribution: By Luis Fernández García [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Dead Sea Sinkholes
Attribution: Neukoln [CC BY-SA 3.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Rift in Iceland. North view along western wall.
Attribution: By Rjglewis [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons 
Retreat of the Helheim Glacier, Greenland
Attribution: By NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons




Last updated on: July 6, 2018