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there are hidden meanings to be reflected on in the disaster reports frequently covered by newspapers and TV.

some of the reports people frequently run across on TVs and in newspapers are of disasters. people may meet disaster at any time. a powerful earthquake may happen, a fire may start or flooding may occur. someone who sees these reports remembers that Allah has power over all things, that He can raze a city to the ground if He so wills. thinking of these, one sees that there is no one but Allah with whom one can take refuge and from whom one can ask help. even the strongest buildings and cities equipped with the most advanced technology cannot stand against the power of Allah; they too can perish all of a sudden.

all these scenes are for men to think about and take lessons from.

someone who hears about or reads these disaster reports also reflects that Allah has sent a disaster against this city for a purpose. in the Qur'an, Allah relates that He consigns the disobedient nations to penalty so that they might take heed or be repaid for their deeds. hence, if a given community practises values with which Allah would be displeased, Allah may have punished them for that reason. or, it may be that Allah is testing these people with some hardships in the world.

thinking about these possibilities, the believer fears that all these may also befall him, and asks forgiveness of Allah for his own conduct.

no person and no nation can prevent any disaster from occurring unless Allah so wills. it makes no difference whether it is the most wealthy and powerful country in the world or a place that ordinarily would be thought to be at little risk because of its geographical location. Allah says that no nation can prevent a disaster that will befall them:

Do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them in the night while they are asleep?
Or do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them in the day while they are playing games?
Do they feel secure against Allah's devising? No one feels secure against Allah's devising except for those who are lost.
Is it not clear to those who have inherited the earth after these people that, if We wanted to, We could strike them for their wrong actions, sealing up their hearts so that they cannot hear?
[QS al-A'raf: 97-100]

an earthquake lasting a few seconds is enough to destroy a whole city. those who think that these scenes are 'works of nature' are mistaken. this is because nature, an incredibly ill-defined entity, just as all other beings, under the command of Allah.