heads, their feet had swollen and their bodies were thin with weakness. It appeared as though they had just emerged from the grave.

Suddenly falling into a state of panic, one worshipper fell unconscious and began sweating profusely, despite the weather being severely cold. When he returned to consciousness, the others asked him what happened. He explained, “As we passed by here, I remembered a day from my past in which I had committed a sin in this exact place. Panic then overwhelmed me as I considered the fact that I must answer for this in the Hereafter, and I fell unconscious.”^[1]

Why previous ummahs were punished

Dear Islamic brothers! The reason ummahs before us were punished is because they would not do as they were instructed and involved themselves in things they were forbidden from.

It is narrated that Sayyidunā Ḥuzayfah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was once asked, “Was it due to leaving the religion that Banī Isrāīl were inflicted with varying forms of painful punishment, such as their faces being distorted, being turned into monkeys and pigs, and being ordered to kill themselves?”

“No!”, Sayyidunā Ḥuzayfah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ replied, “It was because they abandoned whatever they were ordered to do and committed that which they were forbidden from (without caring what would happen). This continued until they exited their religion the way a person leaves his shirt.”^[2]

We should all think carefully and take a close look at our state. If we do, we will find that our condition is even worse than previous nations. Do we not openly go against the rulings of Allah and His Messenger? Do we not miss our salah? Do we