Interdisciplinary Studies in Ethics

Interdisciplinary Studies in Ethics

The Role of Calamity (Bala) in Removing Negligence; The Constructive Role of Calamities in Ethical Life according to Religious Texts

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mohammadreza Zeyaei
PhD in Islamic Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies, Al-Mustafa International University.
10.48308/jiethics.2026.106926
Abstract
Introduction: Negligence in Islamic thought is not merely a momentary lapse; rather, it is a form of existential forgetfulness that distances human beings from God’s remembrance, the divine blessings, the purpose of creation, and the truth of life. Verses and narrations describe negligence as a veil over the heart and an impediment to insight—an unlit fire that leads to hardness of heart, moral indifference, and the collapse of human relationships.
From a social perspective as well, negligence results in stagnation and widespread harms; as ʿAmīr al-Muʾminīn (peace be upon him) considers the smallness of negligence to be a sign of progress, and negligence itself to be a cause of the ruin of societies. Calamities and crises—whether natural or human—by disrupting the ordinary course of life, provide an opportunity for awakening from this negligence. In such moments, a person confronts the helplessness of apparent causes, and the hidden layers of reality become manifest. Religious scholars emphasize that calamities, within the framework of divine wisdom, can serve as mirrors for returning to one’s innate nature (Fiṭra) and for re-reading humanity’s place within the order of creation.
A proper encounter with crises, grounded in Qur’anic and narrational teachings, creates an opportunity for spiritual transformation and for escape from negligence. Despite the existence of numerous studies on negligence and its dimensions, examining the role of calamities in the process of negligence-remedy (negligence eradication) has not yet been undertaken in the form of an independent research study. This academic gap highlights the necessity of the present study.
Findings: According to verses and narrations, humans are created to attain divine proximity and are endowed with numerous blessings; however, engagement in worldly affairs leads them to existential negligence, causing the remembrance of God, blessings, and the purpose of creation to fade behind this forgetfulness. From the perspective of Islamic teachings, calamities are one of the significant factors in alleviating negligence, as they create interruptions in the usual flow of life, revealing human weaknesses and the impermanence of the world while reminding individuals of blessings such as health and security.

Widespread crises, especially global pandemics, can cleanse the rust of negligence from the hearts of individuals, directing their attention towards God, their existential dependencies, and a reality beyond the material realm. This awakening, however, culminates in guidance and growth only when individuals confront calamities properly and adjust their behaviors and outlooks thereafter.
Despite the importance of this topic, examining the role of widespread calamities in spiritual awakening still requires independent and more in-depth research.
Based on Qur’anic verses and narrations, human beings are created to attain proximity to God, and abundant blessings are placed at their disposal; however, being preoccupied with worldly matters causes existential negligence, such that remembrance of God, divine blessings, and the purpose of creation become dimmed behind this negligence.
Discussion: Based on religious foundations, calamities and tribulations are not merely threatening and destructive events. Within the framework of divine wisdom, they can play a constructive role in returning humans to the correct path of spiritual and moral life. Verses of the Qur’an and narrations from the Infallible (peace be upon them) indicate that negligence, when accompanied by a life of ease and excessive attachment to the world, distances individuals from the remembrance of God, divine blessings, and moral responsibilities.
Calamities, by creating a rupture in these habitual attachments, provide a ground for awakening and re-evaluation. Afflictions, particularly diseases and crises that affect collective life, expose human frailty, dependence, and the instability of material means. They remind individuals that health, security, and peace are fundamental blessings. This confrontation, when accompanied by religious contemplation, can lead to the correction of behavior, strengthening of reliance on God (Tawakkul), increased social responsibility, and the enhancement of ethical living.
Religious texts emphasize that the awakening function of a calamity is realized when an individual exhibits a conscious, patient, and constructive response to it, learns from the trials, and corrects their spiritual path. Therefore, calamities are not only obstacles to growth but can also transform into opportunities for dispelling negligence, returning to one’s innate divine nature (Fiṭra), and strengthening individual and collective morality.
Keywords
Calamities
Negligence
Purpose of Creation
Blessings
Moral Living
Human Awakening
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Interdisciplinary Studies in Ethics
Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September 2026
Pages 96-75

  • Receive Date 25 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 25 April 2026
  • Publish Date 21 March 2026