When Locusts were mentioned in Qu'ran

By multiplying to large numbers under certain environmental conditions, Locusts have been more often in news now a days because of their ability to travel large distances and attack of food crops, fields; thereby resulting in devastation for food industry and economy. We heard in the news of how these swarms of Locusts have been moving during the past year or so from east of Africa, to the Arabian peninsula, then to the subcontinent and now have moved into interior parts of India.

It is amazing to learn that these creatures have been even mentioned in the Holy Quran. SubhanAllah. In fact in two places. Lets have a look at where, how and why Allah mentions of Locust in Quran, and how we can reflect our thoughts over that. The Arabic word for Locust is "Jarad".

1. Allah says... "Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading. Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers (who denied it in the world) will say, "This is a difficult Day." ~Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon) 54: v 7-8

Explanation: Locusts, after emerging from the ground at their birth, begin to gather in enormous quantities, which are in millions. About 150 million or more Locusts can populate 1 square kilometre. And each swarm (large or dense group) can cover about 2400 square kilometres. These locust swarms are just like the resurrection of the whole Human race from Adam till the end of this earth. Their (Locust swarms) emergence is in fact so grand that they fill up the entire sky. This gives us small glimpse of how it be on the day of Resurrection when billions and billions of people come out of the earth and return to Allah. Its an example to reflect upon. Hence the resurrection of humans on the Day of Judgement is compared to Locusts in this verse.

Graves not only signify those pits on earth where a person is buried after his/her death. It is also a place from where souls will rise up on the call of Allah on the day of Resurrection.

On the day of Resurrection, the wrongdoers would realize that it was indeed the same second life which they had been denying during their worldly life. They would have to present themselves before their God as culprits. With awe-struck looks they would be watching the dreadful scenes before them. From these scenes they would not be able to avert their eyes.

2. Allah says..."So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people." ~Surah Araf (The heights) 7: v133

Explanation: This verse describes the punishments sent upon the people of the Firoun at the time of Prophet Musa (Allah's peace be upon him) as the consequence of their disbelief in Allah. Firoun's people were afflicted with several years of famine and scarcity of food so that they take heed and come onto the right path.

Even after being shown the signs, Firoun and his people did not accept the message of Musa [AS] and treated it as false and had grown heedless of it. So Allah drowned them in the sea.

Lesson: We see these locusts coming in large numbers and destroying crops even today. Just like Locusts were signs from Allah and a punishment for Firoun and his followers, it could also be a sign for us today. To avoid such punishments we need to remember Allah more often throughout the day and night, seek refuge in Allah from accursed satan, strongly follow the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SWS).

The simple ways to earn good deeds without much effort: The below Adhkar (tasbeeh) could be done simultaneously when we are doing any other activities like cooking, gardening, cleaning, shopping, driving, walking, jogging, etc. And sometimes we wake up suddenly from sleep in the night after seeing a dream or due to any other uncomfortability, we could use this time too to remember Allah till we go into deep sleep again.

1. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There are two statements that are light for the tongue to remember, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: 'Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-Azim [Glory be to Allah and His is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection]'." ~[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Sunnah.com reference: Book 16, Hadith 1

2. Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (RA) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he asked, "Is anyone of you unable to earn a thousand good deeds?" One of those present asked: "How can one earn thousand good deeds in a day?" He (ﷺ) replied, "By saying: Subhan Allah a hundred times, then one thousand good deeds will be recorded for him or one thousand sins will be blotted out from his record." ~[Muslim]. Sunnah.com reference: Book 16, Hadith 24

To watch the swarm of locusts, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za-smVF1U5A