In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thank you for your question, which shows how concerned you are about the affairs of your brothers and sisters who suffer from this natural disaster.

Islam is a universal message of compassion and solidarity. It urges the Muslim to stretch his hand with help to all those in need regardless of their faith or race. According to Islam, all Muslims are religiously ordered to help victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters. It is the duty of every Muslim to help and aid all those afflicted by this tragedy as well as similar tragedies. This applies to individuals as well as governments alike. Stressing the deep sense of mutual co-operation and solidarity that is supposed to overwhelm Muslims in such critical times, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." (Reported by Muslim)

Responding to your question, Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha, professor of fiqh and its principles, International Islamic University, Malaysia, states:

Dear brother, thank you very much for your question and concern.

Certainly, it is an obligation upon all Muslims, individuals, institutions, and governments to assist their beloved brothers and sisters afflicted with disasters.

Every Muslim must share the sorrow of those suffering from this disaster. The obligation upon Muslim governments is more than upon individuals. They have to do their best to help ease the plight and suffering of those people.

All in all, I call upon our beloved rich Muslim individuals as well as governments, that this is a golden chance for all of them to gain the ridwan (pleasure) of Allah, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Whoever assists a needy Muslim by removing his hardship then Allah would assist him and remove all his hardship on day of Judgment.” (Reported by Muslim)

Do remember our Islamic brotherhood, do remember the sayings of the Prophet to the Muslims that they in their mutual love and ambition resemble one single body; when any part of the body suffers the whole body will share the agony and suffering.

Our beloved brothers and sisters inIndonesia are part of the body; therefore, let us feel their pain and agony. All of us will be held responsible if we don’t assist and feel their sorrow and difficult time.

At least, don't forget them in your prayers. May Allah reward all those good people who are lending them a hand of help and assistance.

Based on what is mentioned above, we can conclude that all Muslims should hasten to help all quake and disaster victims. They should render them all forms of physical, financial and psychological help each according to his/her means. The least we can do is to pray for them so that Allah alleviates their suffering and put a quick end to their natural disaster.