Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan:
“And whatsoever of affliction which befalls on you is owing to that which your hands earned; and He pardons much.” (Surah Shura – 30)
“Corruptness has appeared on land and sea, because of that which man’s hands have earned, so that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that haply they may return.”(Surah Room – 41)(Ma’aariful Qur’aan vol 6-p738, vol 7 p696)
1) Comitting sins willfully
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ‘Man is deprived of sustenance and provision on account of committing sin and disobedience willfully.’ (Musnad -e- Ahmad)
2) Cheating & deceiving others
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) has said: “Whenever a people generally start cheating and deceiving others in business and commerce concerning commodities which are sold by weight or measure, then inevitably Allah subjects them to punishment by droughts and scarcity of goods.(Ma’aariful Qur’aan vol 4 p66′)
It has been reported by Hazrat Abdullah bin Omar Radiallaahu Anhu in Ibne Maajah as follows: ‘When people generally indulge in deceitful acts such as giving less than is due on them in things which are sold by either weight or measure, then such people are undoubtedly punished by Allah with widespread droughts, serious calamities and the oppression of rulers over them.’
3) Not Paing Zakaat
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“…(Whenever a nation) lessens weights and measures [ie. be deceitful in business transactions as you have stated], they will be afflicted with famine, price hikes and and an oppressive leader. When they refuse to pay Zakah, they will be deprived of rain. Were it not for the animals, it will not rain (at all)…”
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 540. Declared Authentic by Imam Hakim and ‘Allamah Dhahabi concurs. Also see Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4019 and Targhib, vol. 1 pg. 546/544 for similar narrations)
4) Zina(Adultery) becomes rife
Imaam Ahmad Rahmatullahi Alayhi has narrated a report from Hazrat A’mr bin Aas Radiallaahu Anhu in which he says :’I heard Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) who used to say: ‘Whenever zina (adultery) overtakes people, thus becoming a general practice in them, then on account of such an accursed practice having become rife in them, they find themselves plagued by droughts as a punishment for their actions.’