When a Tsunami Warning Rings Out to Many Nations Where is Your Faith
Today
is February 27, 2010 and Chile had a 8.8 earthquake. There are tsunami warnings
being given in many countries today also. Is Allah Angry?
Today is a day of patience and it is a day to pray and ask for Allah's extreme mercy and forgiveness for the entire world. Chile had an earthquake more powerful than a nuclear bomb and so powerful it is unfathomable how to even conceive Allah's power.
Did Allah create this earthquake because Chile was bad or evil? Did Allah bring the people of Chile to their knees or was this mainly a warning for those who would not change their ways? Allah is a gentle Lord and a patient Lord. Allah is not an angry and deceptive Lord. Earthquakes are a reminder that judgment day is near.
Mercy From Allah
Looking further at some Quranic scriptures let's see what Allah has said:
They killed the she-camel and defied their Lord’s command and they said, “O Salih! Bring to us that punishment which you promise us if you are from amongst the Messengers”. The earthquake seized them and they became faced down laid in their houses. (Surah 7:77-78)
Allah said, "When We decide to destroy a town, We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them who are given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against (them). Then we destroy it with complete destruction." (Quran 17:16)
The scriptures are saying here that the people disobeyed Allah and did not follow the ways of Islam, so they were punished. Did Allah punish them to harm them or did Allah send a warning to them to change their ways? A earthquake is sent as a warning to change the ways people are behaving and to think of death often.
Muslims should always think of death and live in this life as if they were strangers. Living here only for a while and passing on to the hereafter is the main goal.
“See they not how little of the sky and the earth is open to them, and how much is hidden? If We wished We could cause the earth to swallow them up or cause a piece of the sky to fall upon them. Truly in this is a Sign for every servant that turns to Allah (in repentance)” (Saba’ 34:9)
Tsunami Warnings and Faith
Allah is an Arabic word for God. To understand the concept of Allah's anger and earthquakes, a person would have to understand the reason for disasters in the first place. To even think that Allah has caused these as a punishment is to not know Allah at all. Allah is a God of mercy of love and He is all knowing. Allah knows the date everyone will die and not one second more can anyone live on this earth, than what has been destined for that person.
With all the tsunami warnings today, the Muslim must remain strong in faith and worship Allah and ask for his protection against the things that have been preordained for them. A strong Muslim does not lose faith when things are difficult or when faced with trials
"No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even thought it were the prick he receives from a thorn." (Hadith, Bukhari)
A Muslim will die whether in a flood, hurricane or earthquake and when the Muslim's time has come, (destiny). The Muslim must be patient and thank Allah for his mercy. A Muslim must praise Allah in good and bad and never question Allah to why a certain event has occurred.
In the days of many disasters and earthquakes is it best to supplicate much and praise Allah more. Believe in Allah's mercy and forgiveness and trust in his knowledge. To believe in Allah as the one and only God means to trust Him in all things. Life and death comes from Allah. With these days come many trials and a true Muslim must always say "Al-humdililah" (all praise be to Allah).
Resources:
InterIslam.org
Roslimh, (October 14, 2009) "Cyclones, earthquakes and Allah's Mercy," Roslihanib.com
Photo courtesy of Photobucket/ayies91
