by Ashmin

Created on: May 26, 2008

Natural Disasters know no political boundaries or cultural differences, the grieve stricken face of a mother in China or in Brazil will show the same pain and weep the same language. Perhaps , when the earth literally shakes under our feet , we are reminded of our common humanity, regardless of our petty differences.

It has broken our hearts to watch parents calling out for their only child buried in the rubbles of the fallen school in the recent earthquake in China, we have pondered about the reality of death seeing the images of corpses lying across the river plain in Burma. In a span of few days over 50,000 people are supposed to have been killed.

Beneficient" and merciful" are the names we attribute to Allah . Then how can Allah let this happen? Is it a punishment from Allah, or has it got any other inherent meaning ?

There are parables in the Quran were Natural calamities have come to various ancient civilisations when they have perished or totally annihilated , because they rejected the Prophets or the signs of God .

"These are some of the stories of communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing, and some have been mown down (by the sickle of time). It was not We that wronged them: They wronged Their own souls: the deities, other than Allah, whom they invoked, profited them no whit when there issued the decree of thy Lord: Nor did they add aught (to their lot) but perdition!" (Surah Hud: 100-101)

"In the manner of the people of Firawn (Pharaoh) and those before them. They, belied the signs of their Lord then We destroyed them for their sins, and We drowned the people of Firawn, and they were all unjust."
-Anfal: 54)

Therefore, we need to explore very carefully and attentively what the Qur'an relates to us and contemplate it. In the Qur'an, Allah states that the purpose of the Qur'an's revelation is to lead people to think:
Here is a Message for mankind: Let them take warning therefrom, and let them know that He is (no other than) One Allah: let men of understanding take heed. (Surah Ibrahim: 52)

Allah says in the Quran
"We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play. We created them not except with truth but most of them do not understand" (Qur'an 44:38-39).

It is beyond human comprehension to understand what good can possibly come out of such natural disasters but believe firmly in the Master plan of the Creator.
Are these calamities a test for the people involved or are they a test for spectators like us, who happen to be born in a safer' geographic part of the earth?

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return
This is the ultimate test of Faith, to believe in Allah and to be patient , to renew our thankfullness for our lives and possessions.

Indeed, disasters and calamities, should definitely have a lesson in them for every wise and thinking person. They must remind us of the evanescence and fragility of our existence in this world. And every such incident should certainly strengthen our faith in Allah and
remind us of our duty to our fellow human beings.

...And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity
And throughout all periods of panic.
Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.
Qur'an 2:177

"On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear [Quran 2:286]

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