Salamun alaykum,
Northern Turkey struck by earthquake:
Hundreds of villagers in eastern Turkey have been sheltering in tents since Monday 8th March, 2010 after a deadly 6.0 magnitude earthquake devastated numerous towns in northern Turkey and left many homeless.
Another breaking news?
This tragic occurrence comes close to other major earthquakes which struck Chile on Saturday 27th February and the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on 12th January, 2010.
For one moment let us pause and ask ourselves what was our reaction on learning of this event from the news media?
Here below are samples of typical reactions:
- It does not affect me. Having become so accustomed to being bombarded with news of war and disasters around the world majority of the people would have treated it as another news item and flicked over to the next event.
- Serves them right. Those who hold ‘holier than thou’ attitude would have ruled it as a Divine punishment to the wrong doers.
- Ya Allah! In our comfortable world of life where we are pampered by all luxuries and preoccupied in fulfilling our desires this serves as a cause of awakening from neglect of service to our Creator and accounting for the last Day of Judgment.
- I want to help. Empathize with the grief stricken, strive to reach out through prayers and provide assistance to alleviate the suffering.
Question : which of the above fits my reaction ?
Signs of Majesty of Allah SWT:
As stated in the previous issue of Risalatul Jum’a, such disasters cannot be simply interpreted as punishment from Allah SWT. The true purpose of a suffering has been hidden from us by Allah SWT in His Mercy and Grace.
The working of Allah SWT is towards fulfillment of a particular goal that is unimaginable to us as human beings. The occurrence of such events is taking place within His plan for a specific aim. Allah never acts aimlessly or without purpose. He alone is the One who knows His exact Will.
Test by suffering:
During such times of disaster /crisis Allah SWT is testing the faith.
“Verily, We shall put you to test with some fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits. And convey good tidings to those who are patient who when afflicted by hardship say: Verily we are from Allah and to Him shall we return…….” Sura Al Baqarah 2:155-156
In addition to the event being a trial for the afflicted persons, we too are tested. Our assessment is on how we react to the event. Does our faith become more firm and unshaken? Do we reach out to sustain the hopes of others? Have we been helpful, generous to share our energy, time and wealth in providing relief to the affected ones?
Our status of happiness and Divine reward depends upon the results of success in these tests.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat
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Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk:
Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk: Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board