Issue No: 113
9th March 2012
16th Rabi'al Thaani 1433 A.H.
Salamun Alaykum,
£2 billion Treasure Chest Discovered:
Recently it was reported in the news that a sunken ship found under 700 feet of water off Cape Cod on America's east coast, is claimed to be the missing wreck of a British steamer; the SS Port Nicholson. The ship, carrying a valuable Soviet cargo of platinum, gold and industrial diamonds worth £2 billion had been torpedoed off the US coast in 1942 by the Nazis. The discovery would be one of the biggest treasures to be found on the sea bed.
Certain that the sunken ship was the SS Port Nicholson, Greg Brooks, the co-founder of Sub Sea Research- a U.S. treasure hunting company- called, said, "I am going to get it one way or another even if I have to lift the ship out of the water." 1
This news about finding lost treasure is fascinating. What lengths would one go to find that sort of treasures. It brings to my mind memories of the days when we used to have treasure hunt events organised by the Community in Mombasa, Kenya. Like the zeal expressed in the above referred statement by the spokesman of the Treasure hunting company, participants Treasure hunt event would roar ahead determined to undo the clues on the route map of the Treasure Hunt and arrive at the destination having discovered the treasure.
You and I have a treasure which is hidden in the depths of our heart. It is so invaluable that its worth cannot be computed by any scale on Earth. We have discovered it in our lives. This priceless treasure is our eiman- faith. It is the cost needed to pay for achieving heaven in the hereafter.
Like the sunken treasure lying deep under the seas, professing to have faith in ones heart will be of no currency for transaction to heaven. It is only when the treasure is retrieved to the surface that the finder will reap benefits from its enormous value.
As stated by the Holy Prophet,”.......faith is not acquired by wishing. Rather faith is that which is pure in heart and is certified by deeds.”
Thus when one puts the treasure of faith into action by ‘amal (deed) then one secures heaven.
Are we striving ‘in one way or another’ to lift out our treasure of eiman into actual value of action by our deeds?
The task is tough. Be determined. Keep on trying. In striving to lead our lives as per the message of Islam, we have been assured, in Holy Quran, of Divine help from Allah SWT:
“We shall certainly guide those who strive hard for Us to Our ways…” Sura Al Ankabut 29:69.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat