Fires & Storms ~ Lessons & Opportunities
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
253 |
| Khutbah Date: |
11/02/07 |
أَوَلاَ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لاَ يَتُوبُونَ وَلاَ هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَAre they, then, not aware that they are being tested once or twice a year; And yet, they do not repent and do not remember the Almighty. [Qur’an 9:126]Forces of Nature UnleashedLast week in our areas (California - west coast of USA), over a million people had to flee their homes due to the raging fires; fires that killed and injured dozens of people, scorched over 1 000 square miles, destroyed over 2 000 homes and with it demolished many hopes and dreams. Some of these fires were doused by last Saturday’s drizzling rain and a few are still burning.And as I speak, Hurricane Noel is causing devastation to the east of the coast of the USA; having slammed the Caribbean earlier this week with heavy rains that caused flooding and mudslides, causing an estimated $30 million in damages and leaving a death toll that stands at 115. As we prayed for rain last Friday, we pray that Allah causes the hurricane to ease up into a mild tropical storm and send rain that may benefit the residents of the east coast, Insha-Allah.
Nature Not EvilWe live in a universe of cause and effect, the consequences of which are inescapable. Fire burns, diseases infect, time ages, germs destroy, water drowns … these facts have moral and social implications and all of these are realities with which we have to contend and each of these challenge our existence, our instincts and our very humanity. Yet, nature is neutral.Fire: This implies that fire by itself is not bad but though a possible instrument of benefit; can be an instrument of damage/harm. Fire can burn, can destroy; it is also the symbol or punishment in the Hereafter …بَلَى مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَاطَتْ بِهِ خَطِيـئَتُهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَThose who earn evil and are engulfed by their sinfulness –such are destined for the fire; therein to abide[Q2:81]Yet the same fire has been a civilizational force; it is source of heat and hence a source of power and energy, a means whereby to distinguish matters (such as gold from rock), of welding together metal (wherewith to construct things), a tool through which food could be prepared and ofcourse, a source of light.Water: Water can drown, can flood towns and villages; but is also a cleanser and clean in itself; a means of sustaining life and infact, the liquid that is the very source of life وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاء كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ [Q 21:30]
Lesson for us كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ "Every soul shall taste death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must you return," [Q21: 35)] Allah states here that He tests humans through good as well as bad events. We may have to contend with tornados (yursila ‘alaykum haasiba Q 69:17); or the shaking of the earth (al-arda fa idha hiya tamur Q 69:16) or (zilzaal Q 99:1)أَوَلاَ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لاَ يَتُوبُونَ وَلاَ هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَAre they, then, not aware that they are being tested once or twice a year; And yet, they do not repent and do not remember the Almighty. [Qur’an 9:126]
What We Must Realize From all this we learn that the world is anything but serene, all too vulnerable to natural threats; both earthly (earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, fires…) and celestial (meteors…). Any of these hazards may strike at any time and can cause considerable loss to life and property. What is common to all these threats is that in just moments they can reduce a city, with all its inhabitants, to ruin. These outbursts of nature serves as proof that we have no control over the planet we inhabit. Each disaster serves the purpose of reminding humankind of its inherent weaknesses, reminds us of our enduring vulnerability in the face of nature; making us realize that neither wealth nor authority, neither science nor technology has any power to resist the forces greater than ourselves. Suddenly we know the frailty of our place in the universe, just like those millions of people for whom frailty is all-too-familiar. The hope is that our newfound sense of vulnerability will lead to a kind of international empathy and solidarity, which could be the cornerstone of a new spirit of global cooperation --- a cooperation that provides a way to ensure a better world.Allah did not make this world a permanent place. This is a temporary world and everything here is finite and all things have a time limit. Neither are the good things of this world forever nor are the bad things eternal.
What are we DoingReflecting on the verses …وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَوَلَا تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ"But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief .” [Q 28:77]وَلاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلاَحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good. [Q7:56]We all need to seriously heed the sins of global warming. The Santa Ana winds fan flames every year this time; the state of Tabasco in Mexico currently under floods, floods regularly at this time. Planning and precaution is required; like in everything in our lives; whether at personal level or at societal level. What we have is only temporary; our lives must end. Then we will be permanently accountable for temporary life. How are we engaging the temporary?
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