Catastrophic Mercy
By Shaykh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
A comparative study of ethics reveals the marked difficulty one has in identifying objectively universal standards for good and evil. While that may be so, few would object to the declaration that natural disasters, like earthquakes that produce tsunamis, are sinister, mischievous and catastrophic. On September 29, 2009 an 8.3 magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc on the pacific Islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. This was followed the next day by two consecutive earthquakes in Indonesia, the first measuring a magnitude of 7.6 and the second measuring 6.2, that took―besides the hundreds killed the day prior in the Samoan earthquake over 1,000 lives.
Were these deaths the result of some indiscriminate bombing campaign we might be witnessing world-wide condemnation, since human beings find calculated and intentional acts committed by their perpetrators to be morally deplorable and worthy of rebuke. But when the perpetrator is transcendently indefinable and unpredictable the immanence of the metaphysical disaster leaves one perplexed and speechless. One desires to point fingers, but know not in which direction to point. One is left asking one’s self if the event is just coincidental or if it is a divine message intended to teach us a lesson; an act of vengeance for some misdeed committed boldly and dismissively of the Creator’s preferential will. If the latter, what could that be? Was it because of that time I stole my neighbor’s chicken to feed my family? Or when I spread gossip about that woman? If it was because of either or for both of them, O Lord! Is not your punishment disproportionate to my misdeed? And what about my children? What was their crime?
These are all natural questions we assume would be asked by one who is the victim of natural disaster or another of metaphysical nature. It’s easy to deal with human transgressions, exactly because we know where to lay blame. As for when the tribulation descends from heaven, though, we find ourselves at a loss; save those who God grants fortitude and wisdom.
Throughout human history, people in their zeal have dared to place themselves in God’s (figurative) shoes. Such people always seem to know how to translate God’s words. They know that 9/11 was God visiting his vengeance on the US for its misdeeds. They know that Hurricane Katrina was God’s wrath on the people of New Orleans for their public commission of vice. Some of the same people even know now that God is angry with Muslims. For this reason, most major earthquakes and natural disasters today happen in that part of the globe.
1990 – Iranian earthquake (50,000 dead)
1991 – Bangladesh earthquake (139,000 dead)
1996 – West African meningitis outbreak (25,000 dead)
1999 – The Turkish Izmit Earthquake (17,000 dead)
2003 – Earthquake in Bam, Iran (26,271 dead)
2004 – 2005 South Asian Tsunami (235,000 – 285,000 dead)
2005 – Pakistani Earthquake (over 50,000 dead)
And the list goes on.
Earthquakes happen everywhere. As a matter of fact, they happen every day in different parts of the world of varying magnitudes. They strike the Islamic and the non-Islamic nations alike. In spite of this fact, one might feel that God has a chip on His (figurative) shoulder with respect to predominantly Muslim nations. Such a suggestion naturally can be attributed to either weakness of faith or just a lack proper awareness; which is almost the same thing.
Imam Abu Dawud reports a hadith in his Sunan that both he and Hakim al-Nisaburi grade as sound (sahih) on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari―may Allah be pleased with him―that the Messenger of Allah―God’s mercy and peace on him―said,
This nation of mine is a nation given mercy. It has no chastisement in the Hereafter. Its chastisement is in this world: conflicts, earthquakes, and murder.[1]
While it is natural for a Muslim to include him/herself within the general purport of this hadith, one must understand that the dominant interpretation and most reasonable is the one that designates “nation” [umma] in this hadith as being a distinct faction of the members of the overall community. This is due to the fact that other narrations exist which would contradict the apparent suggestion of this report that every Muslim will be exempted from punishment in the afterlife regardless of the gravity of their misdeeds. In particular, this interpretation contradicts the popularly sound report that says,
Verily, among the People of the Book are those who spit into 72 factions. And this nation will undoubtedly split into 73 factions. 72 will be in the Fire and one will be in the Garden.[2]
My point is that Muslims who die during natural disasters are “the” nation given mercy from the broader nation. Consequently, while those of us grieve the loss of loved ones taken in an instant by the ravages of natural catastrophe, we are left with at least two consolations. First is that our own survival gives us another chance at life. The second is that those who have been lost have been spared not only the misery of rebuilding a broken life. They are also spared the alarm and worry of the Judgment Day.
The Prophet Muhammad, God’s mercy and peace on him, said,
Five are martyrs: the plague-stricken, the one with a gastric ailment, the one who has drowned, the one buried in a demolition, and the martyr in the way of God.([3])
Such declarations are intended as consolation. Though the temptation for despair is strong, reminders of a catastrophic mercy can hopefully help to mend lives ruptured by love lost. As long as we live, let life be our most cherished gift. But when we die, let’s leave for the living memories of the most hopeful ambition. Everyone will die, but not everyone will know peace.
[1][1] Sunan, Fitan: 7
[2][2] Sunan, Sunna: 4597
[3]Jami’ Tirmidhi, Jana’iz: 65
4 Responses to “Catastrophic Mercy”
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jazakallah khair, it really helped
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
JazaKullah Khairun
This is a very important topic to not just Muslims but to non-Muslims who ask if there is a God why does he do all these things.
Anyway do we have permission to link this on twitter and facebook?
Sure, please link away