01-15-2005, 12:12 AM
Late December, within a few hours over 150,000 lives were lost. Natives from 11 different African and Asian countries died. They were Muslims (mostly), Hindus, Buddhists and Christians alike. In addition Jewish, Agnostic, Atheists and Christian tourists from the West, also died. Infants died. The fits and youthful died. The old and the infirm died. The water took, males, females, black, white and brown skinned people alike. The disaster affected millions of people and was indiscriminate in its violence.
“Five of the Believers are regarded as martyrs; they’re those who die because of plague, abdominal disease, drowning or falling building etc. – and the martyrs in Allah’s cause” – Al-Bukhari.
The disaster could be a reminder to the Atheists and Agnostics – as this incident in the past relates to. Imam J’afar Al-Sadiq once addressed a staunch Atheist saying: “Have you ever traveled on the sea?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Have you experienced its terrors?” Asked Imam.
“Yes, indeed! One day while we were out at sea, a terrible hurricane blew up and smashed our ship. Several sailors perished. I clung to a rafter and the ship but soon it was snatched away. I was thrown about in the stormy sea but was eventually tossed up on the shore,” the man replied.
“When the storm broke,” the Imam commented, “perhaps you first relied on the ship and the sailors for your safety and then on the rafter which saved you for a while – but when all these went, did you resign yourself to death or did you still hope of safety?”
“I hoped for safety,” the Atheist answered.
“On whom did you hope for safety?” Asked the Imam.
The man did not respond this time. Then the Imam said: “The Creator is the one on whom you placed your hopes at that time; and He is the one who delivered you from drowning.”
After this conversation the Atheist was no longer an Atheist.