Asia Earthquake (tsunami)

[umm Zachariah]

Assalamu aleikum,


Hi and welcome back Ronniv.


This question is not one of my strongholds, but just sharing thoughts, and I do think that most of the western countries are among the rich countries in the world, I do count Australia and Japan also to the 'western world' even though they are situated on the map elsewhere and at least most of the Muslim countries are among the poor? Maybe the chain for collecting money is not so well attained for in Muslim countries as in western countries? I cannot draw the conclusion that it is ungratefulness, the reason can well be another one. Less resources.


Just a humble thought from my side.


See you.


Wasalam

[ronniv93]

Hey Umm_Zachariah,


Good to "see" you again. :-)


To clarify, I'm not saying that the ungratefulness is related to how much the Muslim countries are giving. I understand that some nations are wealthy and some are not. That part is understandable.


Specifically, my comment was directed toward the original post. If you read the last few paragraphs of the article under the "Conclusion" section, the author just attacks, attacks, attacks "Western governments". He doesn't say that it's a good thing that they're giving. He doesn't commend any country for giving. He just critiques and criticizes them for WHEN they should have given before, etc.


It's become popular today to insult the U.S. and other Western countries, but at the same time, people expect us to give to every single cause, humanitarian effort, and natural disaster in the world. Resources are not unlimited for anyone or for any country. The U.S. *regularly* contributes money to other nations and at the same time gets criticized by it's citizens at home for giving TOO much outside the country and not enough inside.


It's like we just can't win any way we go.

[umm Zachariah]

Hi again Ronniv,


This is now drawing towards a political discussion and I usually avoid it. I don't know if you could put it like it is 'popular to insult...' it is more like a reality that we Muslims live with. And then I mean that when resources could be used in another way than done today it is very frustrating. The victims of this earthquake is good and well to raise money for, it is so well needed. But as a Muslim it is very easy to compare situations CREATED by some governments that by their means kill people by their own hands, and creates situations that leads to that and when money and help is raised for THESE victims, and now I in first hand think of the Palestinians and the Iraqis, but there are of course MANY more, then it is called to support terrorism and so on. So raising money for one cause is ok and I fully agree we should do that for Asia, but we should also be ALLOWED to help Muslims elsewhere. Without being called to support terrorism. Since terrorism has nothing to do with this. It is a very misused word.


I hope you can understand this point of view.


Regards

[Deen]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/stor...4710678,00.html


``What it does in the Muslim world, the rest of the world is giving an opportunity to see American generosity, American values in action,'' Powell said after meeting with Hassan Wirayuda, his Indonesian counterpart.


``America is not an anti-Islamic, anti-Muslim nation. America is a diverse society where we respect all religions,'' the secretary said


Powell said he hopes Muslim countries see the wide range of U.S. aid and involvement around the world, of which the disaster relief is only the latest example. U.S. involvement and cooperation ``is in the best interest of those countries and it's in our best interest,'' he said.


``We are supporting these activities because we believe it is in the best interest of those countries and its in our best interest, and it dries up those pools of dissatisfaction, which might give rise to terrorist activity,'' Powell said.


So basically, this is helping the victims of the tragedy to fight terrorism i.e. Islam but with a different face!


You see Ronnie, it's statements like these which raise suspicions as these are from the "horses mouth".


I'll let you decide what value this action is based upon, if any.

[ronniv93]

I don't see at all what point you are trying to make, Deen.


What is right from the "horses' mouth"? What are you seeing in his statements that I am not? I see nothing at all wrong, anti-Muslim, anti-Islam, self-centered, rude, ignorant, etc., etc., about his comments at all.


To see something of ill-intent in Powell's statements seems to be stretching it, in my opinon.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


ronniv welcome back though u never gone Alhamdulelah


why dont u instead try and ponder on the other posts and see what lessons can be derived of the incidents from a Muslim viewpoint. As for your point we can dedicate another thread and I will be happy to share my humble views.

[Deen]

I don't see at all what point you are trying to make, Deen.
What is right from the "horses' mouth"? What are you seeing in his statements that I am not? I see nothing at all wrong, anti-Muslim, anti-Islam, self-centered, rude, ignorant, etc., etc., about his comments at all.


To see something of ill-intent in Powell's statements seems to be stretching it, in my opinon.

Let me break it down for you to make it a little easier...


<b>We are supporting these activities because we believe it is in the best interest of those countries and its in our best interest, and it dries up those pools of dissatisfaction, which might give rise to terrorist activity,''</b> Powell said.


Try to think in a wholistic manner and take all the points into consideration rather than just a few lines.


What does terrorism have to do with helping the victims of the disaster?


Is the real aim to defeat terrorism and portray to the muslim world that the war against terrorism is not a war against Islam?

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


I found this reply on


http://www.almajdtv.com/prgs/archive/q.htm


in arabic and saw it very relevant thought to translate it and share it here


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


In a response around the Tsunami earthquake, Sheikh Abdel Azeez Fawzan Ibn Fawzan (Professor with Sharia department of Mohamed Ibn Saud University)


He said Allah u Akbar brother, this is a major and serious event, a major crisis that we should not in any way overlook or ignore. According to statistics, the earthquakes claimed around more than 125,000 lives and expected to increase to 200,000 with the count of the missed. As for the financial loss, it comes to tens of billions of dollars taking in consideration houses, resorts and villages, which were fully demolished and ended up just ruins with no sign of a human being or a construction. This is a sign from Allah that we as Muslims must seriously take in consideration. We are fully aware that such comprehensive disasters only occur due to the sins of people. Allah Say:


"And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much." (Quran 42:30). Such collective disasters and punishments that inflict whole villages, cities and countries are from Allah's punishments even if the nations were Muslims. During the ruling of Omar Ibn Alkhattab, an earthquake hit Medina, he became very upset and terribly scared. He said O people of Medina what did you commit of sins? In the name of Allah if this happens again I will not reside in the same place with you. A number of the predecessors state that when usury and zina (fornication) spread in a village (country or the like), Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`la Commands its destruction.


We all know that such resorts located in Muslim countries and other South Asian countries host fornication and homosexuality specially during holiday seasons of Christmas. That is why we say this is a sign of Allah that occurred during this season during which wicked and evil doers come from across all over the world to commit Zina and homosexuality. As a consequence, this disaster that befell the young and old, turned the green land into desert that is habituated with craws only we seek refuge to Allah from all this.


Again I repeat this is a major sign and a punishment for Muslims to seriously take in consideration. Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`la Gave this Ummah two guarantees against His punishment.


Allah Say:"


And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad ﻢﻠﺳﻭ ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﻪﻠﻟﺍ ﻰﻠﺻ) are amongst them," This is the first is that Allah Shall not inflict the Ummah with punishment while the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam was among us. Now as he is gone the other option is:" nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah's) Forgiveness." (Quran 8: 33)


We still have the repentance (Tawba) and Istighfar, we must repent to Allah and detach ourselves from all the deeds of ribald. We must correct and improve ourselves. We must fight Zina, homosexuality and corruption. We must struggle against all forms of injustice either on the individual or nation levels. We must fear Allah. Allah Is Jeleous in the sense of transgressing against His limits. Allah Say:


" And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwaa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.)." (Quran 7: 96)


And also:


" Evil (sins and disobedience of Allah, etc.) has appeared on land and sea"


Why


"because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds, etc.), that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah, and begging His Pardon).


(Quran 30: 41) I must further explain here that the first part of the Ayah is better translated as destruction appeared not evil and sins which is a consequent of what people did of sins and evil. What could be of more destruction than such earthquakes, floods, storms, wars, diseases that inflict either mankind or even plants. In addition to the many other forms of punishments inflicted upon mankind from Allah to alert them to return back to the correct path. I invoke upon Allah to Improve Islam and protect us against all kinds of evil.

[Dan]

Bismillah


As Salam alaikum


I think that it is important to understand that the reasons behind Allah's Actions will not always be fully understood by mankind. I am not sure that the tsunami was just a punishment. It can be seen as a mercy as well. Number one is that it has gotten muslims to give more charity recently. Hundreds of thousands of muslims go hungry every day without the assistance of their brothers and sisters in Deen. We as an ummah needed to be woken up with this disaster to get us to give to others in need. Also, those who made hajj, and those of us not as fortunate, were given a reason to supplicate more to Allah. Allah Loves when we supplicate to Him. This disaster has allowed us the opportunity to get closer to Allah. Lastly, do not those who die by drowning or get crushed considered martyrs? What a great blessing in the Afterlife! To me, this is a mercy from Allah to let women, disabled, and the elderly have the chance to be raised up on the level of the martyrs.


I am definately not saying the sheikh is incorrect, not at all. I just wanted to point out that Allah's Will is more complex than we will ever understand. I believe that if an event occurs and it causes me to reflect upon my life and Allah, then that event was Given to me by Allah. (Of course, everything is.) Yet if someone else interprets that event differently but it still makes them reflect, then Allah meant the event to cause those thoughts and reflections despite them being different. Is not this part of the beauty of the Qur'an?


As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Sobhan Allah u r correct Dan and this is the manifest of Allah's Wisdom that Allah Allows His devotees each to look at things from a different angle so that we compliment one another. Alhamdulelah that we also share