01-24-2005, 03:55 PM
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