When the Earth Is Shaken

We often behave as though we are in control, but despite all our plotting and planning, we have no control over the events of this life. When we manage to secure a good job, when our children become sick, or when we receive wonderful news, it is all out of our hands. Neither money nor power can help us to control our destiny. The richest man on earth cannot prevent his journey to the grave. Allah alone, in His infinite plan, knows what will happen to us. Since time began He has planned all the events of our lives.

Imagine for a moment those people in New Orleans. Ordinary people, going to work to provide for their families and maybe save up for a holiday. Very ordinary people, with the same cares and worries as anyone else, like what school to send their children to, what car they might be able to afford, how they can pay for their gas and electricity. And then something happens that destroys their lives. A mighty hurricane stirs up from the Gulf of Mexico and kills thousands of people.

Imagine those Shiite pilgrims in Iraq. They would have been looking forward to their pilgrimage for weeks. They would have made special prayers in the days and weeks before the pilgrimage. Maybe they saved up for special clothes. They certainly didn’t know when eating breakfast that morning that a thousand of their people would die later in the day.

And yet, even though we know that our final hour can come at any time, even though we know we could die at any moment, we forget about the presence of Allah in our lives. We neglect our prayers. We fail to show kindness to our brothers and sisters. We even take for granted our spouses and children, even though each morning we part it could be for the last time. It is too late to cry over those dearest to us when we hear that a terrible accident has occurred.

We read in the Glorious Qur’an:

(When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake. And when the earth throws out its burdens. And men will say: “What is the matter with it?”) (Az-Zalzalah 99:1-3)

And yet we forget that this moment can come at any time, and when that time comes it will be too late to change our ways:

(That day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.) (Az-Zalzalah 99:6-8)

Many people in the world see a disastrous hurricane or a tragedy on a bridge as an uncontrollable coincidence, and they learn nothing from it.

As Muslims, let us be mindful that everything, al-hamdu lillah, is part of Allah’s plan for the world, and let us remember that one day our deeds will be weighed in a balance. Let us hope, in sha’ Allah, that we have the sense to use our time in this world wisely.

Idris Tawfiq is a British writer who became a Muslim five years ago. For many years, he was head of religious education in different schools in the United Kingdom. Before embracing Islam, he was a Roman Catholic priest. He now lives in Egypt. You can visit his website at www.idristawfiq.com.