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As temperatures drop and the world's response to victims of the earthquake falls far short of expectations, this evening we learn of the world's shortage of sub-zero tents. In a region where 500,000 tents are needed, a shortfall of 200,000 tents is nothing short of catastrophic.
Disaster fatigue they call it. Hurricane Katrina left us all with a deluge of e-mails showing how the United States was being punished for its actions in Iraq and elsewhere. I suppose, the same commentators will opine that the people of India, Pakistan and Kashmir are also being punished for their sins. In fact, it seems that everyone is sinning except these commentators, oh to be amongst the sinless!
But this isn't about who has and who hasn't sinned. It is about the wisdom of Allah. Why does Allah do what Allah does? The question cannot be answered by any of us, suffice to say that in our desire to understand we all offer opinions.
Despite the injustices that occur in this world we find in this confusion a certain humanity within us all. Earlier this evening the spokesman for Islamic Relief was on Channel 4 news making the observation that whilst a female collector in her scarf was out in the street raising money for victims of the earthquake, a homeless man stood up, handed her the money from his collection tin saying that those people need this money more than he did. How beautiful indeed humanity is.
How freely we associate the punishment and suffering of people with the sins which they may or may not have done. How unjustly we may interpret the wisdom of Allah Almighty by making such associations. Allah does as He wills, and Allah knows best why it is that we as people have suffered in this year with such atrocities as the hunger of Niger, hurricane Katrina, the earthquake, amongst other atrocities.
There was an incident at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) when the Quraish and Bakr tribes combined their forces and attacked the tribe of Khuza breaching the treaty they signed. The tribe of Kaab went to Medina and sought help from the Prophet. Now whilst this incident doesn't relate to the situations of natural disasters as such, it is more the words that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke on this occasion which resounds so clearly in my mind. Hearing what happened, the Prophet said, "May you be helped O Amr ibn Salim." Then, as a cloud appeared in the sky, he said, "This cloud will provide help for the tribe of Kaab."
The homeless man who donated his money acts as a reminder to the power of humanity. The man who has nothing has everything. So what of those of us who have everything we want, but nothing we need?
Allah Almighty says in Surah al-`Asr (1-3), [ By time, man is indeed prey to perdition, except for those who believe, do the righteous deeds, urge each other to seek truth, and urge each other to be steadfast].
May Allah Almighty make us of those who believe, who do righteous deeds, urge one another to truth and urge one another to be steadfast in faith, ameen.
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