By
Azka Javeria and Sadaf Azhar – Hiba team writers
Even though floods are not new to Pakistan, this one has left us all baffled. The most recent statistics state that the death toll due to flooding has crossed 1000. It has left 35 million people either missing, homeless or displaced. People are trapped on land that is not theirs with no food or drinkable water. Other than the harm that has been done to human lives, Pakistan is now at the risk of grave food shortage due to flooded crops. What is left of the crops may be destroyed by a predicted locust attack.
What caused this ‘super flood’? There are two main categories of causes: physical and spiritual. The physical causes include questionable governance and planning as well as climate change. The spiritual causes relate to natural disasters being either a trial from Allah (swt) or His punishment for our sins. In reality, both these sets of causes are interlinked and any preventive steps we now take must factor in our actions in terms of the material as well as spiritual world.
Natural Calamities as a Punishment
If we take some time to reflect how we as a nation, or as an Ummah, callously treat our beliefs and Islamic injunctions we may realize that we are being punished for our sins by Allah (swt) through natural calamities. On an individual level, we lack even a basic understanding of Islamic theology and jurisprudence which leads to ambiguous and questionable morals and ethics. On a societal level, none of our systems, whether social, economic, political or judicial, are based on Islamic tenets and laws. Life, property and honour are fair game for anyone with power. Deen has fallen out of our lifestyles and we are increasingly clueless as to the purpose of our life, wallowing in the misery that unbridled materialism breeds.
There is nothing wrong in considering calamities as a punishment from Allah (swt) if it pushes us into redeeming action. What is absolutely out of question is blaming the calamity on other people’s sins. Islam teaches us to be introspective. Therefore, we need to assess our own motives and actions in the light of the Quran and Sunnah and consciously repent, purify our intentions and mend our lifestyle. Change must begin with ourselves.
Natural Calamities as a Test
We must also remember that the Prophet (sa) said: ‘Allah says, “I am just as My slave thinks I am…”’ (Bukhari). Let us remember Allah (swt) as Merciful and Forgiving rather than One who Punishes.
‘Allah tests those that He loves’. These tests can be as simple as a temporary affliction, such as a fever, or as severe as an earthquake. Abu Hurraira (rta) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: ‘If Allah wills good for someone, He afflicts him with trials.’ (Bukhari). The purpose of these tests is to bring the believers closer to Allah (swt).
When we turn to Allah (swt) for forgiveness and succor through our prayers and Sadaqah, these trials help to raise our ranks in the Hereafter. The Prophet (sa) said: ‘No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even if it were a prick of a thorn.’ (Bukhari). So the greater the calamity, the more patient and persevering our response, the more sins are washed away. Every time a Muslim undergoes times of stress and bears it patiently, Allah (swt) elevates his status.
Trials from Allah (swt) also serve the purpose of bringing out the best in us. They also are a means to reveal the true believers. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: ‘Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful and He will surely make evident the liars.’ (Al Ankabut 29:2-3)
It is the believers who will turn to Allah (swt), pray harder, seek forgiveness more often, help out the needy in any way they can in an attempt to gain His Pleasure and alleviate their anguish in this world and avoid the Hellfire in the next.
How do we determine whether a calamity is a test or a punishment?
It is Allah’s (swt) Domain to judge His slaves only in terms of whatever befalls them. As Muslims, we cannot judge whether the suffering of a people is a punishment or a test since we lack complete knowledge of events and people’s intentions. However, our reaction should be one that is motivated by mindfulness of Allah (swt)- a mixture of fear and hope. We should hope Allah (swt) is testing us and so increase in our worship and efforts to earn His pleasure. At the same time, we need to repent and assess whether our motives are truly for Allah (swt) and the Hereafter or simply for worldly gain. Muslims are doers- a people of action.
What should we do?
- Seek forgiveness
We must remember that the Prophet (sa) said: ‘Allah says: “I am just as My slave thinks I am…”’ (Bukhari). Let us remember Allah (swt) as Merciful and Forgiving rather than One who Punishes. He Himself says: ‘My mercy prevails over My wrath.’ (Bukhari). It is up to us now, to seek His mercy and seek refuge from His anger.
In terms of worship, this can be as simple but mindful supplication of Astaghfar. In terms of our daily routine, hold yourself accountable for every thought and action as defined by the Quran and Sunnah. Your repentance should be manifested in your altered outlook and efforts. Remember that repentance is so strong that it drove away the storm Allah (swt) had sent as punishment to Prophet Yunus’s (as) nation.
- Be grateful
In times of trials and tribulations, focusing on gratitude really matters. Some reports claim that even though many crops have been destroyed, if the water drains soon, the floods will have left the land so fertile that Pakistan might see its best crops next year. When Allah (swt) talks about the atrocities that the Pharaoh carried out in the Quran, He also says: ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe.’ (Ibrahim 14:7)
The next thing we must do is increase our supplication to Allah (swt) to save us from harm and take us out of this trial victorious. Demonstrate your gratefulness by sharing what Allah has blessed you with in the form of time, money and knowledge or skills.
- Humble yourself
Natural catastrophes make us realize just how weak and vulnerable we are. They truly change our perspective of life, making us realize that it is Allah (swt) alone who has the Power to give us life or death, starvation or sustenance, contentment or suffering. Such incidences also help us to assess our motives and desires- in reality, there is very little that we need to survive yet our whole lives are spent in the mindless pursuit of material comfort.
Allah Himself says ‘…We seized those nations with misfortune and hardship so that they might humble themselves.’ (Al Anaam 6:42).
- Help others
This can include donating money or volunteering in donation drives, rescue efforts, medical camps or awareness campaigns. Share whatever you can of your time, money and efforts- realize that Allah could have reversed the situation and you could be the one looking for help whilst surrounded by devastation.
- Educate yourself
This is an opportunity for us to educate ourselves about the causes and effects of climate change. We must plan, strategise and implement effective policies and lifestyle changes.. In Surah Yusuf, it is revealed to us that his community was forewarned about a famine through the king’s dream. Yusuf (as) offered to plan ahead and prevent hunger relying on the wisdom Allah (swt) had given him. He used a simple method of prudence and effective storage- he stored corn in their husks to prevent rotting or drying out.
We are well aware of greenhouse effects and carbon footprints. On an individual level, we need to alter our lifestyle to minimize wastage, plastic usage, and the consumption of fossil fuel. Likewise, we need to adopt urban farming, the habit of planting indeginious plants and fruit bearing trees. A Muslim is one who learns from his mistakes and sufferings so that he does not undergo the same again.
Also, Muslims must be morally and ethically accountable. Our efforts will remain futile unless and until we become God conscious and realize that whatever efforts we make are an effort to save mankind and the planet that Allah (swt) has blessed us with, thereby earning His Pleasure.
- Vote for change
With regard to governance, we must invest in improving and maintaining our irrigation systems, we must strictly implement tourism, industrial and building laws that minimize damage to the environment and allow for water treatment. We also need to develop a disaster management system that acts rapidly in the face of natural disasters, investing in manpower training and equipment that can be mobilized at short notice.
In the same way, it is important that Pakistan fights for its rights on the international front. Pakistan is suffering the effects of carbon emission by developed countries and it is battling the deluge that India releases from its dams whenever it fears flooding. We need to clamour for aid in developing systems that help prevent such calamities and we must ask the international community to penalize India whenever it breaks the Indus Water treaty. For all of these efforts to succeed, of course, it is essential that as a society we rid ourselves of corruption and nepotism, working only for the greater good.
There is no denying that Divine decree is involved in all that happens on Earth, no matter how big or small. But this calamity can also be a lesson from Allah for our inaction about both the immorality around us and the fact that we do not raise our voice against the abuse of our rights.
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