By Nishthar Idroos –

Nishthar Idroos

Twelve years after the devastating tsunami another tragedy strikes Sri Lanka. The resplendent island is sent reeling. An attack from something as innocuous as water takes a calamitous toll. The nation is grief-stricken as human life and property takes a huge toll. Receding waters unveil the sheer magnitude. International press confirmed the destruction as being considerable with over 4000 homes fully or partly damaged and just over 100 lives lost.

Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the supposedly life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. People overtime maybe unconsciously capitulated to the myth that Mother Nature is independent and possesses unbridled autonomy and power to manifest her voracity and fury wherever and whenever to vent her anger. She supposedly shows this ear-splitting, cacophonous roar to devour a mouthful quite indiscriminately and release a thunderous eructation soon after. Sounds a trifle hilarious yet the belief is mainstream and ably supported by the world media.

We have intelligent and wise people in the community whose understanding of life’s trials is so puzzling. I read an article recently by a supposedly wise and intelligent person. I am reproducing an excerpt for the benefit of the reader. “We prayed for rain and asked the rain gods to save us from the sun god’s cruelty. Rain gods did answer our prayers, but they wreaked havoc and chaos. They destroyed our lives, our loved and dear ones, our crops and our cattle. Rain gods mercilessly destroyed entire villages and separated families” I like to ask something so obviously pertinent here? Who is this rain god? And who is this sun god? Can someone describe them to me please? Educate me their attributes and anything more if you have any such info? Describe an authentic book concerning the subject so that I can lay my hands on it.

Can some of us get together and teach a lesson or two to these pseudo gods? How dare do they wreak havoc on our lands? Which semi or demi god chieftain in-charge ordered these attacks. I am running for my rapier. I want to challenge this god, one of many who had taken the law on to his hands. This is not funny. I want to ensure that neither rain god nor sun god never, ever come anywhere close to Sri Lanka again? How can an imbecile mythological god cause such harm to man and his assets?

We have heard of predator drone teams working in well-fortified security zones inside the United States of America, unleashing diabolical weapons to places in Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan with deadly consequences. Supposed surgical strikes that blows the brains of unweaned toddlers and their parents. Laser-guided hellfire missiles that can hit moving vehicles, piloted remotely from bases in the USA. Operator directs cameras and radar to collect intelligence. Analysts select targets, commanders order the strike. Manmade destructions like the one stated above has a distinct process and a fully identified destroyer. There is a clear operator behind the machine who targets at the zone of destruction.

Using the same principle who then targets destruction with water and other sources from above and beneath the earth? Who causes earthquakes and other forms of disasters that regularly take huge tolls?

Earth is a watery place. About 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water. Surely these Cyclones, tornedoes and other forces of destruction can direct or self-navigate themselves to safer areas obviously not inhabited by humans thus saving life. But can they actually do that?

To pursue knowledge man would go to any extreme. He would go to a faraway land of his choice or purchase a book at whatever price just to fulfill the need. Why wouldn’t man find out as to who is capable of actually causing such mind boggling destruction without arrogating omnipotence to forces that in essence are lamentably powerless and woefully non-lethal without its Absolute Controller.

Let’s ponder briefly how previous nations experienced destruction with water. Who else can methodically and meticulously convey this to us?

We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; the flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Al Qur’an, 29:14) The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) was sent to his people by Allah. They had distanced themselves from the commandments of the Lord and ascribed partners to Him. The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) warned them that they should serve Allah alone and abandon the false worship which they had established in their community. But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They were a blind people. (Al Qur’an 7:64) When the time of punishment came, the water in the ground combined with violent rains to cause a giant flood.

Among the trials with which Allah tests His slaves in order to distinguish the believers from the disbelievers is that which He mentions in the verse “And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones” (Al Qur’an 2:155-157)

I conclude this short piece with a warning from the Qur’an “O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Al Qu’ran 2:21) In this short verse who is the Lord of the World’s addressing? Does the verse say O Christians or O Jews or O Muslims or O Buddhists or O Hindus, etc? This is an all-inclusive statement. It simply states “O mankind” – whoever considers that he or she is a member of this grand community called mankind then this message is for you.

It’s time to take heed people.

The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut’s household: them We delivered by early Dawn,-  As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning. (Surat al-Qamar:, 33-36)