A sensitive and serious question

Mishmish wrote: Maryga wrote: Can we still continue to blame the west after experiencing the Tsunami, the earthquakes etc where the majority of those affected were Muslims? Man is unjust, but Allah always dispenses justice. If we are so good why are we experiencing Allah's wrath? What is wrong with us? Where are we failing? Shamil, What does the Ayat you quoted have to do with the original point listed above? Yes, there are numerous Ayats in the Quran that speak of the punishment of those that go astray, but none that specifically state that natural disasters will be called down only upon the heads of Muslims. Perhaps I am wrong in this, I certainly am no scholar, but if there is such an Ayat then please post it. If, as these posts suggest, Allah(SWT) is dispensing justice upon the Muslim Ummah for our wrongs, then where is the justice in the death of the hundreds of children killed in the Pakistani earthquake. They were still young enough to be completely innocent.

No, it does not state anything specific about natural disasters. I simply quoted the ayat that most specifically states that if the Ummah goes astray Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala would replace it with another people. One could assume that this implies the Ummah would face destruction and be replaced by a more worthy people, but certainly this is not a necessary conclusion and is not attested to in Tafsir Ibn-Kathir. But it does clearly state that if the Ummah goes astray Allah subhanahu ta'ala will simply choose another, more worthy people.

As for the rest of the argument concerning natural disasters, I agree with the position that we cannot make any conclusions about them being retribution against the Ummah. In fact, the Tsunami affected a great number of non-Muslim peoples. I simply wanted to add this verse into the discussion as it does in fact warn that there will be consequences not simply to individuals but to the entire Ummah for failing to live up to the tenets of Islam.

Assalamu Alaikum:

I personally believe that having to live with the knowledge that I had once had the favor of Allah(SWT) and losing that favor to another people because of my failure to obey His laws would be a far greater punishment than death at a time when I still had hope of Jennah.

There are things that are worse than death.

Is it possible, just possible that the tsumani was caused by a shift in techtonic plates deep under the ocean floor which just happened to be near a part of the world where the inhabitants are primary Muslim and that the Hurricanes in America were caused by high pressure systems that tend to exist in the Gulf are this time of year and that I stubbed my toe this morning because I wasn't watching were I was going.

Just a thought.

Wa-alaikum-as- Salaam. Mishmish wrote :�What I meant was that there is nothing in the Quran that indicates that Allah(SWT) would specifically rain destruction down upon the Muslim Ummah. None of the Ayats you mention describe any such direct retribution upon Muslims�.

Can you please define to me who a �Muslim� is? Does a person simply by virtue of his birth in a Muslim household become a Muslim? Does a person simply because he bears a Muslim name and says the Kalimah without deep faith and the true belief in the hereafter be a Muslim?

036.011: Thou canst but admonish such a one as follows the Message and fears the (Lord) Most Gracious, unseen: give such a one, therefore, good tidings, of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous.

The above verse from Sura Ya-Sin indicates that a believer is one who follows the Message and fears Allah the Most Gracious without actually having seen Him. How many of us actually fit into the definition of �Muslims� or �believers�? How many of us follow all the commandments in the Qur�an?

The verse Shamil quoted also has very deep significance to the topic under discussion. Read carefully:

 47.38. Behold, ye are those invited to spend (of your substance) in the Way of Allah. But among you are some that are niggardly. But any who are niggardly are so at the expense of their own souls. But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not be like you!

Allah has emphasised upon charity after prayer in a great number of places in the Qur�an. In the above verse Allah has said that if we don�t obey His command He is not in need of us and He will replace us by other people. Who is this addressed to? To those who have believed! It is not enough to believe without putting Allah�s commands into practise. We have to reflect upon the signs of Allah and admonish each other. None of us are perfect and may Allah protect us and guide us all to the right path, Ameen!

023.093:Say: "O my Lord! if Thou wilt show me (in my lifetime) that which they are warned against,-

023.094:"Then, O my Lord! put me not amongst the people who do wrong!"

023.095: And We are certainly able to show thee (in fulfilment) that against which they are warned.

023.096: Repel evil with that which is best: We are well acquainted with the things they say.

023.097: And say "O my Lord! I seek refuge with Thee from the suggestions of the Evil Ones.

023.098: "And I seek refuge with Thee O my Lord! lest they should come near me."