About Wars and Catastrophes

"'O Soldier, why Allah decrees Wars and Catastrophes?' I was asking question to a soldier, who was leaning on a boulder," the Moon, began her story, after saying Basmalah and greeting with a Salaam. Then she said, "After I looked carefully, it turned out, one of his legs, was stepping on the trigger of a mine. However, there was not the slightest bit of trepidation in his eyes, even though I knew his life was at the end of his head. His rifle, was put on his chest, was cocked, ready to fire." He smiled, "All perfect is due Allah," says he, "Allah is The All Wise, and wisdom implies placing everything in its correct position; there is great wisdom behind everything that Allah has created and legislated, which His slaves may or may not grasp. It is those scholars with deep understanding and firm knowledge, who may comprehend some of these wisdoms. Allah did not create anything uselessly or aimlessly.

Allah mentions in His Book, the different wisdoms behind His rulings and legislations. He says regarding Zakat, that it eradicates sins, elevates peoples ranks, and purifies their souls. Regarding fasting, He says, '... that you may become righteous.' Allah clarifies the wisdom behind Jihaad, that Islaamic legislation be implemented upon the entire earth, and that all people adhere to it.

And why did Allah create life and death? He answers, '... to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed .' Why is it that the war booty left behind by the disbelievers, which the Muslim warriors obtain without a fight, is not distributed amongst the warriors, but rather, is spent in certain ways? The reason and wisdom is that wealth will not remain in the hands of just one category of people only, and will be distributed amongst all sectors of the community.

Allah informed us that everything He has decreed, was recorded in the Preserved Slate, fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth, and that there is no disaster except that it has been recorded therein, but why did Allah inform us about this? This is because, when one is afflicted with a disaster, it may cause him to lose some of his wealth, be bereaved of a child, or other such things; however, one should always remember that everything has been recorded and registered so that when one, for example, suddenly receives a large amount of money, he should not become arrogant and boastful.

When the Companions, left Makkah in the state of Ihraam, Allah made some animals appear before them, so that they could have killed them without the need to shoot an arrow or spear; moreover, the Arabs loved to hunt; Allah decreed that the animals be very close to these Muslims, which was a very strange thing, but why did this happen when a person in the state of Ihraam is prohibited from hunting? The answer is, it was in order to know, those who adhere to His command of refrain from hunting whilst in Ihraam. It was a test that would result in elevating the ranks of those who remain steadfast and increasing their reward.

Why did Allaah decree that people are not equally rich or poor? Had this been the case then no president would have found a driver or a worker to work for him, nor would there have been any labourers to build, clean, manufacture, and so on; it is a great wisdom, without which life would not function properly. Allaah says, 'Do they distribute the mercy of your Rabb? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service.'

This is concerning this life, but regarding the Hereafter, Allaah says, 'But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.'

What is the benefit of mentioning all these different examples? It is to show that there is a wisdom behind everything that Allah creates, and all that He does … nothing Allaah does or decrees can be purely evil… no matter how evil it may seem, it must have good in it … rather evil does exist in what Allah creates.

There is a wisdom behind everything that appears evil; snakes, scorpions, poverty, diseases, famine, earthquakes, volcanoes, and even the existence of disbelief upon the earth; when people kill each other, it happens for a reason. There is wisdom behind everything, even the creation of Satan, which only the people of knowledge can comprehend.

Creating opposites proves the perfect and complete ability of Allah, for example the creation of darkness and light, day and night, Satan who is the symbol of all evil, and Jibreel who is the symbol of all good. In this, there is always definitely something related to exposing some of the names of Allah, such as The Prevailing, The Severe in Punishment, The Owner of Retribution, and so on; these names of Allah must be applied practically, and if people were as angels, then the effect of these names would never be evident. Moreover, Satan causes some people to sin, then they repent, and thereby the names of Allah such as the all Merciful, The ever Forgiving, and so on become evident. Had it not been that Satan was created and whispered to people, enticing them to sin, then the effect of such names of Allah would never have been made clear.

This is how servitude can be established; had it not been that Allaah created Satan—who entices people to disbelieve and perform evil deeds—there would not have been Jihaad; and had there not been Jihaad there would not have been martyrs. Thus people’s ranks and status differ due to the creation of Satan, and due to his creation, a group of people will enter into Hell—because they obeyed him—and another will be admitted into Paradise—because they disobeyed him; had not been for Satan, people would have had nothing stimulating them to do evil. Thus, all that Allah creates has a great wisdom behind it.

Likewise, decreeing disasters and agonies has a great wisdom behind it. When some people are afflicted with pain and anxiety, they begin to ask, 'What did I do to deserve all this? Why all this pain? Why does Allah make me suffer? Why does Allaah make me go through this?

These pains and disasters are tests. Agonies and disasters condition people and strengthen their faith; it is a proof for the weakness of mankind, and if people did not suffer from any sicknesses—that prevent them from sinning—then they would have been even more sinful and evil; people get sick and transgress as much as they do, so how much worse would the situation be if they never became sick and their bodies were always strong?

Disasters and hardships expiate sins; a slave is not rescued from the Hellfire due to his good deeds, but rather due to the disasters which befall him—after the mercy of Allah; nothing befalls the Muslim, even as minor as the prick of a thorn, except that Allah will write a reward for him as a result, or wipe away one of his sins, or elevate his rank in Paradise—and hardships continue to befall the Muslim until he meets Allah without having any sins in his record.

Healthy people realise the favours of Allah upon them, when they see the sick, and likewise, the sick realise the favours that Allah bestowed upon them, when they were once healthy, which causes them to approach Allah and supplicate to Him. When a person becomes sick he humbles himself to Allah.

Moreover, disasters happen in order for the Muslims to aid one another, or why else do disasters befall people? Why does Allah decree disasters to befall the Muslims?

Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ), said, 'The similitude of the believers in regard to their love, affection and mutual-compassion is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body shares the agony, sleeplessness and fever that arises from it.' Many disasters have befallen the Muslims, and many others are expected which may be even worse than those that have come, and people ask, 'Why? Why do the disbelievers overpower the Muslims? Why are the Muslims always subject to bombardments, killing, displacement and looting of their resources?' If we Muslims do not have firm belief then we will despair and continue to keep merely asking why, but those with insight know that Allah does not do or decree anything except that there is wisdom behind it.

The Muslim nation has been afflicted with many disasters which resulted in their return to Allah; people now are heedless; indulging in worldly pleasures; enjoying permissible pleasures as well as many impermissible ones; so what is the means of getting them to return to the straight path? One way is these disasters which Allaah decrees to befall them, these disasters make people humble themselves before Allaah and raise their hands in supplication to Him. Therefore, we must be farsighted; we must look at all matters with insight and faith—and with the guidance of the Quran.'

And to dispel his boredom, our hero, softly singing,

In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria

Conditioned to respond to all the threats

In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets

Mister Krushchev said, "We will bury you"

I don't subscribe to this point of view

It'd be such an ignorant thing to do

If the Russians love their children too 

How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?

There is no monopoly on common sense

On either side of the political fence

We share the same biology, regardless of ideology

Believe me when I say to you

I hope the Russians love their children too 

There is no historical precedent

To put the words in the mouth of the president?

There's no such thing as a winnable war

It's a lie we don't believe anymore

Mister Reagan says, "We will protect you"

I don't subscribe to this point of view

Believe me when I say to you

I hope the Russians love their children too 

We share the same biology, regardless of ideology

But what might save us, me and you

Is if the Russians love their children too *)

Suddenly, the sound of rifle cocking, sounded many times, the enemy had surrounded him, the Soldier said, 'It's time!' Then, he lifted his leg, and... uh wait! how it sounds, and what's next the destiny of our Hero, I'll leave it to your imagination, to make it more exciting!"

Before leaving, the Moon said, "The best month to fast in, after the obligatory fasting of Ramadhaan, is fasting the sacred month of Muharram. It is recommended to fast the days of this month; the reward is multiplied and it protects one from Hell,, so show Allah good from within yourselves. Happy Ramadan Mobarak guys! And Allah knows best."

Citations & Reference:
- Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid, Why Allah (SWT) Decrees Wars and Catastrophes, IslamHouse.
*) "Russians" written by Sting Gordon Sumner & Serge Prokofieff

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Rosa and the Butterfly

"Ovid, the Roman Poet, had a wide vocabulary, a brilliant sense of METAPHOR, and told about the Metamorphoses. He emphasized that Justice and Peace defined the Golden Age. He added that in this age, men did not yet know the art of navigation and therefore did not explore the larger world. Further, no man had knowledge of any arts but primitive agriculture. In the Silver Age, Jupiter, or Thursday, introduces the seasons, and men consequently learn the art of agriculture and architecture. In the Bronze Age, Ovid wrote, men were prone to warfare, but not impiety. Finally, in the Iron Age, men demarcated nations with boundaries; they learned the arts of navigation and mining; they were warlike, greedy, and impious. Truth, modesty, and loyalty were nowhere to be found, " the Moon greeted with a Salaam, after saying Basmalah. 

Then she proceed, "What is become of that Ages, when Nature continually smiled on Humankind? That Golden Age, mentioned by Ovid, the picture of which still pleases and delights us? This is a sweet, though vain and fruitless Wish, 

But I do not here, recall those Serene Days, and calm and happy Nights, when Nature was most gay, beautiful and charming ; when Flora had more variety of Flowers, more fruits Pomona. This is not what gives me the least Chagrin or Uneasiness; no, I regret other Delights than these; naked Faith, and simple Candor, Virtues that possessed the Heart, and even an Ignorance of what was criminal and vitious.

Yes, these were the Treasures of this happy Age, when Discourse was not dress’d up with designing Art, nor Words and Thoughts, fatally separated by an eternal Divorce. And what? will someone say, 'Were these Creatures Men? So singular in their Conduct, and so different from us.

Yes, this was certainly the case, these good, honest people, were our Forefathers. And can you believe Gentlemen that you are their posterity? That you descended from such sincere ancestors? Nowadays, you give lessons of continual falsehood, everything is deceitful and corrupted. Oaths and Promises are meer songs; he is an ass that trust to the one, and a fool that keeps the other.

To see our selves in this unhappy states, makes us at present, regret no more the Golden Age. No, it would be too much, to wish for the return of those blest Hours. The utmost of my wishes is, to have the Bronze Age return, for at that Time, flourished, my beautiful Coquet.

Once upon a time, there was a Rose growing in a fine Garden, full of beautiful Flowers, which had an eager desire to triumph over all the blooming Flowers of the Spring.

A youthful Butterfly, with gay shining painted Wings, fit to be her Favourite, at the rising of the Sun, sighed out to her his tender passion. The Rosa, blushed and sighed. In those Days, it was not so as with us, no room for long delays, they soon struck up the bargain.

A youthful Butterfly, with gay shining painted Wings, fit to be her Favourite, at the rising of the Sun, sighed out to her his tender passion. The Rosa, blushed and sighed. In those Days, it was not so as with us, no room for long delays, they soon struck up the bargain.

'I am yours, my Soul,' says he, 'and I am always yours,' says she, 'my Dear, my Life, my All,' and swore forever to be true.

The contented Butterfly left her for a time, and did not return at noon. 'And are all your flames so lovely, so sincere, so soon grown cold and languid ? It is an Age—it was about three or four Hours—since you have paid your Vows to me, the Sworn Mistress of your Heart, the silliest and most awkward Flower alive, a wretch, no soul regards in this enclosure; but, swarthy as she is, it seems she has her Charms.

'Nay, you've caressed the senseless Tulip; paid your devotions to that yellow faced gill-flirt, the Jonquille, and the Tuberose with her flinking breath. Is thus you betray me, persidious creature? And are you pleased in doing so?'

Our young Master, theButterfly, answered her in the same stile. 'You do well, Madam, coquet as you are, thus to condemn my little Airs; but I have only done like you. For I must tell you, I am not such a blind Fool, but have taken notice of your volatile amours.

With what excess of pleasure, have I seen you smile at the endearing breathings of the amorous Zephire! This indeed, I could excuse. But not content with that, I’ve seen you, wonderfully pleased with the eager kissing of the Bee. This sweet Gentleman, had no sooner taken his leave, but like an Insatiate, you admitted the rude embraces of the clownish Hornet; nay, you have prostituted your self to every little scandalous Fly.' The young butterfly left, leaving the withered Rosa. 

Roses are red, violets are blue. When a rose dies, a thorn is left behind. The sharp thorn, often produces delicate roses. I recalled a poem, by the Irish poet, Thomas Moore, 'The Last Rose of Summer,'

'Tis the last rose of summer,

Left blooming alone;

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred,

No rose-bud is nigh,

To reflect back her blushes

Or give sigh for sigh!

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one.

To pine on the stem;

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go, sleep thou with them;

Thus kindly I scatter

Thy leaves o'er the bed,

Where thy mates of the garden

Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,

When friendships decay,

And from love's shining circle

The gems drop away!

When true hearts lie withered,

And fond ones are flown,

Oh! who would inhabit

This bleak world alone?

The Moon took her leave, saying, "Providence in Love has so ordered it, that Justice should proportionably distributed to everybody. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:
- Sieur De La Motte, One Hundred New Court Fables, Peter-Nofter-Row

- Sir Samuels Garth, Ovid's Metamorphoses, J.F. Dove

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