Libya Floods: A Divine Sign

‘Corruption has flourished on land and sea as a result of people’s actions and He will make them taste the consequences of some of their own actions so that they may turn back.’ (30: 42)

 

 

Consider the heart-breaking images emerging from Libya these days... Devastating floods that hit parts of eastern Libya last week killed more than 11,000 people. According to international media reports, the death toll could be even higher – as much as 20,000 – after whole neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Derna were swept away into the sea. More than 10,000 people are missing amid search and rescue efforts. While Derna has been by far the worst-hit city after dams overwhelmed the city, unleashing a torrent of water on it; the storm also killed people in the towns of Bayda, Susa, Um Razaz and Marj, according to Health Minister Othman Abduljalil.

 

 

The water that rushed into Derna was described as looking like a huge tsunami. While the floods were unprecedented, what happened in Libya cannot be explained as purely the result of a natural disaster. The oil-rich country has been mired in conflict since a 2011 uprising that toppled long-ruling dictator Muammar Gaddafi. With Libya divided between two rival administrations, the storm has exposed vulnerabilities in the nation. Years of neglect and corruption, poor maintenance of public infrastructure, and years of political infighting made the country particularly vulnerable and ill-equipped to tackle Storm Daniel, worsening the tragedy.

 

 

There is little doubt that catastrophic disasters are frequently unfolding around the world. Extreme ecological events are unsettling people’s lives in different nations. Unprecedented floods, forest fires, droughts, earthquakes, etc. are leading to humongous destruction of property, loss of human lives, and much suffering. People are anxiously looking around wondering which land is going to be pulverized next in the fury of nature. Is it not time for humanity to revert to spirituality in quest of Divine mercy and benevolence?

  

All the elements of nature created by God contain within them both creative and destructive potential. Divine mercy and grace and blessings are visited on a people who stand for promoting goodness.  Prophet Noah (as) states: ‘I said to them: seek forgiveness of your Lord; He is the Great Forgiver. He will send down rain on you in abundance, and will help you with wealth and children, and will bestow gardens on you, and will cause rivers to flow for you.’ (71:11-13)

On the other hand, the same elements of nature can be unleashed by God Almighty to destroy and devastate a nation steeped in inequity, conflicts, oppression and corruption. It is striking to notice that the bursting of dams and the consequent devastation of habitations, like what is happening in Libya now, is subtly alluded to in the Holy Qur’an as a mode of divine punishment on a people. Indeed, the ultimate Word of God contains several awe-inducing descriptions on the scenes of destruction from the past when nations faced their Day of Judgement:

 

 

‘Have you [Prophet] considered how your Lord dealt with [the people] of Ad, of Iram, [the city] of lofty pillars, whose like has never been made in any land, and the Thamud, who hewed into the rocks in the valley, and the mighty and powerful Pharaoh? All of them committed excesses in their lands, and spread corruption there: your Lord let a scourge of punishment loose on them. Your Lord is always watchful.’ [89: 7-15]

 

Destruction in the times of a Divine Messenger

 

It is also instructive to remember the Divine principle of individual accountability and collective punishment after a Warner is raised amidst the people: ‘Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good; whoever strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden, nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger.’ [17:16]

 

‘Your Lord would never destroy towns without first raising a messenger in their midst to recite Our messages to them’. [28:60]

 

‘Company of jinn and mankind! Did messengers not come from among you to recite My revelations to you and warn that you would meet this Day?’ They will say, ‘We testify against ourselves.’ The life of this world seduced them, but they will testify against themselves that they rejected the truth: your Lord would not destroy towns for their wrongdoing if they had not been warned.’ [6:131-132]

 

‘Never have We destroyed a town without sending down messengers to warn it, as a reminder from Us: We are never unjust.’ [26: 209-210]

 

‘Never did We send a Prophet to any town but We seized the people thereof with adversity and suffering, that they might become humble.’ [7:95]

 

Khalifatullah’s Message

For the last 23 years, the Divine servant of our times, the man with an inspired, holy mission to call everyone to God in this era, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius has been sharing the Divine message for our times. Humanity is in danger. We need course-correction at every level in the paths that we have chosen for our present and our future, being mindful of God’s commands and the limits prescribed for a just living. Speaking against the backdrop of the many disasters striking the world, Hazrat Saheb (aba) made certain pertinent observations and a message for everyone listening:

‘If we count all the calamities which Allah manifested since the beginning of the Divine Manifestation in year 2000-2001, then we would need thousands of pages to cover them all. The fact remains that those calamities happened and many lives also were lost, some were culprits and some were innocents, and the judging of both categories of people belong to Allah. Had a prophet of Allah got the licence to judge people, then he would have done all that is in his might to make them all good believers with true sincere faith, but my dear ones, faith is in the balance of Allah to judge. A prophet of Allah can only say something definitely only if he has got clear revelations from Allah, which marks a prophecy to the people of the earth to witness to his truthfulness. Else, a prophet of Allah, like any human being does not have the power to see the contents of hearts and judge accordingly.

 

May Allah enable the truth-seekers to perceive the truth from Allah with the eyes of Allah. May Allah guide their hearts to perceive the truthfulness of the Divine Manifestation of this age and to abide to the pure laws of Allah as laid down in the Holy Qur’an. I have come to revive the spiritually dead from among all mankind. Mine is a universal mission. Should you open your heart wholeheartedly to the light which Allah is manifesting in this era, then you shall Insha-Allah receive this light without any fear or doubt. Allah shall guide you to His chosen one who has come to guide you all to Him, to learn of the best ways to reach Allah with a purified heart. This light of Allah is pure heavenly water; the water from Allah. Oh you thirsty of divine blessings and solace, come and partake of this water which shall grant you everlasting life. Insha-Allah.’ [Friday Sermon of 13 March 2015 ~21 Jamad’ul Awwal 1436 Hijri ].