Al-Risala (English), March 1989

God’s Signs in Nature

1989 3 March 2 God’s Signs in Nature (272) Natural disasters can be looked at either as part of “the problem of evil”, as the philosophers put it, or as part of nature’s warning system – which is how the Prophets see them. God’s prophets explain calamities such as droughts, earthquakes, hurricanes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, etc., as scaled-down previews of the much greater calamity which will befall man on the Day of Resurrection. They are a powerful reminder that we are all headed for that dire day on which – in our destitute and helpless condition – we shall finally witness the appearance of God before us in all His Power and Glory. On that day the veil which has screened us from the awful truth will be torn away, and we shall be left, face to face with our Maker.

Man’s first instinct will be to flee, but there will be nowhere for him to take refuge. He will cry out for help, but there will be no one to come to his rescue. He will be like the climber who sees no escape from an avalanche, or the fisherman who sees the tempest sweep his boat irretrievably away.

Wise is the man who recognizes such calamities as a warning of nature rather than as a senseless evil. One who does so will humble himself before his Lord and attempt once again to bring moral order into the chaos of his life. He will thus set his foot on the path to Paradise. On the other hand, one who sees in natural disasters only signs of nature’s evil, will very soon find himself on the slippery downward path to hellfire and damnation.

People are losing just what they want to find

1989 23 March 2 People are losing just what they want to find (31) The Prophet said: “How wonderful paradise is Yet those who seek it have fallen asleep. And how terrible the Fire of Hell is. Yet those who dread it are also asleep.”