beable to know that He is with us in our daily life, it is a great
comfort. However, I was so stunning by the air plane crash of JFK jr.,
I could not stop crying. I don't understand why Allah sometimes acts
in asuch mysteroius way. I feel that we as human beings really don't
have control over lives. When I am in a difficult situation, I often
pray to Allah to help me go through the tough time, sometimes I feel
my prayers are being answered,that Allah is soclose to me; yet other
times I feel He is so distanced from us, prayers to Allah are the only
way for me to get comforts from the Almighty, but I still don't
understand why tragedyhappened so often.
Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah for your coming to Islam. Allaah has blessed you
by making you Muslim. And praise be to Allaah for the fact that you
feel Allaah is with you, for this is what brings peaceto the heart and
makes deeds righteous.
Please understand that Allaah sends trials upon people so as to
distinguish between them, so that it will be known who will bear it
with patience and the hope of reward from Allaah, and who will be
filled with despair and will resent the decree of Allaah. So those who
are patient will be rewardedwith Paradise and those who despair will
be punished with torment, grief and pain in this world, before the
Hereafter.
The plane crash which you mentioned is of this nature. The people on
board were either committed Muslims, so this disaster is an expiation
for their sins and will raise their status, as it is a kind of
martyrdom (shahaadah) for which they will be rewarded, and their
families will be rewarded if they bear their loss with patience; or
they were kuffaar and evildoers who did not obey their Lord, so the
accident was a punishment from Allaah and vengeance from Him.
A Muslim must not feel sad for the death of non-Muslims because every
human being is destined to die. But dying before we Muslimswere able
to guide themto Islam is our source of grief and sadness because who
ever is not Muslim is doomed in hell.
There is nothing mysterious about this as you claim. It is the decree
of Allaah which happens at every instant; we must bear it with
patience and not let grief overwhelm us. The crash of this airplane is
a sign from Allaah to mankind, to remind them of the greatness of the
power of Allaah.
Allaah says concerning ships (interpretation of the meaning):
"And among His Signs are the ships in the sea like mountains.
If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, then they would become
motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this are signs for
everyone patient and grateful.
Or He may destroy them (by shipwreck) because of that which their
(people) have earned. And He pardons much.
And those who dispute (polytheists, with Our Messenger Muhammad) as
regards Our Ayaat (proofs, signs, verses of Islamic Monotheism) may
know that there is no place of refuge for them (from Allaah's
punishment)
So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this
worldly life, but thatwhich is with Allaah (Paradise) is better and
more lasting for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah
IslamicMonotheism) and put their trust in their Lord (concerning all
of their affairs)."
[al-Shoora 42:32-36]
Plane crashes and other disasters serve to remindpeople that no matter
how much progress theymake in earthly terms and how much strength they
gain, Allaah is stronger and more powerful than they. What they do and
the developments they have made will not save them from the punishment
and decree of Allaah if it comes to them. Let people go back and
lookat themselves, and realize how incapable and weak they really are,
and how strong, mighty and powerful Allaah is.
Please realize that Allaah is close and that He responds to the call
of the one who is in need. Allaah does not distance Himself from man
unless man distances himself from Allaah and becomes arrogant.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And when My slaves askyou (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer
them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the
invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any
mediator or intercessor).So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so
that they may be led aright" [al-Baqarah 2:186]
So no one should feel that Allaah is far away from him, unless he has
done something to affect the relationship between him and Allaah.If he
puts matters right between him and Allaah,then he will not feel
thatgrief and distance.
The feelings of grief and loneliness that have overwhelmed you are
from the accursed Shaytaan who wants to cause grief to those
whobelieve; he does not want to see them active in doing actions of
obedience to Allaah that will bring joy to their hearts.
Imaam Ibn Katheer (mayAllaah have mercy on him) said:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan (Satan) tries to turn you away
(OMuhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allaah. Verily, He
is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower" [Fussilat 41:36]
"Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, andturn away from the foolish
(i.e. don't punish them). And if an evil whisper comes to you from
Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is
All-Hearer, All-Knower" [al-A'raaf 7:199-200]
"Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-Acquainted with the
things they utter.
And say: 'My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings
(suggestions) of the Shayaateen (devils).
And I seek refuge withYou, My Lord! lest they should come near me.'"
[al-Mu'minoon 23:96-98]
"Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allaah orders the
faithfulbelievers to be patient atthe time of anger, and toexcuse
those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there
was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are
patient -- and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion
(of happiness in the Hereafter, i.e., Paradise and of a high moral
character) in this world.
And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan (Satan) tries to turn you away
(OMuhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allaah. Verily, He
is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."
[Fussilat 41:34-36]
There is no fourth aayahwith a meaning like thatof these three, which
is that Allaah commands usto be kind to human enemies and treat them
kindly so that their inherent good nature will prevail and they
willbecome our friends. But He commands us to seek refuge with Him
from satanic enemies; there is no point in being kind to them or
treating themnicely, for they want only to destroy the sons of Adam
because of the intensity of the enmity between them and their father
Adam beforehand. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytaan (Satan) deceive you, as he got
your parents [Adam and Hawwaa' (Eve)] out of Paradise" [al-A'raaf
7:27]
"Surely, Shaytaan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as
an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become
the dwellers of the blazing Fire" [Faatir 35:6]
"Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspringas protectors and
helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is
the exchange for the Zaalimoon (polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc)."
[al-Kahf 18:50]
Iblees swore to our father Adam that he was one of the sincere, but
he lied, so how about hisdealings with us? Especially since he said:
"By Your Might, then I will surely, mislead themall, Except Your
chosen slaves amongst them (i.e.faithful, obedient, true believers of
Islamic Monotheism)" [Saad 38:82-83 - interpretationof the meaning]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"So when you want to recite the Qur'aan, seek refuge with Allaah from
Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). Verily, he has no
power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord
(Allaah). His power is only over thosewho obey and follow him (Satan),
and those who join partners with Him (Allaah, i.e. those who are
Mushrikoon, i.e., polytheists." [al-Nahl16:98-100]
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/14)
So turn to Allaah, remember Him and strive to worship Him, sothat
your soul will become pure and love for Him will become firmly
entrenched in your heart, and you will be relieved of your worry and
grief. Remember the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him):
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "There is no-one who is afflicted by distress and grief, and
says: 'Allaahumma inni 'abduka ibn 'abdika ibn amatija naasyati bi
yadika, maada fiyya hukmuka, 'adlun fiyya qadaa'uka. As'aluka bi kulli
ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw
'allamtahu ahadan min khalqika awista'tharta bihi fi 'ilm il-ghayb
'indaka an taj'alal-Qur'aana rabee' qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa'
huzni wa dhihaab hammi (O Allaah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave,
son of Your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command
over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You
by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or
revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You
have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make
the Qur'aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a
departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety),' but Allaah
will take away his distress and grief, and replace it with joy."
(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 3704; it is a saheeh hadeeth). May Allaah
bless our Prophet Muhammad.
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