In these uncertain days, as geography in Afghanistan gets progressively modified and fresh political alliances cement bonds, one often wonders how and where it will all end. But a calming balm to one’s nerves is the solace one finds in one’s faith.
And along those lines, a reader sent me the following recently: "Everything in life happens for a reason. In the days of the Prophet’s (pbuh) companions, if something went wrong they always related it to some bad deed that they had done and thus always went back to God in the darkness of the night and asked for forgiveness...that is a basic belief of our faith....
"You drive in the streets of Jeddah and you get mad at every past and present municipal official in the city for the frequency of tire replacement and alignment your car needs....Deep down I think we only get what we deserve!
"Maybe I am being a little severe but that is the truth!
"The Sept. 11 tragedy has affected practically every living soul on this planet ... Yes it happened on American soil, but with global effects....finance reform.....military coalitions......political alliances.....my way or the highway‚ policy....etc.
"The very first crime that human beings did was eating from a forbidden tree ....motive: Satan (nothing material about it) Result: Sent to Earth from Heaven...Reaction: Adam (pbuh) asked for forgiveness and got it.
"Basically ever since, all crimes had these common elements:
"1. The crime (the act itself)
"2. Motive (The drive or the cause)
"3. IMPACT (CONSEQUENCE OF THE ACT)
"4. REACTION OF ALL CONCERNED.
"Sept. 11 tragedy:
"1. ACT: Known (killing of civilians and military staff / destruction of WTC and the Pentagon.
"2. Regardless of who did it.....they must have had a solid convincing reason to do it.
"3. Americans/Europeans are scared of every dark-skinned individual, and Arabs and Muslims everywhere have to bear the brunt of it. Disruptions in the commercial aviation industry and a global financial chaos / etc.....).
"4. America wants to hit whatever they like and the way they like it..........Arabs and Muslims are divided (as usual) pro- and anti-.
"Everyone is wasting more time reading political analysis in the papers and watching more b.s. from the televised news media.
"We all need to turn to God to ask for guidance, forgiveness and blessings, since everything that is happening to us is a result of our deeds bouncing back to us.
"If we do not.... evil in whatever form will win this battle."
Thank you I.K. for your insight.
Well, who could argue with that? Our faith is more than just paying it the odd lip service. It should be our way of life.