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Article 12
Natural disasters
and duty of believers
by Dr. Shahid Athar
" ... *Spirituality which is nothing
but the awareness of the presence of God within our spirit. When we
recognize this and then express it in our positive actions through our
prayer or social work, we become instruments of God.
We then see through His eyes, hear through His ears, work with His hands
and speak in His tongue. When we take one step toward Him, He takes
giant leaps toward us. When we walk toward Him, He runs toward us to the
extent that the children of God in His image merge in His cause. "
--author
In time of
crisis, the love of God unites believers for action.
While it was sad to see the devastation caused by Tsunami and now by
hurricane Katrina, I am heartened to see now in both natural disasters
people discarded their religious garbs and came together in helping
fellow humans irrespective of faith. Last weekend I was in **Chicago**
attending the 38^th annual convention of Islamic Medical Association of
**North America** (IMANA) and 42nd annual convention of Islamic Society
of **North America** (ISNA). . There were over 40,000 Muslims present.
They all felt that what ever affects **America**, whether pollution, gas
prices, terrorism or natural disaster such as Katrina is also their own
concerns. IMANA immediately donated $ 10, 000 from its relief fund and
advised Muslim physicians in south to offer medical relief. ISNA donated
initially $ 20,000 and Islamic Relief $2 million. Then several other
Muslim relief organizations joined in and formed a national task force
and pledged $ 10, million. Muslims in South have opened their mosques
and houses for the affected and displaced victims of the disaster.*
Muslims are inspired by Quran to do so. "Let a party of believers rise
which enjoins what is good and forbids what is wrong". We are also told
to cooperate with others in goodness, but not in wrong doing". *
In one of my lectures at IMANA, I talked about Spirituality which is
nothing but the awareness of the presence of God within our spirit. When
we recognize this and then express it in our positive actions through
our prayer or social work, we become instruments of God. We then see
through His eyes, hear through His ears, work with His hands and speak
in His tongue. When we take one step toward Him, He takes giant leaps
toward us. When we walk toward Him, He runs toward us to the extent that
the children of God in His image merge in His cause.*
We go to the house of worship be it a mosque, church, or temple not just
to get the attention of its Owner, but also to pray to Him that He will
have mercy on us and guide us through our journey on this planet.
In return, He expects us to carry His message to the whole of mankind. *
Thus taking care of fellow human beings and all other creations of God
becomes our collective responsibility whether we like it or not. The
suffering of human beings whether homelessness or poverty is nothing but
a test from Him of how we patiently persevere and how we do our best to
relieve those who are suffering. The social obligation of believers
includes taking care of those are suffering, irrespective of their
faith. There are 50 million Americans below the poverty level. *
The responsibility of the people of faith includes establishment of
shelters, halfway houses for runaway teenagers, rehabilitation for drug
addicts, combating violence on the streets, and fighting discrimination
and racism. We cannot leave this only to the city, state, or Federal
Government officials.*
The responsibility of those who leave houses of worship after their
prayer is to go on the street and introduce love within families, within
neighborhoods, within the community, and among the religions. We must
forget and forgive our differences and give gifts of love to our fellow
human beings out of our love for our common God. . God bless **America**
and God bless the world. Amen.*
* Dr. Shahid Athar is the past Chair of Interfaith alliance of
**Indianapolis** and author of several books including “Healing the
Wounds of Sept.11, 2001” and “Reflections of an American Muslim”. He can
be reached at sathar3624@aol.com <mailto:sathar3624@aol.com>
, webpage www.islam-usa.com <http://www.islam-usa.com/> *
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