Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday, 11 June 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Approximately 12 years after the devastating tsunami, another tragedy struck the resplendent island of Sri Lanka. An attack from something as innocuous as water and the toll was quite calamitous. The nation is reeling, wanting whatever help to address the multitude of needs that have arisen as a result.
Erratic floods and landslides had resulted in sizable damage. Receding waters unveiled the sheer magnitude of the disaster. The international press had confirmed the destruction as being considerable with over 4,000 homes fully or partly damaged and just over 100 lives lost.
A flood occurs when water overflows or inundates land that’s normally dry. Most common is when rivers or streams overflow their banks. Excessive rain, a ruptured dam are contributory factors. Coastal flooding occurs when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland.
The tsunami Sri Lanka experienced is still fresh in the minds of most Sri Lankans. My first reaction even in 2004 was how come water which is life and indispensable for our survival had such lethal potential to unleash a catastrophe.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was of unprecedented deadliness in human history. Over 230,000 people were reported killed in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
Mother Nature’s independence
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the supposedly life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. We over time may be unconsciously perhaps capitulated to the myth that Mother Nature is independent and possesses unbridled autonomy and power to manifest her voracity and fury wherever and whenever.
She supposedly shows this ear-splitting, cacophonous roar to devour a mouthful quite indiscriminately and release a thunderous eructation soon after. Sounds a trifle hilarious yet the belief is mainstream. Does such a school of thinking warrant any merit or legitimacy?
We have intelligent and wise people in the community whose understanding of life’s trials is so puzzling. I read an article recently by a supposedly wise and intelligent person. I am reproducing it for the benefit of the reader:
“We prayed for rain and asked the rain gods to save us from the sun god’s cruelty. Rain gods did answer our prayers, but they wreaked havoc and chaos. They destroyed our lives, our loved and dear ones, our crops and our cattle. Rain gods mercilessly destroyed entire villages and separated families.”
I like to ask something so obviously pertinent here? Who is this rain god? And who is this sun god? Can someone describe them to me please? Educate me their attributes and anything more if you have any such information? Describe to me an authentic book concerning the subject so that I can lay my hands on it.
Can we all get together and teach a lesson or two to this rascal or rascals? How dare do they wreak havoc on our lands? Which semi or demi god in-charge of these affairs had the gall and audacity to unleash such horrendous destruction? I for one want to do something to these gods. I am running for my rapier. I want to challenge this god, one of the many who had taken the law into her hands. This is not funny. I want to ensure that neither rain god nor sun god never, ever come anywhere close to Sri Lanka again.
Who is behind this destruction?
We have heard of predator drone teams working in well-fortified security zones inside the United States of America, unleashing diabolical weapons to places in Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan with deadly consequences. Supposed surgical strikes that blow out the brains of un-weaned toddlers and their parents. Laser-guided hellfire missiles that can hit moving vehicles, piloted remotely from bases in the USA. Operator directs cameras and radar to collect intelligence. Analysts select targets, commanders order the strike.
We intrinsically believe that manmade destructions like the one stated above has a distinct process and a fully identified destroyer. There is a clear operator behind the machine who targets at the zone of destruction. Using the same principle, who then targets destruction with water and other sources from above and beneath the earth? Who causes earthquakes and other forms of disasters that regularly take huge tolls?
Earth is a watery place. About 71% of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5% of all Earth›s water. Surely these cyclones and tornedoes can direct and self-navigate themselves to watery areas obviously not inhabited by humans and other life. In this way lots of life and property could be saved. But can they actually do that?
In pursuit of knowledge man would go to any extreme. He would go to a faraway country of his or her choice or purchase a book at whatever price just to fulfill the need. Why wouldn’t man find out as to who is capable of actually causing such mindboggling destruction without arrogating omnipotence to forces that in essence are lamentably powerless and woefully non-lethal without its Absolute Controller? Let’s ponder briefly how previous nations were destroyed with water and who else can convey this to us.
We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; the flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Al Qur›an, 29:14) The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) was sent to his people by Allah. They had distanced themselves from the commandments of the Lord and ascribed partners to Him. The Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) warned them that they should serve Allah alone and abandon the false worship which they had established in their community. But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They were a blind people. (Al Qur›an 7:64) When the time of punishment came, the water in the ground combined with violent rains to cause a giant flood.
Among the trials with which Allah tests His slaves in order to distinguish the believers from the disbelievers is that which He mentions in the verse “And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones” (Al Qur’an 2:155-157).
Warning to mankind
I conclude this short piece with a warning from the Qur’an: “O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Al Qu’ran2:21). In this short verse who is the Lord of the World’s addressing? Does it say O Christians or O Jews or O Muslims or O Buddhists or O Hindus, etc.? This is an all-inclusive statement. It simply states “O mankind” – whoever considers that he or she is a member of this thing called mankind then this message is for you. Take heed people I am just a warner.
The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut›s household: them We delivered by early Dawn, As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning (Surat al-Qamar, 33-36).