By Sh. Abdur Rahman Khan, Sept. 11, 2015
ICNA and all its members would like to extend their condolences to all the families whose near and dear ones were killed after a crane came crashing down at them while they were at the Haram during a major sand storm. We also make Du’a for those that are injured. May Allah SWT grant them a speedy recovery from their injuries and complete healing.
While we pray that Allah SWT writes those who passed away amongst the Shuhadaa’ (martyrs), it still is another pain added to the pains that the Muslim Ummah is suffering at this time. We can only thank Allah SWT it was not worse and continuously ask for His protection.
This brings us to a theological issue about why things happen the way they do. Yes we can blame the Saudi government for not appropriately managing these huge cranes that are erected around the Ka’bah and lessons and precautions should be taken from this tragedy that this should not occur again. There should be an investigation why this particular crane fell down while the others didn’t. What engineering flaw triggered this accident? Is security for the pilgrims not taken too seriously? We can ask many questions and we should.
But the greater lesson is that everything is by The Qadr of Allah SWT. Things do not happen by coincidence but by Divine Will. We reflect upon the story of Prophet Musa (AS) and Khidr (AS). Each time Khidr did something which appeared “gross”, Musa (AS) questioned and condemned him. It was not after the third incident that Khidr (AS) explained that behind all these outward calamities there is a Divine Wisdom that transcends disaster and that he did them only by the command from Allah SWT.
With this in mind we take a second look at the disaster at Makkah and know that there is something bigger in the Grand Divine Scheme of The Creator and we may or may not know all the details but we must surrender to Allah SWT’s Qadr. Was it a punishment, a test, a lesson or an opportunity to die as a Shaeed only Allah SWT knows the details but we hope for the best which is that those who die will be written as Shuhadaa’.
I would like us to reflect on the verse in 4:100
وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الَْْرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَة وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِن بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى
اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿ ١٠٠ ﴾
And whoever emigrates for the cause of Allah will find on the earth many [alternative] locations and abundance. And whoever leaves his home as an emigrant to Allah and His Messenger and then death overtakes him – his reward has already become incumbent upon Allah. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful. (100)
We ask our entire Muslim community to made Du’a for those who passed away and for those who are injured. We just cannot help but to think how fragile life is. One minute you pray your Salaah and full of excitement for Hajj and the opportunity for another Salaah at the Haram and the next minute you no longer exist. We surrender to the power of Allah SWT and can only ask Him for His mercy, protection and love. He is Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem.
