Those Who Say, “Sandy Was a Punishment for America” and Their Dangerous Mindset

Some “Muslim clerics” lost no time in commenting in the wake of Hurricane Sandy that hit the East Coast of the USA. In their eyes, America was paying the price for one of the most foolish films in the world, that targeted Muslims. The film was shot in America and therefore, according to that nonsensical logic, all America was guilty. Again according to that logic, hatred of America must be spread, the American people must be declared “persona non grata” and  befell them was to be welcomed. In that way, through such primitive thinking, revenge had been taken on the supposed “perpetrators” of a completely trivial film.

This is of course a most illogical and dangerous way of thinking, one that contravenes good conscience. This false way of thinking emerges under the influence of the “bigoted” logic we have opposed for years and the dangers of which we set out at every opportunity. Under the influence of this bigoted logic, some Muslims imagine that being a Muslims requires them to hate and declare a certain community, country or people to be the enemy. Because that is the kind of religion they are taught. But that religion is not the Islam of the Qur’an. With its traditions, nonsense and practices, it is a different faith altogether. It is a religion that goes by the name of Islam but that is not applied in the Qur’an. The Islam of the Qur’an talks about love, affection, friendship, brotherhood, oneness and unity, peace, joy and happiness. Hatred is easy in that other faith. War, division, declaration of other people as the enemy, ruthlessness and lovelessness are easy in that religion. And that is why that superstitious faith is so dangerous.

In this dangerous and superstitious faith, a country, community, generation, race or faith can be declared to be hostile in its entirety.  Whether or not there are innocent, sincere, well-intentioned friends of Allah in it is never considered. Moreover, although the Qur’an imposes an obligation to treat all people with affection, even if they are atheists, satanists or materialists, and makes it essential for them to be protected, this policy of hatred is still shamelessly maintained.

Bigotry is a mindset in which it is a simple matter to provoke illogical events as in a film that should never be taken seriously, to rise to the bait at the slightest provocation, and even to slaughter innocent people as a result, and to condemn America today and some other country tomorrow. That is what religion is for many people. Whereas religion is actually nothing of the kind. Religion, sincere faith in Allah in other words, curses everything that brings people to such a state of hatred. Through religion, people enjoy the greatest love, friendship, affection and happiness. Through religion, people understand the true nature of other people, events, this world and their own existence. And religion tells us that the difficulties, disasters and tragedies in this world are all a “test.”

Sandy was a test of the American people. The American people were tested through Sandy in the same way that people in the Middles East are tested through disorder and aggression, people in Africa are tested through famine and internal strife, many European countries are being tested by the economic crisis and other countries have been tested through communism.

We are tested at every moment of our lives. Through difficulties or blessings. That is the secret of the life of this world. This world is a place of preparation for eternal life in the hereafter. Therefore, we come to this world to be tested, not to take it easy. That is why people encounter troubles, difficulties and natural disasters when they are seeking to take things easy. Allah demands effort and fortitude in order to attain the blessing of eternal ease. That is why He tests people. And that is why this world is full of tribulations and difficulties.

There is a purpose behind these tests. Difficulty can remind people of an important truth they may never have thought of before. Someone who had forgotten Allah may come to love Him. Someone who does not believe in the hereafter may start thinking about the life after death. Someone who does not pray will start to. At times of trouble, people suddenly start to see many truths they had never before seen in their daily lives. That is why this test is essential for this world. It is also essential in order to be able to enjoy the blessings of paradise. Someone who knows suffering will enjoy blessings in a totally different way. While someone who does not know suffering will not even be aware of the blessing.

That is how this world is created. Something happening in America today will take place in a different way somewhere else tomorrow. The people in question who make various imputations regarding this terrible disaster in America forget that they are also being subjected to a test. They are surrounded by threats and difficulties on all sides. Making such claims solely for the purpose of exhibiting hostility toward one particular community literally violates the spirit, teachings and conception of love of Islam.

As a Muslim, I live by the Qur’an. The Qur’an tells me to have no hostility toward any community. In the eyes of the Qur’an, I have a duty to love and protect everyone. In the eyes of the Qur’an, I have a duty to advocate friendship, togetherness and brotherhood. The Qur’an teaches mankind love. According to the Qur’an, we have a duty to seek ways of being people’s friends and brothers, of loving other people, not of furthering hatred. That is what I have learned from the Qur’an. Everyone who says he is a Muslim has an obligation to live by the spirit and moral values of the Qur’an. People who curse another community supposedly in the name of Islam do not read the Qur’an. These people live, not by true Islam, but by a nonsensical faith of their own invention. Therefore, the religion by which a Muslim bigot lives cannot be ascribed to Islam, nor the religion by which a Christian bigot lives to Christianity, nor the religion by which a Jewish bigot lives to Judaism.

As Muslims, all the people of the world are our brothers, no matter what their faith, culture or ideology. And that includes the American people. In the eyes of the Qur’an, we have a responsibility to treat the American people with love, affection and compassion. We will delight in doing that, since we love by the Qur’an, that commands and praises love, and not by nonsense. And that is why we ask for Allah’s mercy on those who lost their lives in Hurricane. We ask for Him to grant fortitude to their families and swift healing to the injured. May Allah be their helper.