News & Comment
Time is of the Essence: Natural Disasters and Death

News

In Indonesia on December 22, 2018, a tsunami wave appeared without meteorological warning and swallowed more than 222 people in a single moment while partying at a concert.

The deadly tsunami in Indonesia was triggered by a chunk of the Anak Krakatau volcano slipping into the ocean, officials have confirmed, amid calls for a new early warning system that can detect volcanic eruptions.

Hundreds of military personnel and volunteers spent Monday scouring beaches strewn with debris in search of survivors. At least 1,459 people were injured and more than 600 homes, 60 shops and 420 vessels damaged when the tsunami struck. The fact that the tsunami was triggered by a volcano rather than an earthquake meant no tsunami warning was triggered, scientists said. Coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs before waves of up to three metres high surged in. (The Guardian)

Comment

Natural disasters come suddenly in freakishly horrifying instances or with warnings such small tremors signaling larger powerful earthquakes or storm formations signaling nearing hurricanes. Images and videos are being posted online of the horrific incident that only proves the existence of the Creator when...

(إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ * فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ)

“His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is. So exalted is He in whose hand is the realm of all things, and to Him you will be returned.” [Ya-Sin: 82-83]

Time is of the essence when dealing with this life as a channel for the eternal life. Dying in a state of fujoor and fisq will result in eternal regret and remorse as the Muslim people in the videos were dancing and singing along with the concert performers.

As death knows no appointment... death is the end of ajl (life span) determined by Allah (swt) who commands the angel of death to take the soul of the creation.

Indonesia is a Muslim land whose population with the largest number (about 209 million) where 87.2% of the population identifies as Muslim according to a 2015 Pew Research report. For music concerts to take place in this Muslim lands with the open presence of haram where death came upon the masses is surely a remorseful way to die and hopefully a lesson to those who watched the footage worldwide and to those are dealing with the rescue efforts in Indonesia.

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return."

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Manal Bader