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“The wisdom, and physics in interpreting things.
Hossam Badrawi
Is there divine retaliation for injustice in the world we live in?!!!!
This dialogue crossed my mind as I witnessed the double standards and the erosion of humanitarian principles. Many Western countries turn a blind eye to the cruelty, killings, violence, and injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people for more than half a century.
Yes, violence begets violence, and murder and terrorism create more killers and terrorists. Matters become mixed up, where the perpetrator becomes the victim and the victim becomes the criminal deserving punishment for their family.
The absence of hope increases the inclination for people to pray to God to save them from calamity. What is strange is that from the aggressor’s side, they believe they are right and invoke the same God to grant them victory over the other.
With the passage of time and the renewal of generations, things become mixed up and events intertwine, creating a new reality. New generations of aggressors emerge as if the life they were born into. The oppressed becomes a terrorist and the robbed becomes a criminal.
I observe the Arab calls and supplications for God’s revenge, and I fear involving God Almighty in the equation of worldly rewards. Rather, it is calling for environmental catastrophes upon the oppressor and interpreting them as divine punishments.
An enthusiastic young man said to me, “Yes, for God grants respite but does not neglect.”
And I firmly believe that God will not abandon them. Yes, disasters can be a punishment from God.
Look at distant and recent history, like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the kings and leaders who grew in arrogance and injustice on Earth and fabricated lies. They received a divine terrestrial punishment, and the people who were swayed by them saw their lands destroyed and dispersed around the world as outcasts…
I said, “But there are also contradictory examples, as not everyone who commits injustice in life receives earthly punishment. History is filled with them.
And the issue should be considered with a contradictory philosophy, that victory in war is because God supports those who are in the right, or that winning in sports is a reward from God and a sense of reliance.
Victory and defeat, O youngsters, are linked to effort, preparation, work, and training. In my opinion, we should not attribute any evil that occurs in the world to God, as it may be good, and we do not know. My philosophy is that God only creates good… And my question extends, are pandemics and diseases a form of injustice towards humanity or a balance of creation? And are fires and floods a means of punishment or also a balance needed by the Earth.
The young man said sharply and somewhat angrily, “This is the first time I hear the expression that disasters are necessary for the balance of nature!”
I said, “The earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are natural phenomena that occur due to the movement of the earth’s crust.”
and the tectonic plates beneath it, caused by pressure from the interactions of the molten mass beneath the Earth’s crust or the expansion and contraction of the crust itself, resulting in vibrations, fractures, and fissures. Yes… they are a balance for the Earth and a blessing from the Creator to keep the Earth alive, otherwise it would explode.
The idea that this is related to punishment for humans needs reconsideration.
He said: God listens, responds, and quickly comes to the aid of the oppressed because he is a just God. What Israel and America are doing will come back to them with wrath and punishment. I also see that those who want to prevent the blessings of God from water in Ethiopia, to seize it for their people, will face an unexpected blow, not military but beyond our expectations and understanding. The idea of controlling the sources of livelihood that God created and designed shows contempt for the Creator, so we also await the justice of heaven.
I said to him: Have you ever wondered why when an earthquake of, for example, magnitude greater than 6 occurs in Japan, it injures a few Japanese people, while thousands of Pakistanis die when an earthquake of the same magnitude occurs in their country? It’s because of knowledge, preparedness, and prediction, not wishful thinking.
Do not underestimate human scientific achievements and do not exploit disasters as an entry point for populist tendencies that appeal to inferior tendencies.
O son, this world is not a place of punishment, for God says in the Quran: “If Allah were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon the Earth any creature. But He defers them for a specified term.” (Surah Fatir, Verse 45)
The relationship between hurricanes and storms and the anger of God is similar to the relationship between gentle breezes and the satisfaction of God. Both hurricanes and gentle breezes affect the righteous and the wicked, as well as animals. So, was the drought that struck the Muslims during the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab a punishment from God for the Companions and the Followers? And does this drought only affect specific societies and not others?
Is victory in wars a divine will or a scientific effort and human organization?
Is the failure to exploit the resources of the richest region in the world in the Middle East and Africa, or the governance of its administration despite its wealth, and its persistence at the tail end of modern civilization, a human action or a divine command?
Indeed, God has given us His blessings, and our seas are filled with food, our land floats above sources of energy and wealth, and our climate allows for the utilization of solar and wind energy. Yet, we are the oppressed, exploited, and impoverished peoples.
God did not create humans without reason, nor did He create the world randomly, but rather to urge humans to search for knowledge and understanding, and to take control of their own affairs. We are meant to be stewards of the Earth, making a difference through our actions, not just through words and prayers.
Let’s not forget the devastation and casualties caused by oppressive and dictatorial regimes, both politically and religiously. They often result in more destruction and suffering than natural disasters like storms, earthquakes, or volcanoes. These disasters are not limited to natural occurrences, but also include the occupation and oppression of our own people, not just enemies.
Some may find solace in the belief that the oppressor will be punished, and while it is a noble thought, it is also a simplistic perspective. God only creates complete and perfect worlds, and these worlds operate according to their own laws, independent of constant divine intervention. If we assume that the world constantly needs divine intervention, then it implies that the world is flawed and incomplete.
According to this line of thinking, the laws of nature and the progress of human civilization are actually the will of God, and God cannot deviate from His own will to prove a momentary point in time.
The laws of nature do not differentiate between the oppressor and the oppressed. They were created by God to function automatically, without regard for specific beliefs or faiths. Divine physics, which include the formation of the human mind and its diverse activities, enable us to contemplate the laws of the universe, search, invent, predict unexpected events, modify equations, and equip ourselves with knowledge and understanding. It is through this knowledge and understanding, rather than prayer and lamentation, that we are saved from oppression.
It is the application of justice among ourselves that saves us from the oppression of others. It is through good governance and the fair treatment of our citizens that we avoid injustice. As it is written in the Quran, “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of people until they change what is in themselves.”
Let’s wake up people.
