Recent Floods in the News

Here's a thought. If we watch the news at present, we will see floods and landslides in places like Sri Lanka, Australia and Brazil. Over the past couple of years there have been many such events connected with flood and rainfall, for example in Pakistan and even here in the UK (remember the snow a few weeks ago?). For the most part, these are places that are very warm and considered to be very dry - I mean flood.... in Australia and Pakistan?!

If we read Surah AL Baqarah up to verse 24 we learn of two types of people - those who have earnest faith and follow their natural inclination towards God and those who oppose good either openly or secretly. Allah swt gives the examples of two things which normally bring blessing and benefit to humans - light and water. But in these cases Allah swt gives the examples that these things are bringing very much the opposite - destruction and devastation in terms of lightning and violent rainstorms. So here we have two things that are often beneficial and in fact essential becoming the cause of harm. Verse 25 however gives the comparison of those who are succcessful - they are in gardens under which rivers flow - again water is a blessing and something very beautiful and comforting in this poignant setting.

We should try to remember that many of the blessings that we are given by Allah swt may in fact become the means of our destruction if we are neglectful or rebellious towards the responsibilities that these blessing bring on us. Lets try to count our blessings and show gratitude for them to the one who gives everything - even the air we breathe.