By Ammar Awais – Team writer Hiba magazine
On 8th October 2005, Pakistan encountered one of its worst natural disasters in history. As the country was rattled by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, the scale of devastation in the north was unprecedented. Over 87,000 people lost their lives and millions became homeless due to the widespread destruction. Entire towns and villages were wiped out in Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as tens of thousands of buildings collapsed.
As we look back at this profound tragedy and its aftermath exactly 20 years later, there are some critical points worth reflecting and learning from.
Ensuring Readiness through Planning
The 2005 earthquake exposed numerous flaws in our infrastructure, such as the use of inferior building material, disregard for safety standards, and unsuitable construction sites. Two decades later, has anything really changed? Have we witnessed any improvement in the way our regional and national affairs are conducted, particularly with regard to human safety?
Massive flooding has wreaked havoc in the country over the past few years, and once again, the lack of planning by authorities to counter unchecked construction and large-scale deforestation has come into the limelight. At the same time, we are vastly under-educated in the field of climate science, with little expertise in countering extreme weather events. This, unfortunately, continues to render us unprepared to deal with any future major disaster.
From an Islamic perspective, planning for unforeseen difficulties is considered basic human wisdom. The Quran explains how Prophet Yusuf (AS) immaculately planned for the seven impending years of drought which prevented starvation among his people. Having Tawakkul in Allah means submitting to His will after doing what is within our capacity rather than simply failing to act.
The Prophet ﷺ specifically instructed us to tie the camel and then place our trust in Allah as opposed to leaving the camel loose and claiming to rely upon Him. (Tirmidhi)
Rescue and Relief – An Opportunity for Virtue
An encouraging aspect of the rescue and relief activities in 2005 was the large number of volunteers who worked alongside the authorities. Many of these volunteers supplied food and other essentials to the quake-hit remote mountainous regions while others put their own lives at stake by rescuing people from beneath piles of debris. This shows the desirability of acquiring life-saving skills – something corroborated by the Quranic injunction that saving the life of a single person is equivalent to saving the entire humanity! (Al-Maidah 5:32)
A notable rescue operation was launched by volunteers in Islamabad where the Margalla Towers – a nine-story apartment complex home to hundreds of residents – had seen three of its buildings collapse and transform into a mountain of debris. As dozens of bodies were recovered, many more residents, both dead and alive, were feared trapped under the rubble. A disaster response team named RAPID-UK arrived from England within 24 hours of the earthquake and began a massive ten-day effort to rescue survivors from beneath the debris.
The team worked tirelessly for days, using advanced tools and hearing equipment to make out sounds from underneath the rubble. With the support of local volunteers, the RAPID-UK team rescued seven individuals, ranging from a toddler to a 76-year-old survivor. This rescue effort beautifully portrays how kindness and concern for humanity, combined with skill and competence, can transcend geographical boundaries and borders.
Differentiating Trials from Punishment
As the 2005 earthquake caused widespread death and destruction, many people wondered if it was a form of trial or punishment from Allah (swt). The Quran warns us that a disaster may have been a consequence for “what your hands have earned” (Al-Shuraa 42:30). On the other hand, it also informs the believers that they are bound to be tested in life:
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’” (Al-Baqarah 2:155-156)
It is important to remember that a natural calamity could serve different purposes depending on the individual. It may be a trial for someone mindful of Allah (swt); a warning for someone drifting away from Him; and a punishment for someone arrogantly heedless of Him. Moreover, the effects of a disaster upon a person may be an indicator of its true nature: the calamity may have been a trial if it brings one towards Allah (swt), but a punishment if it further distances the person from Him.
A disaster can even be a form of mercy from Allah (swt), becoming the reason for attaining His forgiveness, as the Prophet ﷺ informed us: “No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn.” (Bukhari) This should motivate us to remain patient in the face of difficulty and not allow ungratefulness on our part to snatch away the reward that Allah (swt) has in store for us.
In conclusion, Muslims are duty-bound to seek lessons from life-altering events and natural disasters rather than turning a blind eye to them. Such calamities should encourage us to plan and prepare for the future, become resilient in challenging situations, and help our fellow humans through acts of courage and kindness. Most importantly, such disasters present an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship with Allah (swt) through reflection and self-improvement.
