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Caught in a Storm- The Muslim Way

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As Hurricane Sandy heads our way and people all over the East Coast prepare to bunker down, this verse from the Quran comes to mind:

 

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“Certainly, We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss of wealth, lives and fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to (As-Sabireen) those who patiently persevere.” ( Surat-al Baqarah, 155)

 

Give charity. Why do we need to see the disaster before we open our purses and give? You can make a payment online to any reputable charity or use services like wire transfers etc.

The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” – Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 589

Increase your isthighfaar, your dhikr. The sunnah is to go to the masjid in times of calamity but many of the masajid and Islamic Centers are closed. Be sure to call them to check and see if they are open, otherwise pray in jamaa’ at home.  Some Islamic Centers have done an excellent job keeping the the community informed with public service announcements.

Go about your normal business- do practical things that will benefit your family. Do all your laundry so if the water does go off, you have clean clothes. Basically tie up your camel. Here is a checklist from the Red Cross. If things get really bad, important papers should be ready to go, there are other real life tips here.

I am finding this a great time to talk to my children about nature, death, grave, afterlife, hisaab, Allah’s Love and Mercy and being thankful for what they do have.

Go check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.

We feel so helpless when catastrophes happen overseas and wish we could be there to help out. There will be damage and plenty of opportunity to serve your community.

If your community has experienced a disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well web site to let your family and friends know about your welfare. You may also call 1-866-GET-INFO to register yourself and your family.

We are keeping all of you who are in the path of this storm in our duas.May Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) shower us with His Mercy. We ask Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) to make us of those who when afflicted with a calamity truly remember and have patience on : Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji`oon.  We ask only Him to help us in our calamities, tests and trials, to be able to persevere patiently, to overcome, and to ask His reward and anticipate the reward from Him subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and to compensate us with that which is better.

Shurayh al Qadi’s quotes in his biography, “If I am afflicted with a calamity, I praise Allah for it four times: I praise Him because it wasn’t worse than it was, I praise Him when He gives me the patience to bear it, I praise Him for enabling me to say al-istiraj’ (‘To Allah we belong and to him we will return’; see Surat Al-Baqarah: 154-156 ) in hope of a great reward, and I praise Him for not making it a calamity in my religion.” Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lam Al-Nubala`

Duas to Recite at the time of Storms:

 

Allah humma inni asaluka khayrraha wa ‘auzubika min sharriha

‘O Allah, I ask You for it’s goodness and I take refuge with You from it’s evil.

 

O Allah, I ask You for it’s goodness, the good wihin it, and the good it was sent with, and I take refuge with You from it’s evil, the evil within it, and from the evil it was sent with.’

 Allahumma la taqtulna bi-ghadhabik wa la tuhlikna bi-‘adhaabik wa ‘aafina qabla dhaalik

“O Allah, don’t end our lives with Your wrath, and do not make us perish with Your punishment and forgive us before that.”

 

 


 

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Hena Zuberi is the Editor in Chief of Muslimmatters.org. She leads the DC office of the human rights organization, Justice For All, focusing on stopping the genocide of the Rohingya under Burma Task Force, advocacy for the Uighur people with the Save Uighur Campaign and Free Kashmir Action. She was a Staff Reporter at the Muslim Link newspaper which serves the DC Metro. Hena has worked as a television news reporter and producer for CNBC Asia and World Television News. Active in her SoCal community, Hena served as the Youth Director for the Unity Center. Using her experience with Youth, she conducts Growing Up With God workshops. hena.z@muslimmatters.org Follow her on Twitter @henazuberi.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Hena Zuberi

    October 29, 2012 at 8:59 PM

    message from Shaykh Waleed:
    O Allah, we pray for all those along the East Coast in the path of Hurricane Sandy. O Allah, grant safety to all. We pray for all those who will lose electricity and whose homes may be damaged and we pray for those who have no homes and no shelters to keep them safe and warm in times such as these. O Allah, we ask you for this storm’s goodness, the good within it, and the good it was sent with, and we seek refuge in you from its evil, the evil within it, and from the evil it was sent with. Ameen.

    Please share your du’aa using your social media and other means of communication.

    It is also befitting to mention our distressed Muslims in Syria and all over the world. Your du’aa is most needed during these rough times.

    Jazakum Allahu Khayran,

    Waleed Basyouni

  2. Humble Mom

    October 29, 2012 at 9:28 PM

    Masha’Allah, what a great & practical article!

  3. RCHOUDH

    October 30, 2012 at 3:15 AM

    Jazakillah ul khair for this, I made sure to post it on my FB timeline for my family to see. Right now they’re not taking the storm too seriously, because they think it’s all “hype”. For Muslims, however, any storm should be a time for self-reflection and lots of supplication.

  4. sona

    October 30, 2012 at 7:39 PM

    Asalaamu Alaykum, please make duaa for my family who live in New Jersey, we have no idea if they are safe and well because of the ongoing storm. My sister who is pregnant and only has a few months left and her husband and two children under 10, I am worried for them, May Allah keep them safe and deliver them to safety Ameen.

    • Hena Zuberi

      November 1, 2012 at 11:21 PM

      Ameen. Keeping you in my duas sister. Let su know when you hear from them.

  5. Pingback: A Dollar or a Dua for the Philippines | MuslimMatters.org

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