Reflections on the earthquake in Morocco

Reflections on the earthquake in Morocco

By Mohammed Lahlal

In recent years, different kinds of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, deadly hurricanes, volcanoes and wildfires have hit several areas in the world. Whenever a major calamity strikes an area, a few questions arise to analyze the root causes, man’s responsibility and ways to mitigate the adverse implications on humanity.

An unprecedented earthquake of high magnitude struck several areas in Morocco and was felt by people hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter. It was devastating mainly in Atlas Mountains where many villages were destroyed and some of them were erased and villagers were stranded beneath the rubbles. The death toll was high and the number of injured and unaccounted for was considerable. What lessons can we draw from this major catastrophe?

• The feeling of resilience and acceptance of God’s Destiny

In such situations of horrendous calamities, one might turn confused, shocked and traumatized and search for a meaning to what happened to him and his loved ones with a tone that questions God’s just will. Unless we are imbued with unshakable faith in God and His Destiny through a lifelong spiritual education, we may not be able to face calamities with resilience and patience. God Almighty says in the Qur’an:” We will certainly test you with some fear and hunger, and some loss of possessions and lives and crops. But give good news to the steadfast. Those who, when a calamity afflicts them, say, “To God we belong, and to Him we will return” (al-Baqara, 155-156).

• The wisdom behind disasters

Only God, the all-Wise, the all-Knowing, knows the wisdom behind such calamities. Some would rush to interpretations that this is God’s punishment to sinners and that pious people are immune from such punishment. A quick look at the Qur’an shows that even prophets, God’s best-chosen people went through hardships like illness, prison, mockery, exile, etc. therefore, it would be wrong to jump to judgements that decide on people’s fate. The wisdom revealed in the Qur’an and Sunnah (the Prophet’s tradition) shows that Almighty God afflicts hardships upon some people to raise their status of “martyrdom”, one of the highest ranks in heaven, and God also wills to test the believers, who survived the calamity, their patience and resilience. Such catastrophes are definitely a message to man in general that he must not be embroiled in the ephemeral pleasures on earth and overlook the ultimate truth that he is a dying creature and will be resurrected for the Judgment Day in the hereafter.

• Human and fraternal solidarity

On hearing the news of the magnitude of damages caused by the earthquake, Moroccan people spontaneously rushed for help. The world was amazed at the popular mobilization to assist the fellow citizens and begin to wonder about the root reasons for such spontaneity and sacrifice. Although the majority of people in Morocco suffer from economic hardships, they did not take it as an excuse to do nothing to sympathize with the aggrieved victims of the earthquake, particularly when the state’s efforts to manage the crisis were short of being effective and reveal how unprepared and deficient the state agencies are to address disasters and how the hard-hit regions have long been marginalized in terms of infrastructure and public utilities. The religious and patriotic motivations were behind the popular and massive contribution to alleviate the sufferings of the victims and prove that the Muslim community still internalizes some of the meanings in the Prophet’s hadith: “The believers, in their mutual love, compassion and sympathy are like a single body; if one of its organs suffers, the whole body will respond to it with sleeplessness and fever”.

May God, the Almighty, have mercy on the martyrs, heal the injured and comfort their loved ones.