Hope in Crisis: : Where is God in a pandemic?
(Answer
to James Martin)
By
Dr. M H Koya, (JD)
In his opinion, published in Fox news.com and New York
Times.com, James Martin, raises the question “Where is God in a pandemic?”
It is not his question, nor does he attempt to answer
it. It is a question that others have asked
him struck by the fear of the current corona virus epidemic sweeping
through the world.
An unknown virus out of blues has brought the entire
world to a halt. (There has been some finger pointing between USA and China as
to who started this pandemic?) There is wide scale travel ban. Schools,
colleges, universities, businesses, houses of worship and all places men
resorted for luxury and enjoyment are shut down. Freeways, malls and sports
arenas are deserted.
The corona virus is deadly and spreading perhaps with
the speed of light. Nothing is there to prevent it. No means of treatment is in
sight to give hope of a safe living. Thousands have fallen victims around the
world. The hospitals do not have beds
and resources to handle the intake. There is quarantine everywhere. People are
compelled to stay indoors. The whole atmosphere is ridden with despair and
panic.
Medical experts predict millions will die as they
struggle for a solution. A vaccine may take months, even years to make.
Why God? And what He has to do with the pandemic?
James Martin is a priest. So, the question he faces comes
primarily from he is faith-based community he is familiar with.
It shows people of faith are questioning the existence
of God they have always been told is living and is present and answers their prayers.
It is marked with desperation, doubt and uncertainty. It is devastating for
them.
Men have advanced too far in quest of knowledge, new technologies
and accumulation of wealth and power. In the process their sense of judgment
and ability to distinguish right from wrong, truth from false and to judge with
justice have become severely questionable.
Yet, man assumes total control and authority when he
creates or manufactures anything. What he creates, is backed with a warranty, ownership and compliance. In
the event of a violation, his rights prevail, and he is the supreme and final
authority.
This begs the questions: Who created the heaven and
the earth, the world and the whole cosmos? What’s His authority and power? What’s the accountability, if any? Does He have power over adversities? Why doesn’t
He help?
These and many endless questions plague the minds of
people confronted with the present pandemic.
Man’s measure of success the Stock Market takes a
brutal beating with crazy ups and downs as if the future is at the brink of
destruction. The USA Federal Government is forced to reduce the interest rate
to zero as more radical adjustments to mortgage and business financing are under
serious consideration.
Over 1400 years ago in the hours of darkness and to the
nomads of the deserts a book is revealed. It is not a time of literacy. No
major books of enlightenment in the contemporary world. No libraries and no learned
as there are no universities or educational institution.
The man who claims to have received the book is
himself an illiterate raised as an orphan.
At a time when the human race has barely made any
significant advance, the book speaks of things unimagined of a future far away.
It begins with the assurance: “He has taught men with
pen,” when pen, writing and publishing were meager. This was a declaration of
future of man who would take to pen and publishing for its his progress and
survival. A new era of research,
science, technology would begin and depend on pen.
The claim is backed with intricate evidence of scientific,
moral, spiritual, legal and civil principles unheard of before as fundamentals essential
for man in an advance society.
The book exhorted man to “travel around the world” and
discover how previous mighty nations were smitten and destroyed. This at a time
when man rides donkeys, camels and horses as prime means of traveling.
It taught the nomads to reflect on the creation of
earth, the skies, the sun, the moon and the entire cosmos when astrology was in
its embryonic stage.
In the alternation of days and nights, the book
educated them that Sun rotated on its orbit.
It drew their attention to examine the skies so wide
and huge suspended in the space without pillars. A compelling reason to explore
what’s beyond the skies.
Speaking of man’s origin, it is singular in explaining
how from a drop sperm it is fashioned stage by stage in a mother’s womb into
fetus and then as a human, “capable of born alive.”
The revelation of this scientific principle alone
makes the book unique, unequaled and far too superior to man’s intellect. It is
mind blowing.
Muhammad the recipient of the book, given his upbringing,
could not have written such of advance knowledge and wisdom.
So, where this book of wisdom and comprehensive
guidance came from?
If the book is powerful and packed with advance knowledge for man’s existence, what about
its author?
The book provides the answer: “ I am Allah, the All-
knowing, the Mighty, the Wise.”
The book, ignored by a large majority of people, is called
Al Quran the Holy Book of Islam where in are the answers and solutions for
world problems.
The author of the Holy Book is the ultimate authority for
He is the Creator (the manufacturer) with His terms and conditions. Mankind is
His clientele. How dare we go to a dealership and buy our dream vehicle and
refuse to sign and accept the Sales documents? We will be told to get out of
here.
The Holy Quran lays down only one principle of the
Supreme Creator: acknowledge and affirm that He is our sole Creator without
partner and worship Him only.
A discard to this fundamental has severe consequences
and complies attracts immense benefits and blessings we cannot live without.
To assure the Supreme Creator, Allah the Almighty promises
in His Holy Quran: “I am closer to you than your life artery. Call on me and I
shall answer.” It is an experience that
many of us lack in reality. Here’s our
chance to put this test in our lives.
It poses a challenge to man to produce a book like Al
Quran which man will never be able to do.
At crossroads now, man has a choice to make to avoid further
calamity that the Supreme Creator has the power to change or continue to disregard
and risk his life. This may be the final call for us all.
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