What reason could you have for not striving in the Way of God?

By Harun Yahya

Today when we look around the world we see that there is bloodshed, conflict and dissension everywhere. We see people suffering in poverty, we see people suffering under the rule of ruthless dictators, we see people being tormented because of their beliefs, we see people –people from the same religion- tormenting each other, and we see people – people who say they believe in God- fight with each other. We see people tasting one another’s violence.

As we take a small trip down memory lane in the history of the Islamic world, we revisit the incidents that caused us all to say; “What is going on?” and which awake the feelings of protecting the honor of Islam in all of us. As we see our brothers and sisters in East Turkestan being subjected to all sorts of tortures and inconceivable oppression over the last 60 years; as we see Muslims being killed for more than half a century and forced into a life of exile in their own lands in Palestine; as we receive reports of death coming from Iraq almost every single day and see our brothers and sisters in Kirkuk living in fear of death; as we see our Muslim brothers and sisters in Crimea trying to survive under difficult conditions; as we see  Muslims’ blood being shed in Afghanistan almost every single day and  thousands of Muslims being killed mercilessly in Syria; as we see thousands of Muslims living like refugees on their own land in Pakistan, in Myanmar; as we see the houses and the villages of our inoffensive Rohingya brothers and sisters torched and our sisters and brothers stripped of their basic rights to exist, as we see them killed for no reason other than their beliefs; as we see prisons all around the world filled with Muslims who have been convicted simply because of their thoughts and beliefs, we all start feeling the same urge to protect the honor of Islam.

Awakening that feeling is exactly the reason behind the creation of all these incidents.

Now we all know that many accusations are brought forward putting the blame on various countries all over the world for this heartbreaking situation of our Muslim brothers and sisters: However, God explains to us a rule in the Qur’an.

Say: “He possesses the power to send you punishment from above your heads or from beneath your feet, or to confuse you in sects and make you taste one another’s violence.” Look how We vary the Signs so that hopefully they will understand.  (Surat Al-An’am; Verse 65)

As we read this verse we realize that the atrocities going on in Syria, in East Turkestan, in Iraq, In Palestine, in Myanmar right now are actually all destined to happen on a certain time.

 “Every communication has its time and you will certainly come to know.”   

(Surat Al-An’am; 67)

We should never forget about this verse while reading the reports of torment taking place all over the world. We should realize that the time has come and that God has presented us with that communication. We should all realize some other things will happen tomorrow, and we will read about that news as well, and that there will be some other news in the day after and we will hear about it as well. In reading all those news reports, in living through them we should not forget that God tells us that He is the One creating this news, that He creates all these television and radio reports, newspaper reports and that He is the One creating all communications and for all those incidents there is a time that God has determined; when that time comes, we will be hearing about them.

 Let us never forget Who is the One that creates all these incidents? God; “He possesses the power to make you taste one another’s violence.”  We all know that remaining silent in the face of violence is almost as atrocious and cruel as the violence perpetuated in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Myanmar, in Syria: So this is the time for us realize that actually Muslims are indeed tasting one another’s violence and that is because God says that He is the One Who creates that violence.

“Look, how We vary the Signs so that hopefully they will understand,” says God.  God wants to make Himself thought about. He wants people to get close to Him and make Islam prevail in the world. God warns those people who are indifferent, who are reluctant and those who act atrociously by creating violence. God catches their attention by making use of violence, by hardships and by pain; otherwise, people might fall into a state of indolence, laziness and apathy. Today we see that this is the actual state of many people, many Muslims all over the world right now. However after witnessing such violent incidents, a sharp awakening takes place and the great urge to protect Islam rises.

So let us realize that the time has come for us Muslims to reflect upon this message God gives us and feel that sharp awakening and that great urge to protect Islam.

What reason could you have for not striving in the Way of God — for those men, women and children who are oppressed and say, ´Our Lord, take us out of this city whose inhabitants are wrongdoers! Give us a protector from You! Give us a helper from You!´? (Surat An-Nisa; 75)

The writer has authored more than 300 books translated in 73 languages on politics, religion and science. He may be followed at @Harun_Yahya and www.harunyahya.com.