The International Union of Muslim Scholars
Extends condolences to the American people and all nations affected by Hurricane Sandy,
and calls for constructive human cooperation among all nations on the basis of justice, mercy, and goodness.
All praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, God's messenger, upon his family, companions and followers,
The International Union of Muslim Scholars observed Hurricane Sandy, its power and destruction that lead to the death of many people in America, Canada and other places and caused huge physical damage especially in America. The incident highlights God's power to manage the universe and destroy it at His will.
The IUMS regards the incident with a universal human view, in light of an all-gathering human fraternity, as all humans are according the Islamic view brothers and sisters and children of Adam and Eve. This blood tie gathers all humans and mandates mercy as Allah referred in the verse: "O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, and created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom your demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you. (Quran 4: 1). Exegeses explain that the blood ties referred to in the verse are those ties with humanity traced back to Adam and Eve until God reclaims the earth and those on it. Hence, Allah will question us about neglecting human rights and has ordained us to observe them. For that reason, when Prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon his- saw the funeral of a Jewish man, he stood up. When asked about this, he said "isn't it a soul (hadith 1312 narrated by Bukhari, and 961 by Muslim).
Furthermore, Allah defined the objective of sending the last prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings be upon him - saying that (We sent you not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.) (Quran 21: 107) and He didn't say (for believers). The Prophet brought this idea into reality through his dealings with the idolaters who used to hurt him while he prayed for them to be guided: "Oh, Allah, guide my people, for they don't know (narrated by Al-Bayhaki no. 1375). When the harm, murder and torture of the prophet's companions intensified in Mecca, some of them asked Prophet Muhammad to pray to God to punish them but he said "I was not sent a curser, but was sent a mercy...'' (narrated by Muslim no. 2599).
Prophet Muhammad-peace and blessings be upon him-was a true mercy even to animals and the environment. He clarified that a woman was sent to hellfire over a cat that she locked up for three days until it died instead of letting the cat eat from the earth (see Sahih Al-Bukhari no. 3071 and Muslim no. 4160) whereas another impious woman went to heaven for quenching the thirst of a dog (see Sahih Al-Bukhari no. 3321 and Muslim no. 2245).
Hence, Prophet Muhammad set the rule that in every moist liver, i.e. in every living thing, there's a charity or good deed, and this includes humans, animals and birds.
Thus, it's not religiously permissible to gloat over such public catastrophes.
Stemming from this point, the IUMS shares the grief for those who were harmed in their souls and possessions in America, Canada and elsewhere due to hurricane Sandy and offers condolences to them. The Union also calls for constructive cooperation among all nations of the world on the basis of justice, mercy and goodness to repel harm and need and provide good to all human souls, and even to all living things.
And from Allah we seek assistance!
DOHA: November 19, 1433 e
Q: 11/04/2012.
Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
IUMS Secretary General IUMS President