Life is a mystery and things happen to us in a way that is quite out of our control. The late President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela had no inkling when running once more for president last year that he would not live to be sworn in for another term as President. The people of Haiti, for example, had no idea that thousands of lives would be lost as a result of a terrible earthquake. The people of Japan had no way of knowing that thousands of them would be perished in the aftermath of a Tsunami. We often behave as though we are in control, but despite all our plotting and planning, we have no control over the events of this life. When we manage to secure a good job, when our children become sick, or when we receive wonderful news, it is all out of our hands. Neither money nor power can help us to control our destiny. The richest man on earth cannot prevent his journey to the grave. For people of faith, God alone, in His infinite plan, knows what will happen to us. Since time began He has planned all the events of our lives. Imagine for a moment those people in Haiti. Ordinary people, going to work to provide for their families and maybe save up for a holiday. Very ordinary people, with the same cares and worries as anyone else, like what school to send their children to, what car they might be able to afford, how they can pay for their gas and electricity. And then something happens that destroys their lives. A mighty earthquake kills thousands of people. Imagine those people in Japan. They would have been looking forward to their as all of us do to future holidays, job prospects, their children's future. They certainly didn't know when eating breakfast that morning that thousands of their people would die later in the day. The former president could not have predicted that after eighteen days he would be removed from office by a popular uprising. And yet, even though we know that our final hour can come at any time, even though we know we could die at any moment, we forget about the presence of Allah in our lives. We neglect our prayers. We fail to show kindness to our brothers and sisters. We even take for granted our spouses and children, even though each morning we part it could be for the last time. It is too late to cry over those dearest to us when we hear that a terrible accident has occurred to them. We read in the Glorious Qur'an: (When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake. And when the earth throws out its burdens. And men will say: “What is the matter with it?") (Az-Zalzalah 99:1-3) And yet we forget that this moment can come at any time, and when that time comes it will be too late to change our ways: (That day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.) (Az-Zalzalah 99:6-8) Many people in the world see a disastrous hurricane or a tragedy on a bridge as an uncontrollable coincidence, and they learn nothing from it. In these chaotic days in Egypt we surely need to have one eye on the future, as well as concentrating on the present. If we did spare more thought to what is to come we would surely think more of our children and of Egypt we want to hand on to them. Tomorrow is promised to no one. None of us can be sure that we will even see the next week, let alone next year. By remembering that we will all travel to the grave, whatever party we support and whatever religion we adhere to, it might help us to remember that we are all in this world together. We are compelled to work together, whether we like it or not. There are problems facing the country, but there is surely a priority for our problems. Children with no shoes on their feet need to be cared for. People who can neither read nor write and have little way of earning food to eat need to be helped now. Those of us who have the luxury of debating finer political issues should spare a thought for those who have no such luxury. If we could give up playing games and concentrate on what is best for the country, maybe all of us would benefit. To be sure, despite all our plotting and planning for the future, things will happen over which we have no control. All the more reason, then, to make haste in healing national wounds and being reconciled with one another. As people of faith, let us be mindful that everything, al-hamdu lillah, is part of Allah's plan for the world, and let us remember that one day our deeds will be weighed in a balance. Let us hope, in sha' Allah, that we have the sense to use our time in this world wisely. British Muslim writer, Idris Tawfiq, teaches at Al-Azhar University and is the author of nine books about Islam. You can visit his website at www.idristawfiq.com, join him on Facebook at Idris Tawfiq Page and listen to his Radio Show, “A Life in Question," on Sundays at 11pm on Radio Cairo 95.4 FM.
