MH370 - the Muslim's Response

Since the disappearance of MH 370, we have witnessed a tidal wave emergence of relentless critics towards the government, unempathetic journalists, rapid fire rumours and false reports, numerous chain emails and WhatsApp messages, overnight pseudo-aviation experts, public humiliation on a national scale (that involves a certain pair of bamboo sticks and coconuts), and at the same time, some positive responses in the form of encouragement and prayers.

Whatever our response may be – we should be clear what our intentions are – are we genuinely adding value, or are we just riding the storm and jumping the bandwagon to gain some popularity or ‘likes’?

By a single plane, Allah decreed this one event to Expose some of our society’s characteristics in dealing with these situations.

Here are some concise principles from the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhiwasallam) on how best Muslims should deal with situations such as these.

1)

وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ ، فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْراً أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ

“.. and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, must speak (only that which is) good, or just remain silent” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

2)

"مِنْ حُسْنِ إسْلَامِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ"

“Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is to abandon everything that does not benefit him” (Narrated by Tirdmizi, graded hasan)

3)

"‏كفى بالمرء كذبًا أن يحدث بكل ما سمع‏"‏‏

"It is enough for a man to prove himself (to be) a liar when he goes on narrating everything he hears." (Narrated by Muslim).

4) Beware backbiting and tale-carrying

لَا يَدْخُلُ اَلْجَنَّةَ قَتَّاتٌ

“The distributor of false tales and backbiters will not enter Paradise!” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

‏"‏ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ ‏. ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ ‏"

“Do you know what is backbiting?‏ Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.”

It was asked to the Prophet, “(what if it’s actually true) I actually find (that fault) in my brother which I made a mention of?” The Prophet replied:

‏"‏ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ ‏"‏

“If (that fault) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you have in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander (which is worse)”

(Muslim)

5) Making du’aa and prayers for the safety and well-being of those in the flight and their respective families

"‏دعوة المرء المسلم لأخيه بظهر الغيب مستجابة، عند رأسه ملك موكل كلما دعا لأخيه بخير قال الملك الموكل به‏:‏ آمين، ولك بمثل‏"

“The du’aa/doa (supplication) of a Muslim for his (Muslim) brother in his absence will certainly be answered.

Everytime he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says:

'Ameen! May it be for you, too'." (Narrated by Muslim)

6) Helping others in need – if you know the families of those involved.

مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ

“He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection,

and he who finds relief for one who is in difficulty, Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter,

and he who conceals (the faults) of a (fellow) Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter.

Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother”

(Narrated by Muslim)

7) Do not call towards religious acts which are outside the boundaries of our religion’s teachings.

‏ "‏ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ ‏"‏

“He who performans an act which is not in accordance to our command (i.e. the Qur’an or the sunnah of the Prophet), then it is rejected.” (Sahih Muslim)

May Allah alleviate the difficulties of those involved, and may He grant consolation and comfort to those under this tribulation – including the people investing genuine hard work to resolve the situation, and may He grant us the steadfastness to deal with this sutation in the manner which He is Pleased with.

Amin!