Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

After a twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 struck Turkey and Syria, nine hours apart on February 6, it left more than 56, 000 people dead and affected more than 14 million people. Buildings are destroyed and a large number of the population is homeless. Days after, hope is diminishing that any survivor will be pulled from the debris of building and the death toll keeps rising. United Nations emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths said. "I think it is difficult to estimate precisely as we need to get under the rubble but I'm sure it will double or more. That's terrifying. This is nature striking back in a really harsh way."

The history of the earlier nations showed that they were destroyed when they exceeded the limits. These calamities are a warning for humankind that there were and still are wrongdoings; and we need to reform ourselves and turn towards our Creator. These disasters are signs which are shown repeatedly in different parts of the world. We, therefore, need to heed these warnings by striving to strengthen our faith and to convey to the world the message of the Promised Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908) who clearly foretold that signs in his support would continue to appear even after his demise.

Speaking of the devastations, Ahmad (peace be upon him) said, “Remember that God has informed me about the coming of earthquakes. So, remember surely that in accordance with the prophecy, earthquakes came in America and also in Europe. They will also occur in different parts of Asia. Some of them will be as terrifying as doomsday. There will be death on such a large scale that rivers will run with blood. Even birds and animals will not escape it. Such destruction will overtake the Earth as has not happened since man was born. Most places will be turned upside down as if they had never been inhabited. There will also be other terrible afflictions both in Heaven and on the Earth and every sensible person will realize that they are no ordinary phenomena and no trace of them will be found in books of astronomy or philosophy. Then people will be seized by anxiety and will wonder what is going to happen. Many will be saved and many will perish. Those days are near. Indeed, they are at the doorstep, that the world shall witness a spectacle of doomsday. Not only will there be earthquakes but other terrible calamities will also appear; some from the heaven and some from the Earth. This will happen because men have given up the worship of their God and all their thoughts and their designs and all their resolves are diverted towards this world…. But God is slow to wrath. Repent so that you are shown mercy. He who abandons God is a worm, not a man and he who does not fear Him is dead not alive” (Haqiqatul Wahi,Ruhanni Khazain, Vol. 22, pp. 268-269).

May God grant us wisdom to accept the truth, purify our hearts and enable us to fulfill our responsibilities, and desist from sin and unjust ways.