A 7.6 magnitude earth quake hit Pakistan, India and Afghanistan this morning at 8:52 am. The death toll is almost 3,000 now, with even more casualties. Authorities fear that the number may be more than this. The greatest loss of lives has been in Kashmir, almost 1,600. 200+ men of our army have also died. There are 400 students being feared dead. There is an apartment building Margalla towers in Islamabad that has fallen down and people are stuck underneath the debris, some dead, some still alive.

As people stagger, trying to cope with the losses of their loved ones or their assets, I pray that Allah gives them strength to overcome this catastrophe and come out of it with stronger faith. The people who died, I pray that Allah unki maghfirat farmaye aur unkey liye agey ka har marhala asaan karey. For the people who are trying to help others in any way they can, small or big, may Allah reward them for this beyond their expectations. I pray that Allah shows us mercy and keep all of us in His refuge from any such further calamities.

I remember reading somewhere in Quran about how Allah's azaab/punishment comes unannounced, comes while we are sleeping or busy with our wordly lives. Sometimes it takes more than a slight nudge to wake up. It takes a tsunami, a flood, an earthquake, a hurricane to wake up. To wake up and realize the finity of this world. To wake up and remember why we were sent here in the first place.

Say, 'He has power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to confound you by splitting you into sects and make you taste the violence of one another. See how We expound the various ways that they may understand!" Chapter 6: Verse 65