Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 71
~ 71 ~ will escape these earthquakes or that you can save yourselves by your own designs? No, you cannot. On that day, all human designs shall come to nought. Do not labour under the misconception that only America has been shaken by terrible earthquakes and that your own country will remain safe. I, for one, can visualize that you shall be overtaken by a greater calamity. O Europe! You are not safe! And O Asia! Neither are you! And O the dwellers of Islands! No artificial God will come to your aid. I see cities falling and habitations in ruin. The One and Unique God has long remained silent. Abominations were committed before His eyes and still He remained silent. But now He shall reveal His countenance in an awesome manner. Let him who has ears, hear! The hour is not far. I tried to bring every one under the protection of God, but Divine decrees have to be fulfilled. Truly do I proclaim that this country’s turn is also drawing near. You shall witness the return of Noah’s [N uh ] time and also of that which happened to the land of Lot [L ut ]. 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. '' 40 40 H aq i qatul ‐ Wa hi , Ru ha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 23, pp. 268 ‐ 269