Secularized French Muslims Claim Linking Sin with Calamities is Racist

A fundamental principle, one that is often attributed to the French, emphasizes that after every calamity, there should be a moment for raw emotions, followed by another for deep contemplation.

Immediate analysis of an incident and its underlying causes is typically deemed to be insensitive.

This explains why Muslims in France felt a deep sense of indignation when some preachers drew a link between the surge of sinning in Morocco and the occurrence of the recent earthquake.

Mehdi of Islammag, one of France’s most prominent preachers, boldly asserted:

It is still despicable what is happening. Some use the earthquake to strike at our Moroccan brothers (because they say that Moroccans sin too much and that they must repent). […] The Earth trembled during the time of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (implying that it cannot concluded that this earthquake was due to the rampant sinning of the people).

In response, these Muslims vehemently criticized everyone who made any attempts to link the earthquake to the rise in sin within Morocco, branding them as racist provocateurs.

Regrettably, it appears that this line of thinking may be influenced by the growing secularization among French Muslims. Furthermore, at present, a form of nationalism seems to be creeping into their perspectives.

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I personally have a deep sense of love and affection for Morocco, and I feel a great amount of gratitude towards this land. A significant portion of my children have Moroccan roots, and Morocco has been my gracious host for many years now. There are Moroccan towns that I hold in the highest esteem. I’ve made an effort to learn the local dialect (to the best of my abilities), and I engage with the local people.

When the earth shook, I was wide awake, and the tremor did not evade my senses. This wasn’t my first encounter with an earthquake either, and fortunately, my city of residence, Rabat, largely escaped unscathed. However, I had been impacted directly by the event. In the immediate aftermath, my wife and I found ourselves contemplating the necessity of repentance, of returning to Allah, and expressing our gratitude to Him, who grants us time and patience in the face of our transgressions.

I believe firmly that this reflection is not driven by any form of anti-Moroccan sentiment, nationalism, or a penchant for discord.

I am also acquainted personally with numerous students of knowledge and imams in Morocco who have adopted this so-called “racist” interpretation of the earthquake’s cause.

Petite dédicace à certains frères qui font passer l'émotion avant la raison et la révélation, et qui n'arrivent pas à garder la tête froide quand autrui leur fait un rappel en ces temps difficiles
Solidarité et rappel ne sont pas contradictoires
رحمة الله على إخواننا#زلزال_مراكش pic.twitter.com/Qs8gXwQlmt

— Dr. Mohamed Talal Lahlou (@Dr__Lahlou) September 13, 2023

A small dedication to certain brothers who put emotion before reason and revelation; and who cannot maintain a cool head when others offer them reminders during these difficult times:

 

Solidarity and reminders are not mutually opposed.

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Allow me to mention my dear friend Sheikh Abdellatif, an imam in Marrakech. When the earth trembled, the walls of his school bore the scars. Just a week prior ro this catastrophic event, when we inquired about the situation in Marrakech, Sheikh Abdellatif responded:

Regrettably, it has morphed into a hub of moral decay, and all we can do is wait for Allah to send us an earthquake as a reminder.

A mere week later, that reminder arrived, just as he had predicted.

This perspective isn’t one that is restricted to Sheikh Abdellatif alone—numerous local scholars echo this very same sentiment sentiment. They remind us that, when disaster strikes, the initial course of action is to repent and subsequently extend our assistance to those who have been affected. I think of the individuals who have abandoned their homes since the calamity and, to this day, remain in the Marrakech region, offering aid to those in need.

Conversely, Moroccans residing in France, who derive pleasure from dwelling in a land that they consider to be Morocco’s greatest adversary, France—a place where criticism of Morocco’s sovereignty often takes precedence over mourning and lamentation for the victims. These same Moroccans who live in France have the audacity to label those who draw any connection between sin and earthquakes as despicable racists.

In my view, these individuals harbor a profound disdain for Morocco within their hearts. In my personal experience, their sojourns to Morocco are usually confined to nothing more than summer vacations. Ask them to stay in Morocco for more than three months, and they make a hasty retreat. Morocco, for them, is a mere vacation destination. This is evident in their response to discussions about making Hijrah, as they recite a litany of excuses including the following:

“The wages are too measly.”

“The healthcare system is inadequate.”

“Opportunities are scarce in Morocco.”

RELATED: From France to Belgium to Morocco: The Dangers of Succumbing to Western Values

These very same individuals have the audacity to accuse scholars and students of knowledge, including Moroccans, of being agitators.

When they set foot in Morocco, they rent flashy sports cars, speed around recklessly with their windows rolled down and music blaring, and, regrettably, some of them even indulge in alcohol consumption and degenerate promiscuity.

We have to ask, who are the real disruptors here?

They do not decry sin and immorality on Moroccan soil because they themselves revel in it. If a town lacks a nightclub, they cannot help but bemoan the dearth of “entertainment” options.

We are all sinners, and mankind has strayed far in its transgressions. These catastrophes serve as divine reminders, waking us abruptly from our heedlessness and providing us with an an opportunity to seek redemption before our time on this Earth comes to an inevitable end. Among the victims of such disasters, Allah elevates some to the status of martyrs, bestowing upon them the sacred gift of martyrdom (and paradise in sha’ Allah), while others die unrepentant upon sin and immorality, for which they will face the consequences. And Allah’s refuge is sought!

Natural disasters are profound occurrences, notwithstanding the atheistic perspectives attributing them solely to the convergence of the laws of nature within an existential void.

Nothing ever afflicts us except that is the decree of Allah. It may be a punishment for our sins and wrongdoings, a wake-up call for us to repent and change our ways, cause for reflection upon our mortality and the inevitability of death, a test, or even a blessing in disguise. Whenever any calamity befalls us or anyone else, we must always take the opportunity to reflect and gain closeness to Allah through supplication, sincere repentance, charity, and worship.

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