God’s wrath upon Americans - الهلال نيوز

Social media has recently been inundated with assertions and interpretations regarding the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles. Certain modern religious peddlers and their adherents have framed these events as manifestations of “divine retribution” against the US.

Across various platforms, footage of the fires circulated widely and was tenuously linked to religious doctrines and scriptures through distorted exegesis. Some even characterized them as “an expression of divine wrath unleashed upon Americans for their nation’s support of Israel and as retribution for Palestinian suffering in Gaza.”

While such rhetoric is not novel—historically resurfacing after comparable incidents—the sheer prevalence of these claims is striking this time. This heightened visibility may stem from social media’s pervasive reach and the infiltration of extremist factions into the propaganda sphere, disseminating ideologies through platforms that appeal to credulous, impressionable, and undereducated audiences globally.

A root issue within many Arab and Muslim communities lies in the tendency to assign religious symbolism to specific events, exploiting them to dull critical thinking and cloud judgment.

Natural disasters—wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes—recur cyclically across regions worldwide. Arabs and Muslims, like others, endure their share of such calamities. All matters rest in the hands of the Divine Creator, who decrees outcomes according to His will. Moreover, cosmic phenomena like eclipses, earthquakes, and floods are divine creations governed by His supreme law and omnipotent authority. These events arise not from anger or punishment but from an intricate divine order shaped by inscrutable wisdom beyond human grasp.

Thus, attributing such occurrences to human actions or misfortunes reflects flawed human constructs born of ignorance and fear, not genuine insight into divine intent.

The peril of such ideologies, transcending geographical boundaries, parallels the impact of illicit substances: they foster delusions, corrode awareness, and embroil Islam in contrived conflicts antithetical to its humanitarian ethos. Sporadic campaigns perpetuating ignorance and superstition also undermine scientific progress. When minds are clouded by emotional exploitation and false solace, extremist groups find fertile soil for propagating toxic ideologies.

Undeniably, natural disasters draw no distinction between Muslim, Christian, or Jew. Setting aside sectarian interpretations, one truth remains evident: such events strike indiscriminately. Indeed, no region has remained entirely immune to nature’s fury. The Los Angeles fires evoke comparable reactions observed during the 9/11 attacks, when some expressed malicious glee at American suffering.

The core issue lies not in the sentiments themselves or their targets—after all, those who lose homes or property are often entitled to compensation. The true crisis is the propagation of these narratives among Arab and Muslim populations, impeding efforts to cultivate awareness and eradicate the roots of ignorance, subservience, and animosity. These destructive emotions are continuously nourished by extremist groups, whose dogma has entrenched itself within the collective psyche, fostering receptivity to ideologies hostile to human dignity and the core principles of authentic Islam.

Assertions of divine wrath as the cause of the Los Angeles fires serve as an opiate propagated by religious peddlers. Their aim is to befuddle followers, exploit natural occurrences to advance myths, and revel in others’ suffering—all while disregarding rational discourse, intellectual integrity, and the very scriptures they purport to uphold.