How to deal with Famine? The Caliph’s Approach (received from a friend) I am sure you’d all aware about the drought followed by famine in Tharparkar, Sindh and the negligence of our politicians, rulers and officials and their shameless behaviour that they are doing politics over the death tolls and blaming each other. Instead of discussing these politicians more, I am going to share about the great famine at Arabia in 638 C.E under the caliphate of Umar Bin Khattab and how he tackled the situation which I am referring as The Caliph’s Approach. In the year 638 C.E, Arabia fell into severe drought followed by a famine. Bedouin people started to die because of hunger and outbreak of disease. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over Arabia gathered at Medina where food was rationed. Soon the reserves of food at Medina started to decline. Umar Bin Khattab wrote letters to the provincial governors of Syria, Palestine and Iraq for aid. A state of emergency was declared in Medina and Arabia. The timely aid of governors saved the lives of thousands of people throughout Arabia. The first governor to respond was Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, the Governor of Syria and the Supreme Commander of Rashidun Army. He sent a historic letter to Umar Bin Khattab stating: “I am sending you the Caravans whose one end will be here at Syria and the other will be at Medina.” Later, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah visited Medina personally and served as an Officer of Disaster Management Cell, headed personally by Umar Bin Khattab. Once an adequate supply of rations reached Medina, Umar Bin Khattab dispatched his men to the routes of Iraq, Palestine and Syria to take the supply caravans to the desert settlements deeper into Arabia, which in turn saved millions from starvation. For internally displaced people, Umar Bin Khattab hosted a dinner every night at Medina. According to estimate more than hundred thousand people attended dinner every night. By early 639 conditions started to improve. Arabia received rainfall and as soon as the famine ended, Umar Bin Khattab personally supervised the rehabilitation of the displaced people. They were given adequate amounts of rations and were exempted from payment of Zakat for that year and the next year. After reading this, now look at our leaders, politicians and officials. Look at ourselves how hypocrites we are and to whom we support. We have lost in our castes, colours, creeds, races and languages. We give priority to castes, colours, creeds, races and languages over our religion and feel proud. And after reading this if you still support these people then believe me you’ll be held equally liable for their social, moral and financial crimes.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 12:41:49 +0000
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