Monday, 6 May 2013

The Avengers...the aftermath....


“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” ― Abraham Lincoln


Whenever I feel stress or angry or sad, I would sometimes pick up something to sew. Sewing helps me channel my anger and frustration or sadness. As horrific as it sounds, somehow, mentally imagining I’m stabbing the source of my antagonism with a needle, does bring some sort of relief and comfort. Sigh! It does sound pretty sadistic, doesn’t it but hey! I am only human. After I complete my little project, normally I would feel better plus, it gives me time to rationalize things and decide what to do next.

Yesterday, as I was stabbing my little needle away, the television was on and ironically, it was showing ‘The Avengers’. For those of you who have not seen 'The Avengers' movie, the story is typically about good versus evil but with a twist. The good team, consist of individual persons with super powers, united with a common purpose i.e. to fight a common enemy that threatened earth and the entire human kind. My favorite character is actually 'The Hulk'. He reminds of my own temper and how I look like when I'm breathing fire. The story line is pretty far-fetch but the moral behind it, is worth paying attention to.

What I learnt from that movie is that ‘power’, is a very dangerous thing. If we human were given ‘super powers’ by God then, the whole world will be destroyed within seconds. As human, we tend to be ruled by our emotions and when we have power or super power, the temptation to use it against our so-called enemies, would be overwhelming indeed. We will be on a killing spree and we will keep justifying every kill. The whole world will be chaotic and no longer safe to live in. hhhmmm…wait a minute! That sounds like the world we live in now!

     Anyway, I am a calm and collected person (well…most of the time!) but tempting as it is, I do not want this super powers. Why? Because in my spur moment of extreme anger, I might abuse it and later, live to regret it. I mean, you have no idea, the countless times when I wish I have the  power, to zap an abusive husband into smithereens, every time the victim wife comes to me and seek for my help or permanently stun a child abuser/molester every time I read about it in the papers, but alas I don’t . Killing is a very serious matter indeed.

     Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person  not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land - it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences, and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allah by committing the major sins) in the land!.
            Surah Al-Maidah 5:32

I suppose that it is a good thing that I don’t have such powers because the possibility of me abusing it, is much greater than putting it to proper use. The only people whom I know, that were given such extraordinary powers, were the Prophets. The story about Prophet Moses a.s. splitting the sea and running through it is clearly stated in the Quran.

Then We inspired Musa (Moses) (saying): "Strike the sea with your stick." And it parted, and each separate part (of that sea water) became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. Then We brought near the others [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) party] to that place. And We saved Musa (Moses) and all those with him. Then We drowned the others. Verily! In this is indeed a sign (or a proof), yet most of them are not believers. And verily, your Lord! He is truly the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful”
Surah Ash-Shura 26:63-68

Prophet Solomon a.s was given the gift of the ability to communicate with the animals, control the wind and also to control the jinns.

And to Sulaiman (Solomon) (We subjected) the wind strongly raging, running by his command towards the land which We had blessed. And of everything We are the All-Knower. And of the Shayatin (devils) (from the jinns) were some who dived for him, and did other work besides that; and it was We Who guarded them.”
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:81-82                                       

Other than Prophets, I have never heard of anyone whom has been granted such divine powers by God Al Mighty.

When we talk about powers now, we refer to authority or wealth. A person in a position of authority does posses certain ‘powers’ so to speak. He or she may not be able to fly or speak to the cats but she or he, has the ability to influence and affect changes in a community or country. Many whom such 'power' were granted to, may not realized that, the power of authority is actually given by God to men, for the purpose of good. It is acquired not because he earned it or that the person is popular amongst his peers but it is because God AlMighty has Will it to be so, but, every power comes with a price. To quote Spidey, ‘with great powers comes great responsibility’.

It does matter if you are a CEO of a company or a minister or even the President of the Bird Watching Club, if you are a leader, then you have responsibilities towards the people under your wings. Use your powers wisely as you can be assured that you will be interrogated later and I have been informed by very reliable sources, that the interrogators are non too merciful. 

            Sahih Muslim - Volume 9, Book 89, Number 264, Narrated Ma'qil
I heard the Prophet (SAW) saying, "Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never feel even the smell of Paradise."


Back to the moral of the story; to me, the message of  ‘The Avengers’ , other than men should not wear spandex!, is simply, regardless of who we are or where we come from or what religion we profess, when it comes to justice, we must unite under one banner. This is always a situation where the good versus the evil and the evil does not distinguish between race or color or gender or religion.  A wrong is still a wrong and two wrongs can never make a right. 

Do not be discourage as we, the normal humans, also have powers that no one can take away . We have the power to hope, we have the power pray, we have the power to be happy, we have the power to dream, we have the power to ensure the safety our family and neighbours and most of all, we have the power to make a difference, however small…………think about it, we have the power to be......

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