Open the newspapers — and you’ll see portraits of despair. Turn on the television — and you’ll hear anguished cries of “Help us! Save us!” echoing from every direction. This flood like the merciless waves of 2010 and 2014 — is a calamity, a torment, a divine warning.

It is the result of our negligence, our incompetence, our sins — a reflection of our own misdeeds. It is the wrath of God. May Allah protect us from such disasters, for we are weak — a fragile nation, a powerless people. We lack the strength to endure His fury.

This is the punishment for our own hands’ actions. When I met senior journalist Farooq Bhatti in Lahore and asked him why this has befallen us, he said:

Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab,
Jhelum and mighty Indus
Have all grown angry?
Have the mountains, the birds, and the skies turned their faces away?
Have the trees and stones, the mute creatures of earth,
become displeased with the talking beast — man?
O “Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat” — the noblest of all creation,
Be noble! Be human!
Know your limits. Stay within your bounds.

The whole story, he said, is simple: Mankind, in his arrogance, has tried to play God.
We have blocked the natural courses of rivers to build our housing colonies. We cut down forests to carve out plots of land. And when nature strikes back — it strikes without mercy. Who can fight against nature itself?

Those of us who remain safe must not mock the misery of the afflicted, for today it is them, tomorrow it could be us. Fake relief camps and staged photo sessions might fool the world,
but they cannot fool the helpless and certainly not Allah, the Creator of all, Who can build and destroy worlds in a single moment.

He is watching — those who are serving sincerely, and those who are merely performing for politics and publicity. Our armed forces and rescue teams deserve every word of praise; they stand tirelessly in service of the nation.

Al-Khidmat Foundation of Jamaat-e-Islami has rendered unforgettable service.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz — their intentions cannot be doubted. They feel the pain of their people and are present among them.

A nation led by such leaders can withstand any storm. And a nation with the spirit of Al-Khidmat volunteers, can endure every sorrow with grace. A people with the courage of Abdul Sattar Edhi, can never truly die.

Even with limited means, many organizations are breathing life into humanity.
In such times, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could have won hearts
by standing beside the flood victims, but alas, they are too busy in the politics of trolling.

This is not the time for division. This is the time for awakening — for brotherhood, for unity, for love. This is the time to return joy to those drowning in grief.

Let us make a vow. No homes, no markets shall be built on the natural paths of water.
He who cuts down a tree shall face the punishment of a murderer. Only then will mankind learn not to tamper with nature. The flood has only just begun, but its end may be far more terrifying.
Nearly twenty million people are at risk of losing their homes.
Rebuilding lives and towns will demand unimaginable resources.

What can we do?
We can help. We can share their sorrow. We can remember that children suffer most — for such tragedies etch permanent scars on young minds. Do not forget the children. Women plead for shelter, Elders crave a dignified piece of bread, and the children… the children cry out:

 “Give me back my laughter! Give me back my laughter!”