God may punish wrong doers

In reference to the letter published in The Jakarta Post dated Jan. 17 titled It's purely a natural disaster, I would like to share my views in this regard.

There is no doubt that God is loving and secure. And this is also true that he punishes -- sometimes here in this world and most often in the world here after. But it does not mean " God is cruel and vindictive".

As far as my understanding of God is concerned: God has absolute power. He is the master and we are the servants. He provides us with all our needs. He created man for a purposeful life: Which is to obey Him.

But when most of neglect this purpose and do not care about God, He may show His wrath, which would be a test for His loved ones and punishment for the wrong doers.

This may not necessarily be punishment for all the victims, as innocent will always be rewarded if not here then in the world here after, but is a great warning for the rest.

The letter writer called this tsunami merely a natural disaster but not a punishment. To me it is just change of name. Natural disaster in the same way are under God control as are the blessings. Had He not allowed, tsunami would not have occurred.

FAZAL-E-MUJEEB
Jakarta