A SIMPLE SOLUTION

A man once wrote about his experience. With some paraphrasing, it goes like this: he was travelling through a desert region in a horse-carriage. Along the way, signs of a storm began to appear. The coachman stopped and explained that this area often experienced terrifying storms—so powerful that they could blow away huge objects. The signs indicated that such a storm was approaching, and therefore they needed to get down from the carriage and prepare for safety.

As the storm drew nearer, we moved towards a tree to seek shelter. The coachman saw us heading there and shouted. He said, “Never go under a tree! In such storms, big trees are uprooted. Taking shelter under a tree is extremely dangerous.” He explained that there was only one way to survive: lie face down in the open ground.

We obeyed his instructions and lay face down on the earth. The storm came, and it came with great force. It swept away many trees and even sand dunes. But the entire storm passed above us. On the ground’s surface, we lay safe. After a while, when the storm weakened, we got up and realized that the coachman’s advice had been completely right (Zikra Digest, November 1989).

When storms arise, their force remains mostly above the surface; the ground below is spared from their direct impact. That is why trees standing tall are often uprooted, while the grass spread across the earth remains intact.

In such moments, the best way to survive a storm is to lower oneself for a while. This is a lesson from nature—it teaches us how to endure the tempests of life. The principle is simple: when the storm rises, lower your flag temporarily. If someone speaks provocatively, close your ears to it. If someone throws mud at your wall, wash it away with water. If someone raises slogans against you, occupy yourself in praying for him instead.