What Happens After the Turkish Earthquake?

The impact of the earthquake in Turkey will be far-reaching and long-lasting, not just in terms of physical damage or even political consequences, but also in terms of the emotional and psychological harm caused to those directly affected. The trauma caused by the earthquake is likely to result in a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for many individuals.

To understand the emotional toll of such a disaster, it is helpful to consider the concept of collective trauma. Collective trauma refers to the shared emotional and psychological harm experienced by a group of people after a traumatic event or series of events. Earthquakes, such as the one in Turkey, can have a devastating impact on entire communities and cause widespread emotional and psychological harm.

Islam is a complete religion and way of life for Muslims. Muslim beliefs and practices serve as a source of comfort and hope in the face of trauma. After a traumatic event like an earthquake, Muslims directly or indirectly affected may respond in various ways. 

As one survivor who lost his wife, children, and grandchildren stated, “This has been the Decree of Allah, I am not going to oppose the Decree of Allah.” This kind of perspective is consistent with the call to Muslims to think in this way. It gives spritual strenght. It is important to note that while grieving is natural, it should not detract from core Islamic concepts. Although this can be a challenging mindset to achieve, it is a valuable lesson to learn from.

Actions we all can take as a people:

• Seeking comfort and expressing fears through prayer while talking about it to out Allah (SWT) through dua.
• Finding solace and support through communal collective prayers (duas) at the Musjid..
• Receiving spiritual and emotional support from empathic imams and other religious and community leaders.
• Turning to the Quran by reading and listening to it and reflecting upon the Sunnah for comfort and hope.
• Helping others as a way to mitigate the effects of trauma and find purpose and hope.

It is important to acknowledge and address the root causes of collective trauma and provide those affected with the resources they need to heal and recover. By being empathetic, patient, and proactive in our response, we can help to limit the effects of collective trauma and support communities in the healing process.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.