Distressed After Plane Crash
Question

                I am newly converted to the Islamic religion. To get to know Allah and be able to know that He is with us in our daily life, it is a great comfort. However, I was so stunned by the air plane crash of JFK Jr., I could not stop crying. I don't understand why Allah sometimes acts in such a mysteroius way. I feel that we as human beings really don't have control over our lives. When I am in a difficult situation, I often pray to Allah to help me go through the tough time, sometimes I feel my prayers are being answered, that Allah is so close to me; yet other times I feel He is so distanced from us, prayers to Allah are the only way for me to get comfort from the Almighty, but I still don't understand why tragedy happens so often.
Praise be to Allah.for your coming to Islam. 
    Allah has blessed you by making you Muslim. And praise be to Allah for the 
    fact that you feel Allah is with you, for this is what brings peace to the 
    heart and makes deeds righteous. 
    
    Please understand that Allah sends trials 
    upon people so as to distinguish between them, so that it will be known who 
    will bear them with patience and the hope of reward from Allah, and who will 
    be filled with despair and will resent the decree of Allah. So those who are 
    patient will be rewarded with Paradise and those who despair will be 
    punished with torment, grief and pain in this world, before the Hereafter. 
    

    The plane crash which you mentioned is of 
    this nature. The people on board were either committed Muslims, so this 
    disaster is an expiation for their sins and will raise their status, as it 
    is a kind of martyrdom (shahadah) for which they will be rewarded, and their 
    families will be rewarded if they bear their loss with patience; or they 
    were kuffar (disbelievers) and evildoers who did not obey their Lord, so the 
    accident was a punishment from Allah and vengeance from Him.  

    A Muslim must not feel sad for the death of non-Muslims 
    because every human being is destined to die. But dying before we Muslims 
    were able to guide them to Islam is our source of grief and sadness because 
    whoever is not Muslim is doomed in Hell.

    There is nothing mysterious about this as 
    you claim. It is the decree of Allah which happens at every instant; we must 
    bear it with patience and not let grief overwhelm us. The crash of this 
    airplane is a sign from Allah to mankind, to remind them of the greatness of 
    the power of Allah. 

     Allah says concerning ships (interpretation 
    of the meaning): 

    “And among His Signs are the ships in the 
    sea like mountains. 

    If He wills, He causes the wind to cease, 
    then they would become motionless on the back (of the sea). Verily, in this 
    are signs for everyone patient and grateful. 

    Or He may destroy them (by shipwreck) 
    because of that which their (people) have earned. And He pardons much.
    

    And those who dispute 
    (polytheists, with Our Messenger Muhammad) as regards Our Ayat (proofs, 
    signs, verses of Islamic Monotheism) may know that there is no place of 
    refuge for them (from Allah’s punishment) 

    So whatever you have been given is but (a 
    passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah 
    (Paradise) is better and more lasting for those who believe (in the Oneness 
    of Allah, Islamic Monotheism) and put their trust in their Lord (concerning 
    all of their affairs).” 

    [al-Shoora 42:32-36]

    Plane crashes and other disasters serve to 
    remind people that no matter how much progress they make in earthly terms 
    and how much strength they gain, Allah is stronger and more powerful than 
    they are. What they do and the developments they have made will not save 
    them from the punishment and decree of Allah if it comes to them. Let people 
    go back and look at themselves, and realize how incapable and weak they 
    really are, and how strong, mighty and powerful Allah is.

    Please realize that Allah is close and that 
    He responds to the call of the one who is in need. Allah does not distance 
    Himself from man unless man distances himself from Allah and becomes 
    arrogant.

     Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) 
    concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My 
    Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on 
    Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in 
    Me, so that they may be led aright.”

     [al-Baqarah 2:186] 

     So no one should feel that Allah is far 
    away from him, unless he has done something to affect the relationship 
    between him and Allah. If he puts matters right between him and Allah, then 
    he will not feel that grief and distance.

    The feelings of grief and loneliness that 
    have overwhelmed you are from the accursed Shaytan who wants to cause grief 
    to those who believe; he does not want to see them active in doing actions 
    of obedience to Allah that will bring joy to their hearts.

    Al-Imam Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on 
    him) said:

    Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

     “And if an evil whisper from Shaytan 
    (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek 
    refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Knower.”

     [Fussilat 41:36] 

    “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and 
    turn away from the foolish (i.e. don’t punish them). And if an evil whisper 
    comes to you from Shaytan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He 
    is All-Hearer, All-Knower.”

     [al-A’raf 7:199-200] 

    “Repel evil with that which is better. We 
    are Best‑Acquainted with the things they utter. 

    And say: ‘My Lord! I seek refuge with You 
    from the whisperings (suggestions) of the Shayateen (devils). 

    And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! Lest 
    they should come near me.’” 

    [al-Muminoon 23:96-98] 

     “Repel (the evil) with one which is better 
    (i.e. Allah orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of 
    anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between 
    whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close 
    friend. 

    But none is granted it (the above quality) 
    except those who are patient — and none is granted it except the owner of 
    the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter, i.e., Paradise and of a 
    high moral character) in this world. 

    And if an evil whisper from Shaytan (Satan) 
    tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in 
    Allah. Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Knower.” 

    [Fussilat 41:34-36] 

    There is no fourth ayah (verse) with a 
    meaning like that of these three, 
    which is that Allah commands us to be kind to human enemies and treat them 
    kindly so that their inherent good nature will prevail and they will become 
    our friends. But He commands us to seek refuge with Him from satanic 
    enemies; there is no point in being kind to them or treating them nicely, 
    for they want only to destroy the sons of Adam because of the intensity of 
    the enmity between them and their father Adam beforehand. Allah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning):  

    “O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytan (Satan) 
    deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise.”

     [al-A’raf 7:27]  

    “Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is an enemy to you, 
    so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that 
    they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.”

     [Fatir 35:6] 

     “Will you then take him (Iblees) and his 
    offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to 
    you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zalimoon (polytheists, and 
    wrongdoers, etc).” 

    [al-Kahf 18:50] 

    Iblees swore to our father Adam that he was 
    one of the sincere, but he lied, so how about his dealings with us? 
    Especially since he said: 

    “By Your Might, then I will surely mislead 
    them all, except Your chosen slaves amongst them (i.e. faithful, obedient, 
    true believers of Islamic Monotheism).”

     [Sad 38:82-83 – interpretation of the 
    meaning] 

     And Allah says (interpretation of the 
    meaning): 

    “So when you want to recite the Quran, seek 
    refuge with Allah from Shaytan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one).  Verily, 
    he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their 
    Lord (Allah). His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), 
    and those who join partners with Him (Allah, i.e. those who are Mushrikoon, 
    i.e., polytheists.”

     [al-Nahl 16:98-100] 

    (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/14) 

    So turn to Allah, remember Him and strive to 
    worship Him, so that your soul will become pure and love for Him will become 
    firmly entrenched in your heart, and you will be relieved of your worry and 
    grief. Remember the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace 
    and blessings of Allah be upon him): 

     The Messenger of Allah  (peace and 
    blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no-one who is afflicted by 
    distress and grief, and says: ‘Allaahumma inni ‘abduka ibn ‘abdika ibn 
    amatika nasiyati bi yadika, madin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadauka. 
    As’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi 
    kitabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw istatharta bihi fi ‘ilm 
    il-ghayb ‘indaka an taj’al al-Qurana rabee’a qalbi wa noor sadri wa jala 
    huzni wa dhihab hammi (O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son 
    of Your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is 
    forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name 
    belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your 
    Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the 
    knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my 
    heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a 
    release for my anxiety),’ but Allah will take away his distress and grief, 
    and replace it with joy.” (Narrated by al-Imam Ahmad, 3704; it is a saheeh 
    hadeeth/authentic narration). May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad. 
    

    And Allah knows best.