Bismillāh, Alhamdulillāh. Peace and glad tidings to those who believe in Allāh, and salutations to His last Prophet Muhammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam).
COVID-19 is worrying. At moments like this, the reality of man sinks in. The dazzle of those who reject belief evaporates. The truth of Islam shines. The weakest of viruses has become the most feared creature of Allāh. Militaries are helpless. Yesterday’s peace is a memory. Today’s panic is a stark reality.
Here we need to pause. A moment, between what went and what will come. Surah Al-‘Asr: a short surah, yet its message indelible, loud, clear, and powerful. Allāh reminds us of our most precious commodity: “By time!” He underlines the sorry state of mankind: “Indeed, mankind is in loss.” With one exception: “Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”
Let us remind ourselves of the words of our beloved Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam):
“The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower (hand) is that of the beggar.”
And then remind ourselves of the words of Allāh:
“But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer – it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allāh]”[1]
Today, the hands that give are those of healthcare workers. The cleaners, security staff, porters, cleaners, nurses, pharmacists, drivers, laundry workers, respiratory therapists, biomedical engineers, physiotherapists, laboratory technicians, radiographers, ultrasonographers, doctors, purchasers, managers, and scientists. Today, they are all the hands that give, while the rest of humanity have their lower hands stretched out.
Today is the moment when we – those who give – must ask the question: Why? Why am I doing this? Why am I running to the halls of disease and death? Allāh reminds us to give the best answer:
“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allāh, Lord of the worlds’”[2]
Commentaries are not needed when the words are clear. For the believer, everything is blessed, even death.
The moment is over. Our path is clear. By Allāh’s permission, the commotion will stop. The hearts will rest. In the middle of panic, when the day starts, a believer’s words are: “
‘This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth.’ And it increased them only in faith and acceptance”[3]
For every believing hand that helps, let us call humanity to Islam through the da’wah of our actions and sacrifice – through the smile on our face when we go to meet death. Let them all see that it is only the believers who are blessed, and let the world join us.
Let us do our best for our patients. Let us get the best knowledge from those who know because Allāh said:
“So ask the people of the message if you do not know”[4]
Let us do our best and remind our patients to stay at home. Remind them to help one another in these difficult moments and not to spread corruption in the world. Let us remember this because:
“And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good”[5]
Above all, let us – for the lucky believing patient – remind them that healthcare workers are mere taps. The water of cure that flows in them is a gift from none other than Allāh. If He wants, He can turn it off – opening dry taps will not help anyone. Let us remind ourselves and them that:
“And when I am ill, it is He who cures me”[6]
Let us put the message in the language of the age so that people understand: if you take your vitamin D and C, do not forget that which begins with ‘A’: Allāh. Turn to Him and rely on Him.
Let us remind the rest of the world:
“And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]” [7]
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] Al-Qur’ān 17:19
[2] Al-Qur’ān 6:162
[3] Al-Qur’ān 33:22
[4] Al-Qur’ān 16:43
[5] Al-Qur’ān 7:56
[6] Al-Qur’ān 26:80
[7] Al-Qur’ān 7:126
