I went into lockdown on March 18th and went out for the first time to attend a hospital appointment on April 30th. The world has definitely changed. Only one entrance to the hospital was opened, and exit was by a different door. Nurses in PPE were waiting to screen patients before allowing them in. Walking along the corridors, people were trying their best to stay two meters apart and in the waiting rooms we were sitting two seats away from the other patients, the majority of us wearing masks. No one attempting conversation.
I was discussing the whole experience with my husband, how I felt that it was almost as if being cocooned in the relative safety of my home feels like we are sitting in the eye of the storm, where we have the illusion of calm. What can we do to keep the calm in our lives at these most turbulent of times?
Whilst we sit in the eye, there are three I’s we can hold on to in order to keep it together: Islam, our practice; Imaan, our belief and Ihsaan, our God – consciousness and connection with our Creator.
Allah created us as His vicegerents on this Earth, which is a trust from Him. I believe we have, as humanity, neglected our duty in safeguarding it and we are now reaping what we have sown.
Much like Jonah (AS) who turned away from his responsibility, we are now sitting in our own version of the tummy of the whale. Everything was quite and calm inside while the ocean and its inhabitants whirled around him.
Perhaps we can also use the prayer of Jonah to lift us out of this tribulation:
‘There is no God but You, Glory to You, I have indeed wronged my own soul.’
When Jonah (AS) came out of the tummy of the whale, his world was the same as before he was swallowed up. To be honest I’m not sure what kind of world we are going to come out to once lockdown is lifted.
I just rely on another prayer: ‘Allah is sufficient for me as my Lord and Protector.’
These prayers are my fortress, my protection, and my escape. Keeping me calm in the eye of the storm.
