There’s fear in the air. I feel it every time I take a breath. I received the letter early on. Stay inside for 12 weeks, classed as vulnerable because I have underlying health issues.
I don’t worry about myself actually; I’ve stopped thinking about my cancer.
Now every time a member of my family leaves the house my heart sinks. Every time I think of my grandchildren, I wonder what kind of future they have to look forward to.
Over the last two years I have become used to the shadow of death, having come face to face with my own mortality as a cancer patient. I’ve told myself, surely as Muslims we should be most prepared for death. Should our hearts not be at peace with regards to this reality?
This is something that the new Coronavirus world is asking us, as believers, to consider.
The idea that we are in control has been shown to be an illusion by a tiny virus that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Some of us do not want this illusion of being in control to shatter, perhaps this is the reason why people find it easier to believe in conspiracy theories. So that we can maintain the illusion of control that our free will gives us.
We are all aware of the teaching that we should live this life as strangers and not build our homes on the bridge that is this world. Yet we cling to the world and our belongings as if we will last forever.
This time we are living through is an opportunity to confront our mortality and to keep in mind what condition we want to be in when the angel of death comes for us, as inevitably he will, sooner or later because as we are told in the Quran: ‘Every soul shall taste death’ (3:185). This is not something that anyone has ever escaped, nor will anyone escape. It is not a matter of ‘if’ but of ‘when’.
So, let’s change our mindset. Think of this time as a mercy and gift from Allah...He is giving us an opportunity to come closer to Him through our patience and gratitude.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiallaahu 'anhu) said: "Bring yourself to account before you are taken to account."
Perhaps this is the perfect time to do this. What kind of life am I living? If I were to stand before Allah now, would I feel ashamed? Or hopeful of His mercy? How can I live my life better?
In Surah Bakarah we read the dua: ‘Our Lord, give us good in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.’
While we are mindful of the hereafter, part of showing gratitude is to take the good that Allah has blessed us with in this world.
So, today I ironed a nice outfit to wear. I put some rings on my fingers...a bracelet around my wrist and even a chain on my ankle. Because I don't want to die before I'm dead...also because I believe that in these acts I can express my gratitude to my Creator for all the blessings I have, therefore making my thinking and attitude a positive one instead of a negative one.
And I balance this with 'Inna lillahi wa inna illayhi rajioon', to Allah we belong and to Him we return... so that I might be prepared for that ultimate meeting even at a basic level.
I take comfort in verses of the Quran: ‘Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.’ (Quran 2 v62)
‘Allah is the protector of those who believe, He brings them out from the darkness into the light.’ (Quran 2 v257)
A couple of verses from the Psalms of David (AS) also come to mind:
‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me…
…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.’ (Psalms 23)
Perhaps what the Coronavirus is showing us is that we are not that different to each other after all.
We are all born, have our share of happiness and sadness, ease and hardship, laughter and tears. We all bleed red…and we all have to die one day. The question is what are we going to do with our life while we have it?
‘And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.’ (Quran 51 v 56)
By Nuzhat Ali
