Voice of British Muslim Women

Nooresahar Ahmad, Hartlepool

“What is happening is much worse than you thought it was. You’ll realise that even just being able to breathe air in your own house… it’s something you should already be grateful for.”

These words – a quote from a YouTube video titled ‘Quarantined Italians record messages for themself from 10 days ago’[1] which is full of self-reprimands and warnings – are applicable to most of us in the midst of this pandemic. How many of us in January, a month ago, or indeed 10 days ago could have predicted this new reality? Since then, coronavirus cases have reached over 650,000 worldwide, with over 30,000 deaths[2]. Schools are closed, shops are shut, exams are cancelled – and those of us who have been lucky enough to dodge the disease so far are self-isolating in our homes. Life as we know it has changed. Just as most of us find ourselves agreeing with the sentiment “being able to breathe air in your own house” is a luxury, one article[3] found that the things people are missing the most are the normal, even mundane, tasks: “hugging my grandchildren”, “peace of mind”, “standing in line for groceries” and feeling “somewhat safe”.

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has left millions around the world reeling in a way that hardly anyone expected. Though we live in an era seemingly dependent on technological and scientific progress, the vaccine which may be the only cure for this virus is as far away as 12-18 months, with scientists admitting even this is “aspirational”[4]. The limitations of man have been firmly exposed. In his Friday Sermon of the 20th March 2020, His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah be his Helper) mentioned the impact this is having on people’s faith, using the example of Philip Johnston who wrote in the Telegraph: “How many times have we heard people say “Everything will be OK because scientists will work something out”, whether it be global warming or the pandemic? We are about to find out whether such optimism is justified. If it isn’t then I might be heading back to church.”[5]

However, whilst the current situation is unlike anything most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes,  in an interview for Al Hakam, His Holiness highlighted that, “Neither was this coronavirus foretold, nor have I ever expressed that this is a sign that has appeared. These epidemics will keep happening. It is absolutely wrong to declare every such outbreak to be a divine sign.”[6] Clearly, the pandemic of today does not run parallel with the events of 1902, wherein a prophecy was vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (peace be on him)  that the Community would be protected from the plague which was ravaging British India, and would not require inoculation.[7]

Yet, as more people question the lifestyle and society we have become so accustomed to, His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V emphasised that there is a responsibility to turn to Allah, and to continue to serve mankind: “In these circumstances, not only does it become more important for us to reform ourselves, it also becomes incumbent to increase in informing others about the peaceful message of Islam… We must tell people that for the ultimate result to be good, we must turn towards God and realise that true life is that which is in the Hereafter and we must not associate any partners with Him and fulfil the rights of His creation”.[8]

Novelist Erica Jong wrote that “There are no atheists on turbulent airplanes”[9]. Today, though we’re on the ground rather than suspended in mid-air, existence feels shaky and precarious. When we cannot safely rely on science, and we cannot see each other, it seems obvious what we have left – what we have always had – to depend upon. As the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) wrote, “when the fire of an epidemic flares greatly, all nations of the world naturally engage in prayer, repentance, seeking forgiveness and charitable giving. A natural movement takes place to turn to God, showing that it is a natural phenomenon for the human conscience to turn to God Almighty in the times of calamities.”[10]

As long as there is prayer, there is hope.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cImRzKXOs

[2] https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

[3] https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/poll-coronavirus-americans-miss-daily-life_n_5e7bb491c5b6cb9dc1994486?ri18n=true&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jb25zZW50LnlhaG9vLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALIyvTSVldyDMdml69lhNP4j3pUGb_nXetTlE7_DGmv2761G7WMFx3gQDstqlaWFTho5hqEvrXBLBoAjXVFz12Kzvm2LfsJVto-ej6p8JWNF_bfzLjQz0MIhSqK3oxeMF8QFcAnyQNlTncH2AIMSIhVOx1nqlrJwdA4XhXqBecwS

[4] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-vaccine-latest-covid-19-cure-uk-trials/

[5] https://www.alislam.org/press-release/head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-addresses-coronavirus-pandemic/

[6] https://www.alhakam.org/latest-instructions-from-hazrat-khalifatul-masih-regarding-coronavirus/

[7] https://www.alislam.org/book/noahs-ark/

[8] https://www.alislam.org/press-release/head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-addresses-coronavirus-pandemic/

[9] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/378672-there-are-no-atheists-on-turbulent-airplanes

[10] https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Gift-for-Queen.pdf