Voice of British Muslim Women

Arfa Yassir, Swindon

We are going through an extraordinary, unprecedented global crisis; it is the entire world vs COVID-19. These are exceptionally stressful times and without any social activity the situation seems to increase in severity. Adults and children are finding it difficult to go against their nature and disconnect with the outside world.

While we face disconnections, it is time we look at the available connections we have: Our God and our family. Positivity begins right here!

If the two-P check list of ‘precaution’ and ‘prayer’ is checked then one must feel somewhat relaxed and comforted. Many of us still feel anxious, and all the problems relating to the current situation keep popping up our heads. This is of course quite normal.

In such times families and friends must stand-by and support each other. We must as families make it a common practice to tell each other the positives frequently. Remind each other that we need to turn to God. We were depending on His blessings even before this virus and must turn to Him after this as well. The good part is that nothing lasts forever! It is only the mercy and love of our God that lasts.

So let us go through each thought that might come to our minds and see how we can try to deal with it.

I fall in the category of vulnerable in terms of the virus: Everyone is vulnerable to so many unknown risks and threats every day, being in this category only means you need to be extra careful and leave the rest to God. He is The Ultimate Friend and Ultimate Helper and Protector. No one is safe out of His protection and even the vulnerable can and do feel safe in His protection.

I am worried about my children:  Life is a miracle, it is not in human capacity to create it unless God so wills and it is also not in human capacity to sustain it without God’s help. We need to turn to God for the life and well- being of children regardless of epidemics. After taking all precautions we must stay calm and enjoy our time with them.

Members of my family are vulnerable: If any member of our family has a health condition or not we must rely on God’s protection ultimately. Because our life does not work according to our calculations anyway, an apparently healthy person might have an unknown health condition that they are unaware of! They may go through this pandemic without knowing it! So we can always turn to God and relate our concerns to Him and seek inner peace from Him.

I have lost a loved one: Indeed, to God we belong and to Him we all shall return. It is indeed difficult to gauge the grief of those left behind. In the current circumstances we must pray more in such a situation that may Allah prevent others from this sadness, may Allah bless all those hospitalised and undergoing treatments for any disease. No one else can pray with the same vigour and desperation as those directly affected. May God bless the efforts of the doctors and nurses, who are dealing with everything in the frontline.

I am one of the frontline medical staff: Congratulations! you are the real hero! You are actually the hero of entire humanity, fighting for a noble cause. You and your loved one should feel proud of this and they should pray with more vigour for you. And indeed if any country has or can win this fight it is not only through the collective effort of community but the medical staff with God’s blessing. All those recovering and being discharged from the hospital owe their regained health to God and the efforts of the doctors and nurses.

What about my Business/Job: We may presume that we earn our livelihood merely through our work or business. Indeed it is God that blesses our effort and rewards our work. It is not difficult for God to find an alternative means for us, given we turn to Him and have the resolve to bounce back. God is the ultimate Source, the ultimate Provider.
We must remind each other that while the coronavirus is new and its characteristics are not fully known but we know the Supreme power of God Almighty is there to help once we turn to Him.

If we are taking all precautions then we must not feel down as we are already doing what is in our power. Above all, the entire world is going through it, it is not just us. Our power is limited but God’s Power is unlimited and after doing our bit we must turn to Him to bless our efforts. The Merciful God is always there to listen to us. It is only us who forget our Creator.

We can use this lockdown, quarantine time to stop and think, bring about positive changes in ourselves and our family. We can pray together as a family, learn and increase our worldly and religious knowledge. We must keep in touch with the most Powerful Friend: God.