Voice of British Muslim Women

Amtul Kafi Yadullah Bhunnoo, London

Due to COVID-19, the global economy has plummeted far worse than it did in the Great Depression ^[1]. However, this pandemic has only brought out the false pillars of the economy that it was standing on.

Why have banks lowered the interest rate to nearly 0% in order to help businesses?^[2] Why were clothing shops, hair and beauty salons, event venues, pubs and bars not part of the essential places to remain open?^[3] The closing of these services made a lot of people question their spending of both money and time on them. Places of worship were also closed but worshippers continued to pray at home, after all praying is a meditation that helps the mind.^[4] Why was nobody buying flowers for occasions?^[5] Why were fancy funeral services not taking place?^[6] Why did we run out of toilet paper?^[7] Why have oil prices fallen so much?^[8] Why is transport reduced?^[9] Why is online learning becoming more popular?^[10] Why has online gambling increased?^[11] Why have mental health issues, suicide rates, stress levels increased?^[12]

All these questions point to the fact that for so long we have built a society with social customs and norms that were useless and harming our family units. It was never necessary to meet friends and family in pubs where alcohol dependency is promoted and exemplified to children. It was never necessary for women to spend thousands of pounds on hair and beauty products to be made “worth it” with ad campaigns, which they now learn they can live without and can replace with homemade chemical-free and environmentally friendly skincare. Plucked out flowers for occasions are not just unnecessary but harmful for the environment. The fields that were used for growing flowers for the events and hospitality industry, could be used for growing edible flowers, fruits and vegetables for humans and other animals. Was it necessary to hold a wedding in an expensive venue and invite hundreds of people for the show?

When we revisit the number of citizens dying in countries like Yemen due to famine, and lack of basic amenities such as clean water, migrants in India having no availability of transport due to lack of government planning, and citizens in USA and Europe worried about the rents they have to pay with job uncertainty and unemployment increase.^[13,14,15] Yet some governments have spent more on defence and wars on foreign countries than its citizens welfare. UK household debt has increased.^[16] This really makes us wonder about the priorities of some governments and whether we as global citizens of the world are in anyway part of the problem? How do governments decide the priorities and what to put on the agenda? Why are we so easily influenced by adverts that pick on insecurities and issues than real wholesome solutions to world problems?  Our spending and priorities send a signal to the governments and industries on what they should focus on and put as priority.

We really have to evaluate and understand our lives and prioritise our relationships, education, health and well-being over anything lavish and unnecessary.  How much stress were you going through in the morning to rush for the best outfit, transport, coffee shop to get to work and all to accomplish what? COVID19 has made us realise that basics is all we need, and is everything.

The Holy Qur’an says ‘…shun all that which is vain.’ [23:4]^[19]

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52236936
2. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/19/bank-of-england-cuts-interest-rates-to-all-time-low-of-01
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance
4. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/spirituality-special-interest-group-publications-julia-head-please-pray-for-me.pdf?sfvrsn=3ce47206_2
5. https://qz.com/1848936/the-global-flower-industry-is-wilting-ahead-of-mothers-day/
6. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/11/mourners-choosing-simplified-funerals-during-covid-19-crisis
7. https://inews.co.uk/news/coronavirus-uk-stockpiling-toilet-roll-no-shortage-manufacturer-supermarket-409137
8. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/15/oil-prices-slump-as-market-faces-lowest-demand-in-25-years-covid-19
9. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-public-transport-social-distancing-shapps-a9506886.html
10. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-learning/
11. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200515005422/en/Global-Online-Gambling-Market-Forecast-Increase-Significantly
12. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/covid-19-mental-health-crisis-expect-depression-anxiety-stress/
13. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/an-update-on-yemen-s-water-crisis-and-the-weaponization-of-water/
14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52360757
15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51979245
16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50671834

17. The Holy Qur’an with English Translation by Maulawi Sher Ali (ra)