The sad news about coronavirus and other tragedies invite us all, especially those with advanced degrees of knowledge, to pause, think and reflect over their spiritual messages.
The Quran commands us to walk on earth with humility and reverence to Allah. We should know our place in this vast universe of endless creations:
{And do not walk on the earth arrogantly. Surely you can neither crack the earth nor stretch to the height of the mountains.} (Al-Israa’ 17:37)
Without such attitude, we lose the essence of our identity as servants of Allah, the Almighty. That is the cause of all spiritual diseases: we become ungrateful to Allah’s blessings; we neglect worship since we feel that we “don’t need God in our lives”; we also tend to be selfish and greedy; the strong abuse the weak and we become attached to the worldly materialistic life.
Read Also: Coronavirus Pandemic: Tips from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Once we understand such tendency, we realize some of the wisdom behind the trials and tribulations that Allah SWT has willed to occur. The following two Ayahs refer to this wisdom:
{We will certainly make them taste some of the minor torment ˹in this life˺ before the major torment ˹of the Hereafter˺, so perhaps they will return ˹to the Right Path˺.} (As-sajdah 32:21)
{Corruption has spread on land and sea as a result of what people’s hands have done, so that Allah may cause them to taste ˹the consequences of˺ some of their deeds and perhaps they might return ˹to the Right Path˺} (Ar-Rum 30:41)
Coronavirus Alarm
At the time this article was written, coronavirus claimed the lives of hundreds in China and several other countries. It also caused turmoil and fear on a wider scale worldwide. Governments, research institutes, and mega pharmaceutical companies felt helpless in the face of the spreading of such disease.
As we all pray to expedite a cure for it, we cannot but reflect on how this disease exposed the weakness of mankind.
We cannot but wake up from the heedlessness and forgetfulness about the afterlife that our generation has witnessed: We as a humanity have become overconfident in our technological achievements and luxurious lifestyle.
We have got intoxicated with the latest and greatest technologies, from the fast-paced development of 5G cellular network to Artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, and automated driving.
Misguided Overconfidence
We sleep in peace in our smart homes, with different assumptions of safety and security and protection from any sickness or disease or natural disasters:
{Did the people of those societies feel secure that Our punishment would not come upon them by night while they were asleep?
Or did they feel secure that Our punishment would not come upon them by day while they were at play?
Did they feel secure against Allah’s planning? None would feel secure from Allah’s planning except the losers.} (Al-A`raf 7:97-99)
Not only that, we took a glance at our financial institutions, multinational companies, and stable stock market and reassured ourselves like the man of the two gardens:
{And he entered his property, while wronging his soul, saying, “I do not think this will ever perish,”} (Al-Kahf 18:35)
A similar statement was mentioned in 1912 about the Titanic: “Not even God himself could sink this ship.”
Later on in 1986, the Challenger was described as the spaceship that ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.’
Both marvels of human engineering, the Titanic and the Challenger, became icons for the most-remembered catastrophic events. Clearly, it was not the number of casualties that made these incidents special, but the impact they had on human ego and confidence and reliance on technology.
This does not have to be interpreted as a punishment, as we cannot claim to fully comprehend or interpret Allah’s wisdom and plans. By the same token, we cannot ignore such signs as massive reminders of Allah’s strength and ability and power over His creations.
But Where Is God’s Mercy in All of This?
Allah SWT did not promise to make this worldly life an eternal place of happiness. He provided for us some temporary enjoyments and pleasures. But He kept the challenges, the struggle, and the test as main ingredients in our journey on earth:
{And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment for a time} (Al-A`raf 7:24)
{Indeed, We have created humankind in ˹constant˺ struggle.} (Al-Balad 90:4)
However, Allah’s actions and decisions – often not understood by men – are filled with mercy and compassion even in the midst of trials and tribulations. His messages and warnings to mankind reflect His care and love for the holistic wellbeing of His creations.
The moments of happiness and enjoyment are meant to be a preview of the paradise for believers; The moments of trials and tribulations are a “gentle” but firm reminder for people to wake up and reflect.
Learn More about Manifestations of Allah’s Mercy in this article:
Allah’s Mercy and a World Full of Dangers
The Coronavirus spiritual messages
The sad events of coronavirus and other tragedies invite us all, especially those with advanced degrees of knowledge, to pause and think and reflect:
1. Regardless of the degrees that we have earned, and the massive research portfolio that we have acquired, we should attribute this knowledge to Allah SWT. We should declare our ignorance and reiterate what the angels said to Allah:
{Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise.} (Al-Baqarah 2:32)
2. Increasing our knowledge should result in an increase in self-awareness and humility. We should realize the limits and the boundaries of our understanding:
{you ˹O humanity˺ have been given but little knowledge.} (AL-Israa 17:85)
Unfortunately, many degree holders in STEM fields (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) might have a hard time understanding or accepting this.
They may start to apply their empirical knowledge and mindset to matters of the soul and the unseen world. Their overconfidence in one field of knowledge may blind them from considering other sources of information and knowledge.
This may cause them to misuse their “critical thinking” about God and Islam. This is why they have to be reminded about the limitations of empirical knowledge, and revisit their own definitions of “fact”, “verification”, and “truth”.
Beneficial knowledge
3. The direct result of increased knowledge and humility is to use such added capacity and skills responsibly and wisely.
Each and every one of us – especially those with a mastery or skill – is given a platform and an opportunity to do good or bad. We should be cognizant about our impact and accompany that knowledge with empathy and mercy.
When Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala described Al-Khidr in Surah Al Kahf, he emphasized the two qualities of mercy and knowledge that he was given:
{There they found a servant of Ours, to whom We had granted mercy from Us and enlightened with knowledge of Our Own.} (Al-Kahf 18:65)
Acquiring knowledge without having mercy creates a dangerous and merciless person who may use such knowledge to destroy himself and to add to the suffering of others.
Never Forget the Hereafter
4. As believers, we worship Allah SWT by trying our best to make this earth a better place. Meanwhile, we shall keep an eye on the afterlife and never be distracted by the glitter and the achievements of this worldly life:
{The life of this world is just like rain We send down from the sky, producing a mixture of plants which humans and animals consume. Then just as the earth looks its best, perfectly beautified, and its people think they have full control over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, so We mow it down as if it never flourished yesterday! This is how We make the signs clear for people who reflect.} (Yunus 10:24)
5. Destruction and turmoil should soften our hearts for more Dhikr, more worship, and more compassion on others. We should literally remember and reflect that “We belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return”.
We should grow the quantity and quality of our prayers, supplication, charity, and activism. This is how we turn a sad event into a blessing and a test into an opportunity.
{We sent messengers before you [Prophet] to many communities and afflicted their people with suffering and hardships, so that they could learn humility.
If only they had learned humility when suffering came from Us! But no, their hearts became hard and Satan made their foul deeds alluring to them.} (Al-An`am 6:42-43)
The post 5 Spiritual Messages from Coronavirus appeared first on About Islam.
source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/refine-your-heart/advice/5-spiritual-messages-from-coronavirus/
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