CORONAVIRUS – ARE WE LEARNING A LESSON FROM THIS?

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL

INTRODUCTION

In 2020, the world is hit hard and suddenly with a pandemic never seen before in our life time. Not only the people are affected physically, the stock market and shares around the world are plunging. Our lifestyle is forced to be changed and many countries are facing a lockdown. Hospitals cannot cope with the sheer number of patients, and thousands are dying. Even religious services including Friday prayers have to be cancelled. The world is facing a challenge that has never been seen in recent times. The whole world is now reeling from the effect of this pandemic.

A lot of corruptions are actually happening around the world way before this coronavirus pandemic. I have always wondered, fearfully, when will Allah Reminders come. We see humanities suffering in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria openly and the richness of the western world was surprisingly unable to offer any constructive assistance other than to invade and steal from these countries. In “secret”, (although we know through social media and other media channels), China has been oppressing and torturing the Uighurs. The world remained silent. Some just offered lip service. All of the above are the plights we often hear or read in the media, but many of us in the west seldom witness. To make matters worse, Muslim countries turn a blind eye, even though they are been Blessed with numerous natural Gifts from Allah such as oil, natural resources and of course the most important Gift, which is Islam. Many Muslim leaders are themselves corrupted and are not able to set good examples for the Muslim Ummah. On a personal level, I witness open disobedience in an island which was supposed to be called “an island with a thousand mosques” – Lombok in Indonesia. What I witnessed was beyond my belief – alcohol, half naked women on the beach, loud music, and even cheating. This was supposed to be the country which has the most populous Muslim population. I secretly told my wife that something was about to happen. Sadly, true enough, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions hit the island one month after we visited the island of Lombok. With the rest of the world, as I pondered over the sufferings of the people in Yemen, where over 6 million people are facing severe malnutrition never seen before in peacetime, caused by a manmade and AVOIDABLE war, and worse still, surrounded by rich Arab nations whose main indulgence is to buy multi billions properties and football clubs in the United Kingdom, as well as multi million deals of weapons from America – my fear has always been – when will Allah’s Reminder come?

Alas, it is here – in the form of invisible virus which no one has ever seen before. The medical world is now frantically searching for solutions by creating vaccines. The whole world is now on its knees. The BIG question is – have we forgotten our Creator?

PONDERING OVER THE VERSES OF THE QUR’AN

“Consider not that Allah is unaware of that which the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) do, but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” 14: 42

Allah has all His Beautiful Names – Al ‘Alim (All Knower), Al Khabir (All Aware)

Allah also has this amazing Name – Al Haleem – All Forbearing, which means Allah is very patient as He waits for us to come back to Him. But it seems that humans are endlessly forgetting Him – that He is the One who gave us all so much of His Blessing. Hence Allah Reminded us:

“And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily! Man is indeed an extreme wrong-doer, – a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate, denies Allah’s Blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others besides Allah, and by disobeying Allah and His Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).” 14: 34

We seem to be getting from bad to worse. With new technology, internet systems, 4G, 5G, etc you think that mankind will thank the Creator of these. Mankind seems to think that we create them with out brains and NOT ALLAH. We think that we have so much knowledge, forgetting that Allah’s Knowledge is way beyond all the seemingly vast amount of knowledge which we have.

In a hadith narrated by Bukhari regarding Musa (AS) and al Khidr:

One day, a ship passed them, and they requested the crew of the ship to take them on board. The crew recognised Al Khidr and gave them passage for free.

While they were in the boat, a sparrow stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak into the water a couple of times. Al Khidr said: “O Musa! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah’s knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak.” This incident is a reminder to Musa AS how insignificant the amount of knowledge we have, and no matter how much we know, our knowledge is so limited compared to Allah’s SWT. Therefore we are to humble ourselves and always seek knowledge and comprehension from Allah SWT.

Allah Reminded us on His Knowledge in 2 verses:

Say (O Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to mankind). “If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid.” 18: 109

And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. 31: 27

We always think that we have the most superior knowledge and we forget our Creator – and always disobey Him and commit many corruptions and transgressions.

ALLAH’S REMINDERS OF THE PAST

And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who are given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction.

And how many generations have We destroyed after Nuh (Noah)! And Sufficient is your Lord as an All-Knower and All-Beholder of the sins of His slaves.

Whoever wishes for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected, ( far away from Allah’s Mercy).

And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. do righteous deeds of Allah’s Obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded (by Allah).

17: 16-19

In the first world war, we saw Allah’s Reminders where there were 20 million deaths and 21 million injured. Cities were destroyed and even the injured wish that they had died. Allah then Showed His Mercy and people start rebuilding their lives. Then humanity forget Allah.

The second world war causes even more casualties. 70-85 million died, or about 3 % of the world population then. The they rebuild until today. Yet, despite Allah’s Mercy, we forget about Him again.

Allah did set many other examples before in the previous nations in the Qur’an – nations of prophet Nuh (AS), the nations of ‘Ad, Thamud, Madyan, prophet Lut (AS), Musa (AS), etc. Every single of these nations Allah destroyed the disbelievers. Have we all forgotten?

“And We sent no Prophet unto any town (and they denied him), but We seized its people with suffering from extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss of health and calamities, so that they might humiliate themselves (and repent to Allah).

Then We changed the evil for the good, until they increased in number and in wealth, and said: “Our fathers were touched with evil (loss of health and calamities) and with good (prosperity, etc.).” So We seized them of a sudden while they were unaware.

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwa (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes, etc.).”

7: 94-96

Did we forget the verse 7: 96 above, applying to the Year 2020 – if only we have believed and have Taqwa – things would have been different.

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN ALLAH’S THREATS?

“Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment by night while they are asleep?

Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment in the forenoon while they play?

Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.”

7: 97-99

Are we forgetting that Allah is Al Mulk (The Dominion)? We Controls everything. We are NOT in control of anything in our lives and everything is Planned by Him. How many stories have we heard of a person who is rich but not happy, and died in the night?

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN OUR CONVENANT WITH ALLAH?

Have we forgotten that we have all met Allah before and we Promised Him that we will recognise Him as our Rabb?

“And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes! We testify,” lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: “Verily, we have been unaware of this.”

Or lest you should say: “It was only our fathers afortime who took others as partners in worship along with Allah, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Batil (i.e. polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allah)?” (Tafsir At-Tabari).

Thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, so that they may turn (unto the truth).”

7: 172-174

Mankind still thinks he controls his own destiny. We have think again and reflect.

WHY WAS A PLAGUE SENT BY ALLAH?

Aisha reported: She asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about plagues and he said, “It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whoever he wills, but Allah has made it a mercy for the believers. Any servant who resides in a land afflicted by plague, remaining patient and hoping for reward from Allah, knowing that nothing will befall him but what Allah has decreed, he will be given the reward of a martyr.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5402

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الطَّاعُونِ فَأَخْبَرَهَا نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابًا يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ فَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقَعُ الطَّاعُونُ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي بَلَدِهِ صَابِرًا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُصِيبَهُ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ الشَّهِيدِ

5402 صحيح البخاري كتاب الطب باب أجر الصابر في الطاعون

This hadith above explains about this Coronavirus.

It is sent as reminders and to punish those whim He Wills. To the believers – affected by it, it is from His Mercy. Why?

• Perhaps it is an expiation of the sins of a believer so that inshaAllah at the time of death, there will be absolutely no sins left;
• Perhaps it is a test to elevate his/her status if he/she remains patient;
• Perhaps it has been Decreed that the believer will enter Jannatul Firdaus and the deeds in this world that he/she does is insufficient to allow him/her to enter Jannatul Firdaus. Therefore, this is the only way to elevate his/her ranking of Jannah
• Perhaps to allow the believer to die in a high state of martyr.

We make du’a that Allah will Forgive all of our sins and shortcomings, Wake up the Muslim Ummah to be more grateful to Him, Increase our iman and Taqwa, Unify the Muslim Ummah and Grant us the Highest Place in Jannah.

SOME DU’A TO REMEMBER IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

ONE

“بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ”.

Bismillaahil-lathee laa yadhurru ma’as-mihi shay’un fil-‘ardhi wa laa fis-samaa’i wa Huwas-Samee ‘ul- ‘Aleem .

In the Name of Allah, Who with His Name nothing can cause harm in the earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Recite three times in Arabic).

Reference:
“Whoever recites it three times in the morning will not be afflicted by any calamity before evening, and whoever recites it three times in the evening will not be overtaken by any calamity before morning.” Abu Dawud 4/323, At-Tirmithi 5/465, Ibn Majah 2/332, Ahmad. Ibn Majah’s chain of transmission is good (Hasan), Ibn Baz, p. 39.

TWO

ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ ALUKA AL’AFIYAH * اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ

Al-Abbas (R.A.), the Uncle of The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, came to the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ and said:

“Ya Rasulullah, teach me a Dua.”

The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ said:

“O my Uncle, say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ

“ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ ALUKA AL’AFIYAH”

Meaning: “O Allah, I ask you for Afiyah.”

Now what is Afiyah?

Afiyah means:

• To be saved from any afflictions, you are in Afiyah.
• To be healthy, you are in Afiyah.
• To have enough money, you are in Afiyah.
• To live, you are in Afiyah.
• To have your children protected, you are in Afiyah.
• And if you are forgiven and not punished, you are in Afiyah.

So basically, Afiyah means:

“O Allah, protect me from any Pains and Sufferings.”

This includes both Dunya and Akhirah.

Al-Abbas (R.A.) thought about this for a while, and then he came back after a few days and said (paraphrased):

“Ya Rasulullah ﷺ, this Dua seems a little short. I want something big.”

The Prophet Muhammed ﷺ said:

“My Dear Uncle, ask Allah for Afiyah for Wallahi, you cannot be given anything better than Afiyah.”

It is a simple Dua, Sincerely mean what you say while praying.

“O Allah, I ask You to be saved from any Distress, Grief, Hardship, Harm, and Don’t test me, etc.”

All of above and much more is included in:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ

“ALLAHUMMA INNI AS’ ALUKA AL’AFIYAH”

(Riyadh As Saliheen, Sunan At-Tirmidhi).

THREE

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to supplicate: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-barasi, wal- jununi, wal-judhami, wa sayyi’il-asqami’ (O Allah! I seek refuge in You from leucoderma, insanity, leprosy and evil diseases).”

[Abu Dawud].

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، كان يقول‏:‏ ‏ “‏اللهم إني أعوذ بك من البرص والجنون، والجذام، وسيئ الأسقام‏”‏‏.‏ رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح‏.‏

FOUR

Du’a of prophet Yunus (AS) seeking forgiveness

لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنتَ سُبحانَكَ إِنّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظّالِمينَ

Laa ilaaha illa anta subhaana inni kuntu minadh dhoolimeen

La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” 21: 87

(Yes, the supplication of Dhun-Nun when he was in the belly of the fish:

 (There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.)

فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْعُ بِهَا مُسْلِمٌ رَبَّهُ فِي شَيْءٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ لَه »

No Muslim ever prays to his Lord with these words for anything, but He will answer his prayer.)” It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, and by An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Sa`d said that the Messenger of Allah said:

« مَنْ دَعَا بِدُعَاءِ يُونُسَ اسْتُجِيبَ لَه »

(Whoever offers supplication in the words of the supplication of Yunus, will be answered.)

FIVE

 حَسبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعمَ الوَكيلُ

HasbunAllah wa ni’mal wakeel

Allah is sufficient for us, He is the Best Disposer of our affairs

3: 173