السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Tuesday 2nd June 2020. My chosen topic today is ‘Lessons from Corona and Lockdown‘.
My first message was on Thursday 26th March. As we enter the first week of June, it’s now 10 weeks since lockdown officially started on Monday 23rd March. Government guidelines seem to be easing and some sort of normal life appears to be on the horizon.
Let’s focus today on what lessons, if any, we have learnt from this coronavirus and the resulting lockdown. All of us need to be truthful to ourselves. What a wonderful life we were all blessed with by our Magnificent Creator, Almighty Allāh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. From before birth to the start of this coronavirus, He gave us each and every thing we needed.
Notice the word ‘needed’; not what we ‘wanted’. He created us, so only He knows what is best for us. Ours was supposed to be a simple life of obedience to our Creator. Our day was supposed to start with Fajr and Yasīn Sharīf. All day long we were allowed to study, work, do business, etc., all within the framework of our faith.
We were taught to be honest, trustworthy, show good morals, display good character, etc. During the rest of the day, we had 4 more Ṣalāhs to pray. A preparation for the life to come in the Hereafter, in today’s social media terminology, you can call this life a ‘trailer’.
Alas, we went well beyond our remits. We lived our lives as if there was no tomorrow, engrossed in sins, day and night, to the extent that we displeased our Creator. So, He gave us a very little reminder by sending us the coronavirus. The world fell on it’s knees, with the so-called superpowers starting to crumble. Today, the million dollar question is, ‘What lessons (if any) have I learnt from this coronavirus and the lockdown?’
Let us ensure that we pray 5 times daily, every day, and not commit any sins. If we do, repent immediately, and make a firm intention never to commit a sin again. Let this coronavirus and lockdown serve as a life-changer for all of us. Remember, the coronavirus may end, lockdown may end, but our Creator is still watching us. Corona, or any other punishment, can come back again in a flash, and lockdown may be much longer next time. The ball is in our court.
Finally, if you have not had a fatality or even a confirmed case of Corona in your family, then spare a thought for those who have lost loved ones during the last 3 months. Many wives have become widows, many husbands have lost their lifelong partners, a number of parents have lost their beloved children, and so many children have become orphans.
This is a test from The Almighty. The ones affected are tested for their patience and others, tested for their gratitude. One thing is for sure, do not displease your Lord again.
Almighty Allāh forgive all the Marḥūmīn, cure all the sick, and keep all of us in His Protection, Āmeen. Please feel free to share far and wide.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for DuꜤās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala
Some Useful Resources
English Lectures : Worried About Coronavirus – No Need to Panic , Coronavirus: Think About Others
Urdu Lecture : Coronavirus: Dil kī Pukār