The world is going through a catastrophic period on an unprecedented scale!
The disease of Coronavirus has spread more strongly than even a forest fire! While the forest fire is limited to the forest only, Coronavirus has advanced unlimitedly almost throughout the entire world.
Remember, Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala is in full control of everything that we are experiencing in our lives. All the calamities that befall us and all the good fortunes that we enjoy are all from the One and the only Creator, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala!
During the periods of trials and tribulations, like the one we are going through right now, we should always try to come closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, recognise His powers and examine our shortcomings as far as obeying His commands as per the Mubarak Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi Wasallam are concerned.
Tne thing has become glaringly evident! There is no greatness, no might, no majesty, no power that can match the Greatness, the Might, the Majesty and the Power of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala!
All those countries who are proudly referring to themselves as Superpowers; the ones with dominant positions charactersied by their extensive abilities to exert influence or to project powers on global scales through their combined means of economic, military, technological and cultural strength; the ones who are the manufactures of the most destructive weapons like nuclear weapons, most sophisticated military hardware and the state-of-the-art aerial combat machines, etc., have been rendered totally powerless in front of one microscopic creation of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, namely COVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus!
At this juncture, we must remind ourselves about one great deed most of us perform on regular basis. However, many of us take it like a ‘ritual’ only. Today when that deed has been snatched away from us we realise its unique significance and its true beauty.
We are talking about Salah with Jama’at or the ‘Congregational Salah’ performed in the Masjid, Allah’s House. The advantages of congregational prayers are unimaginable. Numerous Sahih hadiths have been narrated with regards to the virtues and importance of Salah with Jama’at. This is one great act that provides us the opportunity to meet our Muslim Brothers five times a day for the sake of Allah, in the House of Allah! Now that we been robbed of this great deed we realise what a great source of Sukoon (a state of complete or highest level of peace and comfort of the mind and the body) Salah with Jama’at is.
While it is acceptable to be constantly updated about Coronavirus through media, we should also remember that it is of vital importance the media does not snatch most of our valuable time. These days there are people who utter the word ‘Coronavirus’ more often than they recite Allah’s Majestic names.
Just like Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is capable of creating diseases like Coronavirus, it is in His power too to create the means of getting relief from them! We just have to remain in touch with Him.
To remain in constant touch with Him, besides doing all the Faraidh, Sunnah and Nawafil a’amals, we have to make plenty of Istighfar, Zikr and Du’as.
InshaAllah, such deeds will not only save us from all the diseases but also from all the trials and the tribulation of this world.
…and Allah Ta’ala knows best.
By M.B. Ahmed (https://jamiat.org.za/gaining-closeness-to-allah-during-calamities/)