Corona challenge: Prophet’s life and teaching provide hope
BY: Ashraf Amin
Currently entire world is passing through the most dreadful phase of human history. Covid-19 pandemic has overtaken us all. It makes no distinction among us. The rich and the poor, developed and underdeveloped — all have been subdued by the outrageous viral disease.
The virus has exposed our vulnerabilities as human beings. It has prompted us to realize that certain sufferings are common to us all. We should never ignore one another’s miseries. No science, no technology, no riches are above humanity. Our greatest asset is not progress in material sciences, tall towers and buildings, but the cultivation of fellow feelings. In this backdrop the teachings of Sages, Seers and the Prophets become more important than ever.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who is declared as the ‘Rehmat-al-Lil-Aalameen’ has laid down glaring precepts that require to be followed amidst the ongoing crisis.
One of the prime missions of Prophet (PBUH) was to establish unity of the mankind. This was a natural corollary to his belief in oneness of God (Tawhid). The 23 years of Prophet’s ministry are witness that he worked tirelessly and pragmatically to restore dignity of the poor, down-trodden, and vulnerable, leaving no scope for the mighty and influential to degrade and exploit them. The Prophet (PBUH) severely condemned the hoarding of wealth or food while the needy suffer.
In one of the traditions, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warns his followers that on the Day of Judgment, Allah would seek answers from certain human beings who fail to provide food for the hungry, water for the thirsty and other basic necessities of life [such as medical facilities as the current scenario demands]. The Prophet (PBUH) would never see some people suffering for want of food, water and shelter, while others enjoyed the life in full. Assuring that the sustenance of a human being is not violated [in that case some poor souls fall prey to despair and hopelessness], the Prophet (PBUH) urged the men of sustenance to share some portion of their provisions with those who are deficient in resources.
The Prophet (PBUH) expected Muslims to share their food with their neighbors so that none sleeps hungry. He warned that those who fail to carry out this requisite would not be entertained as Muslims. He cherished human security and dignity as the loftiest ideals towards which a man should strive. His whole life was devoted to the preaching of God as one and unity of mankind in both existence and purpose. He declared entire human race as one family and the one who serves such family as the best of the men.
Amidst the common fatal catastrophe threatening our existence, we must be one in fighting against it. The hardest hit countries like China, Italy, Spain, Iran or the USA are not alone and isolated. We feel their pain and suffering, being the creation of the same God. The pandemic is pushing us more and more towards the realization that the Syrian refugee crises, the hunger-stricken people of Nigeria, Sudan and Somalia, or the suffering Uyghur Muslims of China, the oppressed souls of Myanmar and similarly disadvantaged people elsewhere — all have the right to be alleviated of the distresses they are undergoing.
While there may be the physical causes of the pandemic, the moral causes are no less invisible. Muslims as the immediate repositories of the teachings of Muhammad (PBUH) have the greater responsibility of taking care of the people who are prone to hunger, poor hygiene and exposure to diseases. Let all of us pray and hope for the speedy vanishing of COVID-19 and the greater unity of mankind for all times to come.
- The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, BGSBU, Rajouri. [email protected]
