A few years ago, in April of 2010, I wrote some reflections on the volcanic ash cloud that had erupted, causing plane travel to halt worldwide. At the time, I was supposed to be visiting London, but our flight was cancelled at the last minute.

At the time, it seemed crazy that a volcano erupting in Iceland could literally bring the world to a halt. But it was a time for reflection on the things we take for granted, the power of Allah, and focusing on the truly important things.

In the midst of this Corona epidemic, I started thinking back to that standstill, and the current one we are experiencing. Thinking about it now, we were not as attached to our phones then (did Instagram even exist?), and while it is easy to distract ourselves with a constant stream of messages and stories, there are bigger lessons we should be taking. While everyone is dealing with it in a different way, I started thinking of the spiritual messages we should be paying attention to. Below are some reflections.

Turn to Allah

In this age of distraction, focus and mindfulness are endangered species. While if this had happened 20 years ago we would be forced to reflect or at least have moments of reflection, our Instagrams, Twitter, and Whatsapps are beeping off the charts. We wake up to messages and fall asleep to them, and the quarantine has made us depend on them more since we use them to communicate with people we would otherwise be seeing in real life.

When the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ experienced anything that appeared out of the ordinary, they turned to Allah. Everything was considered a sign and opportunity to reflect on Allah’s power and on ourselves. It is no coincidence that we have a specific prayer during an eclipse, supplications for witnessing the new moon, and prayers for when we are ill (and so much more).

Perhaps this period of social distancing and self-isolation is so that we can find times of solitude to be with Allah. If we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, this is the time to put the phone away and pray to Allah, express to Him our stress, and ask for His help.

Indeed, Allah is al-Rabb (the Lord), al-Samad (the Eternal Refuge), and al-Wakil (the Trustee).

I’m linking here to the Sweetness of Prayer Series and the Names of Allah series, only because we all need a place to start, and there is no better way to turn to Allah than through knowing Him and turning to Him in devoted prayer.

Quran
Most of us have likely heard of the saying “When you want to talk to Allah, pray, and when you want Him to talk to you, recite the Qur’an”. We can take some time in the morning or before bed to recite the Qur’an, and if we are busy taking care of kids who are out of school, we can listen to Qur’an. Sheikh ash-Sha’rawi in his book of tafseer (commentary on the Qur’an) quoted a beautiful statement of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, who he said was the most knowledgeable of the secrets of the Qur’an:

“I am amazed at the one who has been afflicted with fear, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:
‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs’ for verily Allah has said after it
‘So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them.’ (Qur’an, 3:173-174)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sadness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers,’ for verily Allah has said after it
‘So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.’ (Qur’an, 21:87-88)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with betrayal and deception by people, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants’ for verily Allah has said after it:
‘So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.’ (Qur’an, 40:44-45)

And I am amazed at the person who is afflicted with sickness, and he does not flee to the Words of Allah:

‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful,’ for verily Allah has said after it:
‘So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah].’” (Qur’an, 21:83-84)

The Qur’an is a true reminder of what is truly important, and a comfort to the hearts.

Istighfar (seeking forgiveness)  

The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the righteous that came after them regarded everything as a sign of Allah; and thought that perhaps it was their sins that caused these disasters to affect them. They would repent and seek help from God. Seeking forgiveness from Allah allows us to reflect on our states, seek to rectify ourselves, and take our actions more seriously. It lifts the burden of the mistakes we carry on our shoulders, and brings us closer to Allah.


Social Distancing and Social Care

While it is imperative for people to practice social distancing, it is even more important to check up on people. Maybe your pantry is full, but is your neighbor’s? And even wider than that, healthcare and other workers need our help. We should be considerate of how we use facilities or expose ourselves and others to risk. Finally, if we are fortunate enough to be able to donate, we should do so in order to get much needed help to those who need it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Good works protect from evil fates. Charity in secret extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, maintaining family ties increases life span, and every good deed is charity. The people of good in the world are the people of good in the Hereafter, and the people of evil in the world are the people of evil in the Hereafter. And the first to enter Paradise are the people of good.” [al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 6252]

Du’a  

Du’a is an expression of need and trust. We are told:
“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'” [Surat Ghafir, 40:60]  

This is the time to turn to Allah and ask Him with all of our hearts. I pray that you are all healthy and well, and may we use this time to truly do what is important.

But some of us will not be able to take part in all the things that make this month so special.

Some of us may have to take medicines or are anemic or are going through a difficult pregnancy and cannot fast.

Some of us may be bedridden for a large part of the month and will not be able to pray taraweeh (Ramadan night prayer).
And some of us may be so ill that we cannot even lift the Qur’an to recite it.

But it is easy to compare ourselves to others, or to our old selves, and it easy to confuse means for ends. What makes fasting, praying taraweeh, and reciting the Qur’an so special are not the actions in and of themselves, but rather that they are done in obedience to Allah (swt) and in hope of His mercy, love and rewards. They are the means, and God’s pleasure is the ends.

For example, fasting is forbidden on the days of Eid. An act that has so much virtue as both an obligatory act during Ramadan and a voluntary one outside of Ramadan actually becomes a sin on the days of Eid. Not fasting during those days becomes an act of worship and obedience, and thus an action that brings us closer to the Most High.

Remember that at the very essence, it is your intention that is important. Had you been in good health, you would have fasted and done all the things that your health permitted. The Prophet ﷺ described two men: one man whom God has bestowed upon wealth and knowledge, and he acts upon that knowledge and gives from his wealth; and another man whom God has given knowledge but no wealth, and that man says, “If I had the wealth he had, I would do the same”. The Prophet ﷺ said “And they are rewarded the same”. (Ibn Majah)

So when you see the people and think, “If I was ok, I would be fasting this month,” or when your family leaves the house to pray taraweeh and you say, “I wish I could have been with you,” you are rewarded exactly the same as those who are doing the actions. In the eyes of God, you are just as special as the person praying all night; as the person completing the Qur’an; as the one who is thirsty and tired from his fast.

Moreover, you have a special relationship with Allah (swt) through your illness. The Prophet ﷺ tells us, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that,” (Bukhari). In another narration, a companion visited the Prophet ﷺ when he was ill. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “No Muslim is afflicted with any harm but that Allah will remove his sins as the leaves of a tree fall down,”  (Bukhari).

Thus you are in the realm of God’s forgiveness as you are ill. Moreover, there is a different type of need for God when we fall all. The Prophet Job called to Allah (swt) in his illness:

“Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Qur’an, 21:83)

Your calling to Him in your illness is a form of worship, one that many others may never experience. Moreover, any patience that you show is appreciated by Allah (swt). He tells us in the Qur’an: “Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” (Qur’an, 39:10)

Remember that the point of worship is not to break you, but to build you. Once the Prophet ﷺ walked into the mosque and saw a rope hanging in between its two pillars. He asked, “What is this rope?” The people said, “This rope is for Zainab who, when she feels tired, holds it (to keep standing for the prayer.)” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not use it. Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and when you get tired, sit down.” (Bukhari)

Whatever actions you are able to do, no matter how small they appear to be, can only be truly quantified by God Himself. Allah (swt) will not judge you for the actions that you were not able to do, and it would be a distraction to focus on them. Rather if you can do other things – supplications, remembrance, charity – God will reward you for your seeking alternative ways to come close to Him. And even if you cannot do anything at all, Allah (swt) knows; the Most Generous rewards you for what you would have done.

And if your heart still aches because you actually love to worship Allah (swt) through fasting or taraweeh or Qur’an and you are unable, your love for that act of worship is loved by God, who rewards you for that love. A man was asked why he recited Surat al-Ikhlas in every prayer – something that we might criticize him for because it is a ‘short’ surah (chapter) – but he responded that, “It is because this surah describes the Most Merciful, and therefore I love to recite it.” Upon hearing the man’s reply, the Prophet said: “Tell that man that Allah loves him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Your love for certain acts of worship is appreciated and loved by God.

So if you are going through this Ramadan in illness, remember that you, too, are loved by Allah (swt). Even when you cannot take part in the actions of this month, Allah’s mercy, love and forgiveness descend upon you like they do for the fasting person, the one in night prayer, and the Qur’an reciter. You are with them in rank.

Photo: jacki-dee

By Izza Atiqa

One of the things I love most about my job is the people that I get to meet. I just started work a few months ago, and in the course of my day-to-day routine, I have met some people to whom my heart gravitates, just for the beauty of the person that they are. During my first few weeks of work, I met a Muslim brother who was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Despite it being a difficult condition to live with, he was independent, positive, and especially cheerful during the short 30-minute consult my colleague and I had with him. That day, he had intermittent muscle spasms that interrupted the treatment we were giving him, yet it did not disturb his calm and collected demeanor. I remember he was the first patient to say, “Jazak Allahu Khayran (may God reward you),” and I was so delighted at hearing someone make that simple du`a’ (supplication) for me.

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting him again. This time, however, he seemed like his condition had worsened and now needed a care-person to assist him. I thought about him the entire day. I thought about all the other people I have met during the short time that I have been working. The one who was blind but who laughed and smiled as if she could see the world. The one who had Alzheimer’s, and kept repeating “thank you” because she didn’t know what else to say. And the ones with every debilitating condition possible, but still walking through every day of their lives with every bit of strength imaginable. I remember these people being so physically sick, but so content, so joyful, glowing with light from within. And I, unlike them, am physically able and blessed with perfect health, and yet spiritually weakened by the illnesses of my heart and my desires for the fleeting pursuits of this dunya, which is by definition the “lowest of all worlds”.

It was a beautiful Friday. I made a du`a’ for that man at every prayer, and all the times in between. Earlier that day, at Fajr, I had asked Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) to grant me a beneficial and meaningful day that would bring me the remembrance of Him. My request had been granted, because that short encounter led me into deep thought and reflection. I then understood why such people are so content. It was because their sickness is a constant reminder of the day that they will return to God. Because their physical handicap is a testament to how Allah (swt) is Ar-Razzaq, the only Provider for the things we often take for granted, such as our five senses. Because they have the hearts of true believers, remaining patient throughout their afflictions and knowing that their pain and suffering will only pave their way into jannah (paradise). As Prophet Muhammad ﷺ(peace be upon him) beautifully said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that,” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5641 – 5642). May Allah (swt) admit them to the shade of His mercy, return them to Him in the most beautiful way, and grant us all the spiritual purification that we are greatly in need of at this time.