THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS or Covid-19 disease outbreak which was declared a pandemic early in
March by the World Health Organization has left everyone across the continents flabbergasted.
This unseen enemy that spreads from Wuhan City in China
across the world has overwhelmed the many countries’ health care system. It has
squeezed the minds of many leaders and experts elsewhere from various fields,
particularly in health, to think of the feasible solutions to save their people
and community.
As of May, it has already infected more than 4
million people and killed at least 279,000 across the world. While in the
Philippines, the total number of Covid-19 cases is over 10,000 and the death
toll now at more than 700.
Countries throughout the world are now implementing
numerous guidelines and policies to decisively combat this unseen enemy, among
them social distancing, compulsory wearing of face masks, frequent washing of
hands and other sanitary practices in an effort to prevent or slow down the
spread of the deadly virus.
One of the most effective ways to flatten the pandemic
curve is the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ. However, the impact of this
measure is agonizing especially to those who only rely on one scratch, one peck
for survival. But had this ECQ been not for the welfare of everyone, our
leaders wouldn't have done this for us because somehow it gravely affects our
everyday normal lives. But this is one of the best precautionary measures that
will protect and safeguard all of us from the threat of Covid-19. Thus,
everyone is sacrificing on this cause.
“Covid-19 has caused a lot of separations, loved
ones not being able to see and be with each other, some for weeks or months,
others unfortunately separated permanently in this worldly life,” says
Warith-thia Mujahil Elang-Gapur, Muslima doctor and one of the toughest
front-liners in combating this virus.
I personally resonate with her observation because
in this difficult times, although I am with my family, but my three siblings
are far away from us. Two is in Manila and the other is a health care worker
abroad. I always feel anxious about their well-being, especially the places they
are right now have the highest number of Covid-19 infected individuals.
Despite the gargantuan agonizing effect this virus
has done to humans, undeniably, there are also innumerable lessons this virus
has effectively taught us. Well, in life, every situation has always either a
black or white side to it.
“Three wisdom I gleaned fromCovid-19 is the
reiteration of the Truth - 1. The Only One Who Can Control Covid-19 is Allah-
the Lord of the Worlds who decides who survives or dies and when; for it
is Only Allah who quickens and delays matter; 2. It is not enough that we
believe but we shall be tested of loss of lives, wealth, homes and harvest;
thus, we just have to strive to be patient and put our trust in Him; 3.
Goodness and badness in mankind will naturally manifest as a consequence of
circumstance but one must be steadfast in faith so that all these badness
and even the goodness in human nature must never bring out the worst in
us but still bring the best in each of us even more,” says Warina Sushil A.
Jukuy, Secretary-General of the Hijaab-Niqaab Advocacy Network and coordinator
of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates in Western Mindanao Paralegal
Workers.
If there’s one thing that I adulated on the bright
side of this pandemic crisis is that most or shall I say all people across the
continent of this world are now well-educated about the importance of
practicing good respiratory and hygiene such as sneezing or coughing into a
flexed elbow, or using tissue but discarding it immediately into a closed bin;
likewise, washing their hands regularly with either alcohol-based hand rub or
soap and water. When you are working in a hospital or clinic, these are basic
things that every employee is mandated to do as part of the infection control
policy. Seemingly, some parts of the basic hospital routine are now being
widely applied worldwide outside of the healthcare facility.
Subhāna Allāh! What truly amazes me amid the issue
of Covid-19 is, Islam has always something to say and suggest in the management
of this situation. In fact, most of the principles applied by the world health
experts and leaders to combat and manage this pandemic disease were derived
from Islamic principles. To name a few such as quarantine, protecting one's own
self and others from harm by staying at home, maintaining proper hygiene and
sanitation like in the case of washing hands, respiratory hygiene, healthy
lifestyle and obeying those in authority. Noteworthy to mention, in Islam,
cleanliness is half of our Faith. In fact, Allaah loves those who are clean.
Moreover, Aldhakeel Amjad Tulawie, a licensed-nurse
and overseas Filipino worker succinctly shares three invaluable lessons that he
had learned from this pandemic. To him, “Allah is in control of everything;
Emergency fund or savings is important; Health is wealth.” These three crucial
things are worthy to be pondered upon by everyone.
I just hope when this health crisis finally ends,
the government will learn a lot of lessons, especially so that the health care
system of this nation must be uplifted and the health care workers must not be
taken for granted. Likewise, every world leader must greatly invest in saving
precious lives like uplifting the health care system of their country just how
they heavily invested in killing precious lives through warfare.
“Now we have seen the effect of a health crisis in
this magnitude, the local government should rethink their development
strategies, focusing equally on the health sector. They have the means if they
want to,” Arwen Tulawie Kalimuddin articulated.
Remember, our enemies are not just traitors but are
also invisible. They may be just around the corner. Let's all fight our enemies
together by heeding the guidelines set by our experts and leaders because these
are our weapons to combat and totally destroy them apart from sincere Dua that
never misses its mark.
“Through the many struggles, may we be a source of
strength for the ones we love. Let us sow seeds of Compassion, in due time to
reap fruits of Love,” said Warith-thia Mujahil Elang-Gapur.
However, it’s just normal to feel anxious
especially for our families and loved ones amid this current situation that all
of us across the world are equally facing. Let’s continue to beseech His
supreme intervention to protect and safeguard us at all times from this harm.
Likewise, let's strengthen our Faith in Him, for certain, this will end soon.
Bi'idznillaah!
Likewise, one of the easiest yet best things that
we can do for our families and loved ones especially those who are not with us
amid these difficult times is to always include them in our fervent prayers.
Thus, let’s continue to fervently beseech Allāh that may our beloved families,
loved ones, as well as ourselves, be protected and safeguarded by Him at all
times from any natural or man-made catastrophes wherever we may be.
Additionally, may Allāh castigate all those who bring agony to the lives of
their fellow human beings through this virus IF this was manmade.
In this most challenging times, it is vital that
whenever we can be of help to alleviate someone’s agony amid this crisis, don’t
hesitate or balk to help even if it is just a piece of advice; much more if we
have something to share with them like food, and other important stuffs
especially this Ramadhān.
Towards
this end, I sincerely hope and fervently pray that this global health crisis
that agonizes everyone across the world will finally end soon. May everyone
afflicted by this illness be healed and everyone whose members of their kin and
loved ones are either fighting for their lives or have already perished due to Covid-19
be granted patience and strength to continue to live normal lives. Likewise,
may Allāh grant everyone especially our leaders and all those at the forefront
in this battle the fortitude, strength, wisdom and patience to see this through
so that the Filipino nation will heal.
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