Bright Side Of COVID-19

Umar Syed
The corona virus pandemic has a lot of dark sides. Around the world, people get ill and die, schools close, the healthcare system is overloaded, employees lose their jobs, companies face bankruptcy, stock markets collapse and countries have to spend billions on bailouts and medical aid. And for everyone, whether directly hurt or not, Covid-19 is a huge stressor shaking up our psyche, triggering our fears and uncertainties. No matter how serious and sad all of this is, there are upsides as well. So I would like to draw your attention to the bright side of the corona virus. Firstly, I would like to quote a verse from the Qur’an. Allah says: “It could be that you dislike something, when it is good for you; and it could be that you like something when it is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know”(Qur’an:2:216). Allah has great wisdom in every matter, even if its appearance is bad.So, if you take a closer look, one can clearly realize that the corona virus has helped us (humanity) in many ways, But how?
TIME: We all are familiar with the most famous proverbs “Time is money” and “Time is Gold”. Time has great importance in the life of human being. Humanity has always been anxious with time, the passage of time, the measurement of time, and the scientific qualities of time. Time is a blessing on all of us. We know that all of a sudden a lot of things are cancelled or forbidden, giving us significant amount of extra time to spend with our family, to learn new things, to explore our hidden talents, to learn about your religion, to learn a new language and a lot of other things. Obviously this doesn’t apply to the health-care sector and other crucial sectors, ( let’s keep them in our prayers) but beyond those it applies to a large majority of sectors.Here a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) fits beautifully. He (PBUH) said: “Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life, before your death” (Musnad Imam Ahmad).The whole Hadith is about the limited nature of our life and how the time is running out. We should utilize this free time in a best manner.
ENVIRONMENT: First we should recognize our own contribution to the crisis. Allah says in the Quran: Calamities have appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of the people have earned, He (Allah) makes them taste some of what they did, in order that they may return (to the right way). So we taste our own medicine. A sort of thanks tothe virus which has caused a shutdown or dramatical decrease of industrial activities. Factories are closed or operate far below their capacity, road traffic has reduced radically and air traffic collapsed, and the lack of tourism has emptied the streets in almost all overcrowded cities. While this may be bad news for most people and especially those working in the effected industries, this is also good news for our planet.COVID-19 causes a significant reduction in green house gases and other air water and land polluting outputs.China’s ministry of ecology and environment released new data on air quality. The number of “good quality air days” increased by 25% in February compared to same period last year. China is the biggest source of air pollution in the world. Reduction in air pollution has been recorded over Northern Italy. Recent satellite images show a dramatic decrease in air pollution mainly over many quarantined areas. Satellite data showed a decline in nitrogen dioxide levels over China between January and February.Dirty air is known to cause lung and heart damage. It is responsible for at least 8 million early deaths a year. Respiratory infections such as Coronavirus may have more serious impact on people living in urban areas and those exposed to toxic fumes.Everyone was concerned about the damaging environment but COVID 19 has helped us a lot to heal this damage even if it may be temporary.
If we keep on looking at the brighter sides of life, the longer the crisis lasts, the larger the opportunities are and the bigger the chances are of actually making changes to our deeply rooted habits and convictions.
FOOD: The food industry has bombarded our taste buds with flavors. Those who regularly eat or are addicted to processed foods lose their taste for real food. According to a study from researchers from Georgia State University, emulsifiers, that is used to improve food texture and extend shelf life. They can be found in most items from margarine to ice cream to bread. Most emulsifiers can cause changes in the gut bacteria. This inflammation is often associated with Crohn’s disease and also inflammatory bowl diseases. These toxic chemicals that are being put into the processing of our foods that we mainly eat today could be driving our society into a world of excess health issues. Switching to eating organic food items can easily reduce these health issues. We have no better chance to do it than right now. As markets are closed, we are in lockdown, we have a best opportunity to stop eating these poisons with many beautiful artificial flavors and colors and switch to the healthy food items. Allah says in the Quran: O people, eat permissible good things what lies in the earth and do not follow the footsteps of Satan; indeed, he is an open enemy for you.It is not only about eating permissible things but “Tayyib” the pure and clean things also.
BEING HUMBLE: Another opportunity that the Covid-19 crisis offers, is a chance to create awareness for the moderate role we play on this planet and accept that things cannot always go as we want them to go. The Covid-19 pandemic is a global crisis that is unprecedented in modern peace time. We had other pandemics like SARS, MERS,and other crises but their impact was less substantial. As such, the virus shows us that, no matter how well-planned and organized we are and no matter how much we live in the Anthropocenethe era characterized by significant human impact we are not in control. One simplevirusis disrupting everything. In almost every aspect of life we want to be in control. Whether it is health, airline safety or our calendars, we live in the illusion that full control is possible. The virus can help us create awareness that this is not the case. It provides an opportunity to take a more modest role, lower your arrogant head and accept that many things are simply beyond our control.Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: The one who shows humility Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).The virus has reminded us that there is an Almighty and we humans are just humans.
HYGIENE: Purity is the power with which the mysteries revealed upon you. The purification of body strengthens your soul, which ultimately bring you close to God and keeps your body healthy as well. This is the reason why Islam emphasizes on purity, as it is the basic part of faith in Islam.Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: Purity is half of the faith.The virus reminded us again of the importance of intuitive things that perhaps some of us neglected, despite the fact that it is a mandatory part of Islamic religion and of our life as well— such as personal hygiene, sterilization, disinfectants and healthy eating. We should not skip these habits of being clean after the virus is gone, but we must make them the basic part of our life once for all.
HELPING HAND: There are lot of people around us who live hand to mouth and itis very tough for them to stay inside during this lockdown therefore we got a chance to be helpful and fulfill their needs and let them stay home. As we need to be always helpful but COVID-19 crisis has doubled our responsibility over needy ones. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” He (PBUH) also said:“You will not believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”We all love to have proper food, proper dress etc. Play a role in making their life as we want ours to be. So let’s make the best of this opportunity. We may not reach out to them directly but there are other means as well.
INNOVATIONS: Despite having a devastating impact on our industries, social lives and personal grooming standards, but COVID-19 is also prompting an outpouring of creativity in other arenas. Like hands-free door openers, New designs of Masks and Ventilators, drone delivery and many more. As I already said that COVID-19 has given us a great opportunity to explore our hidden talents in order to benefit others during this pandemic. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: The best among you are those who bring greatest benefits to many others.
MANNERS: COVID-19 has taught us how to be a responsible person in our society. It has taught us good Manners like how to sneeze, how to cough, and how to take care of others health when there are chances of contamination. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands others are safe.COVID-19 has provided us a great opportunity to learn these manners, to learn how to keep others safe from you. So it is time to be a responsible citizen of our society. Again the Covid-19 crisis has a large dark side. But as these opportunities show, it has positive sides as well. Since these opportunities require a quite fundamental change in how we approach the world, seizing them can take substantial time. In that sense, and if we keep on looking at the brighter sides of life, the longer the crisis lasts, the larger the opportunities are and the bigger the chances are of actually making changes to our deeply rooted habits and convictions.
(The writer is a Nursing Research Scholar. Views are his own, [email protected])