One Great Lesson For Humanity After Coronavirus

December 2019 to 2020 will surely go down in the books of human history as the Dark Period on planet earth. Several global disasters and epidemics have occurred in varying parts of the globe, but the impact cannot be much with the devastating effects of coronavirus short cut as COVID 19 which has been declared as a Global Pandemic by WHO.

This single virus has thrown every nation into wilderness, with ghost cities. Starting from China, it spread as a speed of light within a spade of two months.

No nation is left unhurt, with hundreds of thousands infected and thousands of people losing their lives. This brought every nation to its toes. Economies crushing, businesses collapsing, every aspect of life crumbling to a halt. Every living being's attention, focus, action and reaction is concerned about this coronavirus.

Even though we are in very sad moments, it's important to start documenting some lessons from this pandemic. It must be recalled that, before the out break of COVID 19, so many wrong things were perpetrated by humans against humans. Issues of poverty, corruption, power drunk-fullness by political leaders, human rights abuses, racial discriminations, homosexuality and transgender, child trafficking, and many other unhuman carnages were prevalent across the planet. Most recently prior to December 2020, China, India and other parts of the West were incessantly persecuting and torturing innocent minority groups especially Muslims minorities, many countries were in intra and inter conflict, and so many injustices committed against innocent people across every continent.

Since the outburst of COVID 19, no country had time talking about these atrocities. Rather, all leaders and their citizens now pay absolute attention to this common rival. The whole globe now has one enemy, COVID 19. In short, the World Vrs COVID 19. As we're doing now, the world with diversity in human race should have been hostile toward common adversaries like diseases, poverty, inequalities, disasters, unemployment and many others. Us human beings, God did not create us to fight one another, but to know ourselves and help one another. God almighty said in the Qur'an, “Oh Mankind! Behold, We have created you all out of a male (Adam) and a female (Eve), and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most deeply conscious of Allah. Behold, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware” – Qur'an 49:13. God further indicated to us, “And among the wonders of Allah is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues (Languages) and colors. For in this, behold, there are messages indeed for all who are possessed of innate knowledge” Qur'an 30:22. “And Allah is one who brought you all into being out of one living entity, and has appointed for each of you a time-limit on earth, and a resting-place after death. Clearly, indeed, We have spelled out these verses unto people who can gasp the truth” – Qur'an 6:98.

We can understand, our purpose as humans was not o discriminate, witch-hunt, persecute and harass innocent fellows. Our differences in terms of color, gender, language, ethnicity and race was only to enable us know ourselves better, appreciate ourselves, learn from one another and help one another in terms of problems. However, God Almighty being the knower of all things, be it good or bad, said, He shall humanity with great tests (challenges). This is evident in the Qur'an, “Verily, Allah created man from a drop of mingled sperm so that We may test him; and therefore, We made him hearing and seeing. We have indeed showed him the way, now he be grateful or ungrateful”- Qur'an 76:3. Verily, we shall put you to test with some fear, and hunger, and loss of wealth, lives, and offspring. And (Oh Mahammad) convey good tidings to those who are patient, who say, when afflicted with hardship, “verily, from Allah we came and to Allah we shall return”, upon them is the blessings of Allah and His Mercy” – Qur'an 2:155. “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false” - Qur'an 29:2-3

Indeed, there is no gainsaying the fact that coronavirus is a great test to humanity. There is no hidden place on the planet earth as at now, except one whom Allah protects. COVID 19 is a test of our beliefs, a test for our leaders, a test of our knowledge on health, a test of our economies, a test of our daily actions, a test of our lives, and probably a punishment for our failure to follow the laws and commandment of the Creator. God Almighty said, "…With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extended to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and practise regular charity, and those who believe in Our signs” - Qur'an 7:156. God Almighty further said, “…. If any one´s trial is intended by Allah, thou hast no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavy punishment.”- Qur'an 5:41.

However, there is hope for us. Though COVID 19 is a test from God, a solution will soon be found especially when as humanity remain resolute and strive hard to deal with and virus and also work towards that which is good for all humanity. God said in the Qur'an, “…..And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out (for them). And He provides for them from (sources) they never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion. Qur'an 65:2-3. God further said, “And be steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.”- Qur'an 11:115.

Our ability to find a lasting solution to COVID 19 is possible, because God Almighty said, “…On no soul do Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns.” -Qur'an 2:286 . This means, we can overcome COVID 19 as we continue to work hard. If we had no solution, God will never allow such a problem to come to us, unless, it is final destruction of humanity. We also need to, ask God Almighty to open our mights and lead us towards a lasting solution to this pandemic. God said, “…It is He Who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein: then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him (in repentance): for my Lord is (always) near, ready to answer." Qur'an 11:61. God further iterates, “Then do you remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.” Qur'an 2:152. We also need to repent and ask for forgives of our atrocities across the globe and spelled out clearly in the Qur'an, “Unless they repent thereafter and mend (their conduct); for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.”- Qur'an 24:5.

Solving coronavirus may take some time, some suffering, but we need strong hearts and geart endurance as indicated by God, “So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of Allah is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith.”- Qur'an 30:60. God has promised us, “So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief”. Qur'an 94:5-6. Definitely, we are in difficult times, but hopefully and sure, the world get rid of COVID 19.

Asking the Almighty Creator for help is very crucial in our daily lives now and forever. Allah said, “(Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us); Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith." And God has promised us of a great reward. Allah says, “For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for righteous men and women, for truthful men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in praising Allah – for them, Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward”- Qur'an 33:35.

So, the lesson that must not be forgotten should we and surely, find a solution to coronavirus is in the verses, “Oh Mankind! Behold, Allah have created you all out of a male (Adam) and a female (Eve), and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most deeply conscious of Allah. Behold, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware” – Qur'an 49:13. God further indicated to us, “And among the wonders of Allah is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues (Languages) and colors.”. Therefore, my appeal to global leaders is this, WE MUST NOT GO BACK TO ANY FORM OF INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON COLOR, GENDER, RELIGION, LANGUAGE, MINORITY, POWER STATUS, AGE, PROFESSION, AND RACE. Our common goal as global citizens should be A WORLD OF PEOPLE FREE OF POVERTY AND DISEASES, ENJOYING ALL THE NATURAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WITHOUT ANY FEAR OR FAVOUR, AND ENSURING JUSTICE FOR ALL. This is possible if we see ourselves as ONE GLOBAL CITIZEN. As God Almighty said, “Oh Believers, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness…” (Qur'an 5:8). Indeed, at least, COVID 19 is a lesson for all humanity, No household on planet earth untouched.

Written By
ABU IBRAHIM AZEBRE
[email protected]
30/03/2020