We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Coronavirus is in almost every country in the world. People are far more times more likely to die once infected with the disease than if they were infected with the flu. Fear and anxiety have dominated our day to day lives. Countries are on lockdown, schools are closed and social lives are dismantled. Many will inevitably lose their loved ones. Many will die before they can say goodbye. Even in these unprecedented times, the coronavirus can be the means for an intellectual and spiritual awakening. What follows are some key points for you to consider.
We Are Dependent on God
"O humanity! It is you who stand in need of God, but God alone is the Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy." — The Qur'an, Chapter 35, Verse 15
If we do not acknowledge our own reality we will not be aware of the insights and truths that this pandemic can give us. Coronavirus has exposed that we are not self-sufficient. We are limited and needy. Our very existence and our ability to function is dependent on almost an infinite number of things; things that we cannot control and have no power over. This should make us mindful that we cannot sustain ourselves; when we were born we couldn't feed, clothe or clean ourselves, we were dependent on our parents. We also need a public health system, hospitals, doctors, nurses, farms, farmers, animals, plants, family, parents, friends, an economic system, banks, an ideal environment, oxygen, water, food, buildings, construction companies, builders, and much more. The list is endless.
All of these things are ultimately dependent on God. Since God created us and all of the things mentioned above, our very existence is solely dependent on Him. We are not self-sufficient, even if some of us are deluded in thinking that we are.
"Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds, once they think they are self-sufficient." — The Qur'an, Chapter 96, Verses 6-7
The whole world has been turned upside down over a single strand of RNA. This small virus, that we cannot see with the naked eye, has affected nearly every country in the world. There is currently no cure, it could be years before we find one. Economies are on the verge of collapsing and health systems are overwhelmed. People are fearful and anxious. Populations have been asked to stay at home. No amount of money and power in the world can reverse what has happened. One of the biggest barriers to Divine guidance and mercy is the delusion of self-sufficiency, which is ultimately based on ego and arrogance. This should teach us an important lesson – humility.
Coronavirus and God's Signs
Many of us have never directly observed a virus. Even though it is visible with a microscope, many of us rely on scientific textbooks and images. However, we do observe and feel the effects of the virus. This is enough for anyone to conclude the virus exists. Applying this to God, not only do we have an innate awareness of His existence, we can observe and feel the effects of His reality.
We live in this amazing universe. We hope, love, seek justice and believe in the ultimate value of human life. We reason, infer, deduce, and discover. We live in a vast universe with billions of stars, galaxies and planets. The universe contains sentient beings that can have a unique stream of consciousness. The universe has laws and a precise arrangement that, if different, would have prevented the emergence of conscious life. We live on a planet with over 6,000 languages and over eight million species. We feel—deep down inside—the wrongness of evil and the rightness of good.
These are all signs for God's existence and greatness.
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth; the alternation of the day and night; the ships that sail the sea for the benefit of humanity; the rain sent down by God from the skies, reviving the earth after its death; the scattering of all kinds of creatures throughout; the shifting of the winds; and the clouds drifting between the heavens and the earth—in all of this are surely signs for people of understanding." — The Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 164
Life and Death
Coronavirus will be responsible for many deaths. We have seen the global deaths increase at an alarming rate day by day. This has evoked fear and anxiety. Nobody likes to think about death. However, some of us have started thinking about our own demise.
It creates the realisation within us that all of the attachments we have built in this world will cease to be. Significantly, it awakens us to the brutal fact that we will no longer exist on this planet. We have to face the reality of an inevitable personal apocalypse. There is a profound benefit in reflecting on death. Pondering our finite nature helps diminish our egos and our selfish desires no longer seem that important. Our ephemeral attachments to the material world are put into perspective and our lives are questioned—all of which offer great benefit.
Contemplating death provokes thought and gives us a window of opportunity to reflect on the nature of our existence. How did we come to be? What should we be doing here? Where are we going?
"Every soul will taste death. And you will receive full reward on the Day of Judgment. Whoever is spare from the Fire and is admitted into Paradise will indeed triumph, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment." — The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 185
So What Is Our Purpose?
We are purpose-driven creatures. From brushing our teeth to buying a car, we do these things for a particular purpose, yet some of us do not believe we have a purpose for our own existence. Naturally, this seems absurd and counter-intuitive. Having an ultimate purpose for our lives implies that there is a reason for our existence—in other words, some kind of intention and objective. Without an ultimate purpose, we have no reason to exist, and we lack a profound meaning for our lives.
Islam's view on the purpose of our lives is intuitive and empowering. It elevates our existence from products of matter and time to conscious beings who choose to have a relationship with and worship the One who created us.
"Our Lord! You have not created all of this without purpose." — The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 191
If you do not worship God, you'll still end up worshipping something. The object that you love and revere the most, including whatever you attribute ultimate power to and believe you are ultimately dependent on, is essentially your object of worship. For many people, this can include an ideology, a leader, a family member, and even your own self. In other words, many people idolise these things.
"God sets forth the parable of a slave owned by several quarrelsome masters, and a slave owned by only one master. Are they equal in condition? Praise be to God! In fact, most of them do not know." — The Qur'an, Chapter 39, Verse 29
God is essentially telling us that if we do not worship God, we end up worshipping something else – no matter what. These things enslave us and they become our masters. The Qur'anic analogy is teaching us that without God, we have many 'masters' and they all want something from us. They are all 'at odds with each other', and we end up in a state of misery, confusion and unhappiness.