Mukhtar Oyetunji
Some 3/4 days back, the moon was at its fullest and brightest signaling the halfway mark in the month of Ramadan just like any other month. As expected though, its form has gradually reduced as it makes another 14+ day sojourn before the month comes to an end.
Just as Allah substitutes the day with night and vice versa, so does he continuously turn the hearts of men. This is contained in the Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) in which he states that the hearts of men exist within the grasp of Allah and that he turns it in whichever direction he wills at different times, hence, the need for a Muslim to continuously guard his heart while praying to Allah to keep it guided at all times.
No doubt the Arabic word for heart, Qalb; denotes something which rotates. The heart is ever in a balance; in a minute, being righteous and longing for the pleasure of the supreme while acting accordingly and by the next, getting preoccupied with the affairs of this World.
The blessed companions of the Prophet (SAW) indeed feared this phenomenon so much that they would often accuse themselves of hypocrisy whenever they thought themselves getting busy with worldly and family affairs. Oftentimes, they would cry towards the Prophet expressing their fears of having become hypocrites, only for the Prophet (SAW) to console them while revealing that it is only human nature.
Similarly, most Muslims are riding at the very crest of faith in this period. Lots of ills are being shed while exalted behaviours and attitudes are the order of the day. It is quite difficult to fund Muslims in this sort of state at any other time in the year.
For many, Ramadan is a whole transformation process in virtually all aspects of their lives, while others at the very least come out with new resolutions and action points.
Generally, in the wake of the prevailing situation of the world with COVID-19, some values of Islam have become even more prevalent and will likely linger for a long time even for non-Muslims. Some of these are;
- Care for the less-privileged: More than ever, people especially those who are privileged have realised that taking of the less privilege is a necessity.
The philosophy of Islam according to the Qur’aan and teachings of the Prophet (SAW) is that the less privileged (especially those around you) have unwritten rights over you from the wealth Allah has bestowed on you. In many verses of the Qur’aan, Allah extols the virtues of giving to the needy and the immense reward that comes with it.
One of such many verses is contained in Surah Al-Balad, Verse 11-16.
But he would not attempt the uphill Road,
And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is?
(It is) the setting free of a slave,
Or the giving of food in a day of hunger,
To an orphan, having relationship,
Or to the poor man lying in the dust…
The exegesis of these verses reveals that feeding and taking care of the needy, orphans and the likes is usually an upheaval task for many, whereas it is one of the sacrosanct ways for societal and communal progress.
Therefore, the prevalence of palliatives here and there is a value extolled by Islam whether there be a Pandemic or not. Caring for the Poor, Needy and Orphans should be institutionalised!
- Dressing/Appearance: A user on twitter recently said that Islam has indeed taken over the world particularly in the aspect of dressing while responding to a seemingly Islamophobic tweet by another user who expressed fears about people covering up everywhere like Muslims.
The dictates of Islam on dressing are simple and explicit. Allah(SWT) says;
O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).
(Al-A’raf, verse 26).
Clearly, the purpose of clothing is to cover man from all that may be seemingly undeserving of the human body e.g. dirts, diseases, and even prying eyes. It therefore explains the albeit strict code of dressing especially for wommen in Islam.
This purpose though has been eroded over the years, but Allah has so wished that man be brought back to this reality with the ongoing pandemic especially with it coinciding with Ramadan, a time when indecent dressing is at premium.
It behoves that even after, Ramadan and the pandemic, the value of proper dressing amongst male and female must continue to be extolled.
- Privacy, Social/Physical Distancing: Our society long before now has always been a competitive one. Competition, for wealth, children, property and even physical space is rife so much so that there exists little to no limits between opposite sexes not to talk of people of the same sex. No doubt, Islam encourages privacy and proper distancing of people at different times and for different purposes.
For instance, Allah emphasises the need for privacy at home in Surah An-Nuur;
O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions; before Fajr (morning) prayer, and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the ‘Isha’ (late-night) prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending (helping) you each other. Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat (the Verses of this Quran, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits, etc.) to you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
(An-Nur, verse 58).
This period has come to teach us the essence of applying the dictates of Islam on allowing people their privacy and keeping limits with them when need be up till the point of total restriction of movement when necessary.
In the course of this Ramadan, everyone is expected to be with his family and live accordingly within the confines of the home. When out, keeping the appropriate distance for proper societal interaction is just as important too. This is what Islam teaches!
