Let’s talk about the virus…because we can.
There are many people in my news feed right now who can’t.
And many others not in my news feed because they are so remote, no one is there to take a picture of them to ask for assistance.
These people have more pressing matters.
Will their infant baby survive another week without food? Or without shelter?
Or will they survive the next round of bombshells?
Or if they’re government will come hunting for them because they are Muslim?
By the grace of Allah, we can talk about the virus because we don’t have those urgent issues that thousands of people are going through right now.
Ibn Ata’illah, a great Sufi scholar, wrote in his renowned book of Wisdoms that calamities are the Eids or festival days of those who truly want Allah.
The pious people of the past would worry – not when they were in difficulty – but when they had ease, they would worry about their relationship and their connection with Allah. Why? Because Allah promised the believers hardship:
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [their] messenger and those who believed with him said,”When is the help of Allah ?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” (2:214)
So they worried when they didn’t have hardships: did Allah have enough of them? Did He give them ease just to allow them to fall into heedlessness?
This was the worry of the pious.
Let us follow their example; let us follow the greatest wisdom and advice of our Beloved Prophet peace and blessings forever upon him and remember those who are more unfortunate so that we may be grateful for the innumerable blessings we are in.
