Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | TOI Blogs: Pearls of Wisdom | May 31, 2020

People often say that this pandemic of coronavirus is a divine punishment (or azaab), which has been unleashed on mankind. Such notions have spread rampantly and have become the cause of negativity, distress and despair in the minds of people around the globe. Some have begun to visualize this pandemic as a 'full stop' to life. I feel that coronavirus is a form of shock treatment by the Creator to awaken man's mind. It should not be viewed as a 'full stop' to life - rather it should be viewed as a 'comma', which has invited man to pause, think and reflect.

Man had become far too reckless in his pursuit of materialism and this pandemic is like being nudged out of his reverie. If we understand its importance, it would seem like a second lease of life which is given to awaken man's mind and compel him to re-think about his life's priorities because in rethinking lies the secret of learning and discovering new ideas. This pandemic, therefore, is a blessing in disguise which will help man re-plan, course-correct and build a positive approach to life.

As he embarks on this journey of reflection, man is hit by the superficiality of his notions, which made him believe that he is in complete control of his life. The material success and grandeur made man think that he is a supreme being and needs no one! But this pandemic has exposed man's helplessness in ways more than one. It has clarified that as a creation, man has an inherent need to look up to a Higher Being - our Creator, the Sustainer of the Universe - and follow His Creation Plan. This realization that the universe is managed by an all-Powerful Creator is the first step towards acknowledging where we stand in this universe and what we ought to do.

[Highlight1]

God Almighty gave a custom-made universe to man but he failed to acknowledge His blessings. Instead, he succumbed to the fulfilment of his insatiable desires and as a consequence polluted the very planet which was his life-support system. In exchange of over-nourishing his material self, man severely famished his spiritual self.

The present-day pandemic is a warning from the Creator so that man takes heed, realizes his shortcomings and inculcates the spirit of shukr or thanksgiving in himself. True feeling of gratitude stems from the heart, takes the form of words and becomes a prayer on the lips of a spiritual person.

It is time now to acknowledge the blessings of our Creator, to undertake re-planning and re-evaluation of our lives, to seek contentment in what we have and not what we can have. Such an approach is the prerequisite to a healthy mind and will determine how one leads a positive, fulfilling and a spiritually nourished life.

We should remember that this too shall pass. I pray and hope that not only will this experience enhance our spirituality but that it will also make us more resilient to face challenges in life and master the art of finding a positive outcome in every situation!