By Dr. Muhammad Mumtaz Ali
Introduction
Coronavirus has no nationality, no race, no region, no boundary, no country and no passport. It can travel without any restriction and affects the lives of people and can even kill them. At this moment of stress it would be better to know various perspectives on this issue of corona. According to my assessment, the Quran discuses about punishment from God to those who deny the Truth and insistently commit wrong doings in life. It elaborates what is the Truth and what are wrong doings which people commit. It highlights three things: warnings, punishment in this worldly life and the punishment in the Hereafter. I am not sure how many of us know about Quran and its position on diseases and calamities. My general perception is that majority of people think that the Quran is a religious book for a community called Muslims who follow a religion, Islam. So, Islam for them is some sort of religion and the Quran religious book. My perception is altogether different. The Quran is neither a religious book nor the book of a specific community. It is for all human beings from the Creator of all human beings. It deals with people and society for the benefit of all humanity. It brings forth mankind from every kind of darkness into the light. I would like to discuss briefly on the position of the Quran on diseases and calamities.
Punishment and Warnings from God:
God in the Quran states publicly that if people reject the Truth without any genuine reason and insists on falsehood and commit wrong doings making life difficult for people, He will warn and punish them here in this world. This is made clear in the Quran.
“….Surely clear evidence has come to you from your lord, which is both guidance and a mercy. Who, then, is more unjust than he who gave the lie to the Signs of God and turned away from them? And We shall soon requite those who turn away from Our Signs with a severe chastisement for having turned away [6: 157.
The Quran claims that people arbitrarily reject the as being false when they failed to comprehend the Truth and commit wrong doings. The end of the wrong-doers was total destruction. The Quran asks people have you ever thought what would be the consequence if this Quran is indeed from God. Who can be in greater error one who denies it or one who accepts it?
Tell them, [O Prophet], “Did you consider [what would be your end] if this Quran were indeed from God and yet you rejected it? [46: 10]; We shall certainly have them taste some chastisement in this world in addition to the greater chastisement [of the Hereafter]; perhaps they will retract [from their transgression] [32:21].
The above ayah speaks of ‘some chastisement’ in this world refers to events like swine flu, epidemic diseases, raining down stones, terrible blasts, landslides, floods and drownings, tornadoes and storms, droughts and famines, riots, warfare and fear. These are some which affect people collectively, sometimes affecting the lives of millions. When people and nations immerse themselves in evil and go against God’s teaching making life difficult for the righteous, He decides to destroy them. Generally, when the corruption of the affluent sections of the upper classes of a society becomes dominant, God takes decision to destroy them. When wealthy and influential sections of nations blatantly resort to all kinds of evil practices, to injustice and oppression, they are punished. However, God does not punish guilty people and nations instantly if they deny the truth and commit evil. He grants them a reasonable period of respite so that they may correct themselves. When people and nations go too far with their inequity, injustice, oppression and transgression, and when their deviation from Truth reaches a high watermark, God decides to punish them.
These things are caused in order that people may pay heed and take lesson before the greater chastisement takes place. God expects people will bring change in their patterns of thought and action. In other words God wants people to realize they have to live a life of care and concern. They are under obligation to follow the guidance of God. People have not been granted smooth sail in this world with all kinds of wrong doings. They have to face, if they cross limits set by God, unexpected calamities. This should remind people to purge their mind of the delusion that there is no God above us capable of reminding us by way of causing trouble. Hence, they have to be righteous and make society good one.
God has arranged in the world the order of things in such a way that individuals, nations and countries periodically face calamities. Recently, Bill Gates said even after 20 years we may face a corona type of virus. The purpose here is to remind people their utter helplessness, even for a short time. We are bound to realize there exists in reality a pervasive supreme power.
We have to realize that our destiny is controlled by someone, more mighty, more knowledgeable and wise, other than ourselves. It does not, however, mean that we have to ignore our destiny. We have to work for it and at the same time depending on God and seeking His guidance. Rebellion against Him in the form of rejection of His guidance and teachings invite His wrath. We have to acknowledge, in the light of helplessness of so-called advanced and powerful nations, the real power and authority rests with God, Real and True – Unseen God. The occurrence of corona virus serves as a warning from God and dispels to us our misconceptions. It should prompt us to recognize the reality of things, man and God. By deriving lessons from current phenomena of corona virus we should mend our ways of learning, thinking, doing by embracing right way of life and right and truthful epistemology and methodology. This will help us to save ourselves from the chastisement in this world and the Next world. The current wave of corona virus is not the punishment but a warning from God:
O my Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of those that are merciful [23:118]. You are not dead but Alive!
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Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences,International Islamic University Malaysia. Email : mumtazali@iium.edu.my