Ramadan 1442. One would think a year would calm the corona off, rather there has only been new strains of the virus evolving and growing. Whether one is pro-vaccine, anti-vaccine, or in-between, if he/she is meant to get tested positive for Covid19, nothing is going to stop it from happening. And as the virus mutates, evolves and grows, so do we adapt and go with the flow, growing with it, accepting the Qadr of Allah, accepting the New Norm in the world, doing our part, and relying on Allah.
Flashback to last year. Ramadan 1441 was a Ramadan like no other; don’t you agree? With restrictions on gatherings, masaajid closed for taraweeh, and the lack of the usual buzz of Ramadan in the air, one would assume the spirit of Ramadan would have been thwarted. But alhamdulillahi Rabbil 3aalameen, every house birthed an imam; every night the taraweeh was held; and every home turned into a place of worship with the salah in jama’a and the Qur’an being recited frequently.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًۭا مَّا بَعُوضَةًۭ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًۭا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًۭا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ. Surely Allah does not shy away from using the parable of a mosquito or what is even smaller. As for the believers, they know that it is the truth from their Lord. And as for the disbelievers, they argue, “What does Allah mean by such a parable?” Through this ˹test˺, He leaves many to stray, and guides many. And He leaves none to stray except the rebellious— (Qur’an, 2:26)
This aayah had been popping up so often during the early stages of Lockdown2020, in lectures, webinars, forwarded messages, and social media, and they almost always propelled me to reflect—was this a test or a punishment?
With the world adapting to the New Norm, I reflected it was a test after all; because as the interpretation of the meaning of this aayah says, through this test, Allah leaves many to stray, and guides many. And subhanAllah, I have only seen many being guided to Islam, to practicing the right way of Islam, to gaining tawakkul, overcoming fear, and relying solely on Allah.
Not being there yet does not mean it would not ever happen. As the Qur’an was revealed in stages, as the rights and duties of a believer was established in stages, and as Allah says in this interpretation of the meaning of the Qur’an in 84:19,
لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍۢ.
You will certainly pass from one state to another.
Slowing down is one of the best ways to focus on the present and live in the moment. None of us would have ever imagined Ramadan 1441 to have gone in the way it did. And we never know how the rest of Ramadan 1442 will go. All we can do is live, pray, hope, have faith, and be content with everything that has taken place in our lives. For verily,
وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ……And Allah is the best of planners. (Qur’an, 8:30)
Last year, I had created an e-booklet + workbook to help one to zone in on his/her focus for Ramadan with regards to the Qur’an, and the impact of Covid19 in his/her life during Ramadan. Though it was specific to Ramadan 1441, it is general enough to use it for Ramadan 1442 too. If you are looking to reflect and connect with the Qur’an this Ramadan, then click here to receive it.
Author Bio
Umm Afraz Muhammed is an Indian mother settled in the Emirates with her three children. She is an author, book reviewer, freelance graphic designer, and the entrepreneur behind Redefined Muslimah Coaching, where she serves as a Qur’an Life Coach. As a Qur’an Life Coach, she assists her sisters-in-deen to connect with the Qur’an and listen to the Qur’an speak to them on a personal level as intuited by Allah. She can be reached at https://instagram.com/redefinedmuslimahcoaching
