Coronavirus, lessons learnt

Let me first remind you that Islamic history is silent about the era in which we are living in now. It is true that many of the actions and the signs of the Day of Judgment are increasingly visible. Let alone Muslims, even followers of other religions would not have imagined that Tawaaf (circumambulation) around the Holy Kabbah would ever be halted. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) told us about the future till 1400 A.H but what would be beyond that era remains unknown.

In the 21^st Century, science has progressed to such an extent that man is planning to go to Mars, discover other planets and new corners of the universe. There is such an overflow of information over the pace of technological advancement that we can hardly keep up. We have invented atomic weapons which have the potential to destroy the world several times over. We have dominated the world and are responsible for everything happening on it, but Islamic history had shown that nations that were arrogant and disobedient were wiped from the face of the Earth. While man has been declared as the best of creation, he often repeats the same mistakes which destroyed those before him.

In December, there was panic in the Chinese city of Wuhan over a mysterious disease known as the coronavirus. The deadly disease wreaked havoc on the Chinese economy and scores of people have lost their lives in the past few months. While the actual cause has not been determined, China imposed strict preventive measures to control the outbreak. People were barred from leaving their homes and wandering in the streets. Emergency supplies were to virus-hit areas while preventive measures were sent on social media. China built an emergency hospital in a short span of just ten days solely for this purpose where those affected were isolated to suppress the disease. China has now claimed that it has turned the tide and has controlled the virus.

China is an economic powerhouse and the centre of world trade. Global businessmen came to China for trade deals and might be unaware of the spread of coronavirus. Now the entire world has cut off all forms of communication, dealing a severe blow to its economy and trade industry. But the virus had already left the country and has now spread to over 100 countries. The entire world is in panic, just like a Hollywood film in which a virus creates chaos and mental agony, except that this is the reality that we need to confront.

In Italy, there is complete chaos despite the best healthcare systems, while the virus is gaining a foothold in USA, the UK is affected and Germany is not safe. Iran tops the list as the most affected country after China. Even prominent personalities, leaders, and celebrities have been affected. The WHO has now officially declared the outbreak as a pandemic. It might probably be the first time that the government has ordered that public places and educational institutions will be shut down. All this is happening in developed countries with the best facilities and systems.

In Pakistan, the total number of cases has reached around thirty and most of them had a recent history of travel to Iran. Fortunately, most of them have been declared safe. We pray that this remains the same and the situation remains under control just like our government officials are telling us. The efforts of the Sindh government are commendable for closing down all educational institutes and banning large public gatherings. Another prompt step was taken to hold the remaining matches of the PSL behind closed stadiums so we can continue to enjoy watching cricket from our homes.

The main question remains for those who are keeping a close watch is whether the situation is as severe as we are being told. It must be noted that there has been no case so far in the most populated province, Punjab. We lag far behind in modern research and have a shambolic healthcare system. We hope the situation remains the same even after the PSL is over and we don’t have to face any emergency situation. We are confident that our leaders will take the best steps to prevent the epidemic from spreading. Just like we were prepared for the PSL as a nation, we should be ready to fight against the coronavirus. While preventive measures are necessary, it is also a time for repentance and prayers to rid us of this virus and also please the Al-Mighty on whom we are all dependent.