Will humanity rise like a phoenix from ashes of COVID-19?

The world is reeling under the impact of the pandemic COVID-19, which has over two and a quarter million confirmed cases and has claimed a death toll of 160,717 souls yet social scientists also observe a positive side of the novel coronavirus.

The biggest impact has been on cleanliness. From children to the septuagenarians, everyone now is aware of the merits of washing hands, covering the face while sneezing or coughing and the advantages of social distancing. Lockdowns have constrained road traffic, resulting in fewer deaths due to road accidents and reduced pollution, contributing to restricting ozone depletion and climate change. Working from home and being limited to indoors has sunk in the realization of the merits of family values. Junk food has been rejected and home cooking has restored the choice of the palate. Homeschooling and online distance learning have taken parental supervision of the children’s educational progress back to the board.

The biggest positive impact has been that people have become closer to the Almighty. They take cognizance of the fact that the pandemic could be a curse for their sins and they now seek repentance from their Maker, lest they meet the fate of numerous races mentioned in the Quran, who were destroyed because of their evil deeds.

In Pakistan and elsewhere, philanthropy has reached new heights. One had seen the best side of humanity in the aftermath of the 2005 devastating earthquake and 2010-11 deluge but the way ordinary people have picked up the cudgel to bring food and much-needed supplies to the less fortunate elements of society is phenomenal. Forty percent of Pakistan existed below the poverty line before the advent of COVID-19 but after the daily wages labourers, hawkers and casual employees got laid off, there was an acute danger of a large segment of society starving to death. There could have been two possible outcomes: descent into barbarism or the emergence of extreme compassion. The ordinary people of Pakistan mercifully chose the latter. The government efforts notwithstanding, it was the citizens of this brave nation that stood up to be counted. We are not talking of only the charitable organizations — Edhi, Chhippa, Sahara, Al-Khidmat, Shaukat Khanum, Aman, Saylani et al, who are of course bending backwards in their benevolence — but common folk, who braved the perils of contagion and took to the roads, collecting rations and logistic support and going door to door without a murmur or demur, motivating others to follow suit.

There is the poignant story of an individual, the 99-year-old Tom Moore, who has raised over 18 million Pounds for healthcare workers by taking laps around his garden in England. Along the way, he has captured the hearts of people from around the world.

The World War II veteran began his fundraising efforts on April 8. His goal was to walk 2.5 kilometers at his home in Bedfordshire, before he celebrated his 100th birthday on April 30. His family posted a video on YouTube presenting the rationale of Captain Moore’s challenge and asked people to donate to the National Health Care System (NHS) Charities Together, which donates funds to hospitals in the United Kingdom, in support. Originally, Moore wanted to raise a modest £1,000 ($1,250) for the charity, but invigorated by the response, he is going on.

There are highly motivating reports from brotherly country Türkiye Cumhuriyeti or Republic of Turkey, led by the indomitable Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has made the selling of masks illegal, providing them free, which can be ordered online, with the free delivery of five masks per family per week.

Erdogan has deployed the army units to look after the elderly and deliver free groceries and food items to citizens 65 years of age or older. There are army units detailed to look after stray animals, tag dogs, cats and animals in bushes, providing them food and also leaving food at specific places for animals.

In Turkey, since the lockdown, schools started free for the whole country on television. Instead of clapping every night for health workers and playing music in apartments, all mosques relay a small motivational talk and play takbir loud and Dua after the Isha Azaan. The mosques have been kept open but instead of congregational prayers, individual prayers are permitted. Madrasahs have gone online. Erdogan seeks the duas from the old and destitute and refuses to take loans from riba systems to provide food and needs for his citizens, residents and refugees.

He therefore gave up seven months’ salary and encouraged every citizen to contribute towards helping, which resulted in mass donations unheard of in modern times. Mosques in Turkey have been facilitated to offer grocery items placed on the shoe racks for the needy to replenish their needs. This is taking the concept of a welfare state to the next level.

Whether it is Islamic states like Pakistan or Turkey or charitable organizations around the world, humanity is overpowering greed and pursuit of power or pelf. It is hoped and prayed that the positive changes of cleaner minds, body and souls inculcated by nature in our daily routine due to COVID-19 will persist. May Allah continue to guide us and we rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the pandemic.