When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

Wordsmith: Mashiar Ahsan

It is with insurmountable fear and overwhelming anxiety we are currently living. The corona virus outbreak in Wuhan that we took so lightly, thinking that something so far could never reach or harm us, has now caused us to take shelter in the refuge of our homes. Businesses and academic institutions have shut-down. Governments throughout the world are struggling to deal with this epidemic, as economy is on the constant decline, portending the approaching of bleaker days.

Nations that recently were on the forefront of tyranny, with their mighty army, with their arrogance kissing the skies, have now had a reality check and come to the conclusion, although sour, that they are not the one in charge. In such times of uncertainty when candle of hope is all but flickering in everyone’s hearts, the Mu’min blazes with the intensity of a thousand splendid suns, for he knows the hadith of Rasulullah ( صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) “I am amazed by the believer. Verily, Allah does not decree anything for the believer except what is good for him.” (Muslim)

It is an absolute truth that hardship and ease follow each other. Therefore, whenever we face hardship we must be certain that ease and good times are just around the corner. However, it is not merely waiting for ease with patience that befits the believer. It is his doing good to himself and society within his means, in a consistent way that truly matches his reason for existence. 

This corona virus outbreak has confined us to our homes, relieving us of our need to go to our workplaces or academic institutions. We must therefore utilize it by increasing in beneficial knowledge, repentance, supererogatory deeds, and spreading beneficial reminders. This has also given us a chance to bond with our families, which we have become too busy to do in recent times.

Keeping in mind the things we should do, we must also know the things we shouldn’t. Among this is the intake of negative information. Due to the epidemic the number of news concerning death toll is widespread, and too much of such information is a cause of mental unrest. Also, as we are spending most of our days with our family, some things that they do may irritate us. We must not show annoyance in such situations, and rather be patient.

With all that being said let us conclude by reading words of encouragement by the poet of hope and love:

When you go through a hard period,

When everything seems to oppose you,

When you feel you cannot even bear one more minute,

NEVER GIVE UP!

Because it is the time and place that the course will divert!”

-Mawlana Jalauddin Rumi.