The Challenges Faced by the Muslims during Corona Virus Pandemic: Creating Harmony between Precaution and Reliance on God

The present paper is an attempt to explore the challenges faced by the Muslims during Corona Virus Pandemic. This Virus originated from Wuhan China and now it has turned out to be a global pandemic. The major current studies conducted on Covid-19 are either related to its impact on global economy or its impact on education system. To date back, there is a dearth of study regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on Muslims faith all around the world. This paper fills in this gap and explores the Islamic perspectives of dealing any pandemic. The discussion concludes that Islam long before gave methods of cleanliness, quarantine and self-protection which are now being proven by the scientific research.


Saman Salah, 2 Nazir Ahmed Kasi Abstract
The present paper is an attempt to explore the challenges faced by the Muslims during Corona Virus Pandemic. This Virus originated from Wuhan China and now it has turned out to be a global pandemic. The major current studies conducted on Covid-19 are either related to its impact on global economy or its impact on education system. To date back, there is a dearth of study regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on Muslims faith all around the world. This paper fills in this gap and explores the Islamic perspectives of dealing any pandemic. The discussion concludes that Islam long before gave methods of cleanliness, quarantine and self-protection which are now being proven by the scientific research. Keywords: Islamic Perspective, Corona Virus, Muslims, Faith, Challenges.

Introduction:
The world is going through a lot of suffering due to the drastic effects of COVID-19. Muslims all over the world are concerned and struggling with the COVID-19 effects regarding their religious practices. Islam as a complete living code provides Muslims various methods to protect themselves from plague and pandemics. "Prophet Muhammad urged Muslims to keep solid family ties. "The Quran inspires Muslims to be generous to kin 1 and treat the elderly with compassion 2 ." One of the common Islamic culture which all Muslims follow is to shake hands and hug the same gender. This is token of love, respect and brotherhood. However, in these days of social distancing in order to remain protected, it seems difficult to follow this beautiful token of love and respect. Hence Muslims are struggling between religious practice and social distancing. Visiting the family and relatives holds great importance to the Muslims. However, more tightly limitations on development in certain areas of Australia (NSW and Victoria) mean Muslims, similar to every other person, are not permitted to visit more distant family any longer. Besides, shaking hands (with the same gender) in mosques and other religious gatherings is also a key element of Muslim culture however this has become a challenge to Muslims due to COVID-19. Following up to 14 days of faltering in March, the embracing totally quit, causing Muslims to feel troubling. Visiting the debilitated is viewed as a decent deed in Islam. Be that as it may, on account of COVID-19, such visits are unrealistic. Determining the status of the individuals who are debilitated with calls, messages and internet-based life is as yet conceivable and empowered. Literature Review: Different studies have been conducted on COVID-19. For instance, Abodunrin et al. 3 , have explored the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy. While conducting this research, they affirm that this virus is not limited to the problems related to health; in fact, "The infection perceives no limits, along these lines it has cut over all the cultural echelons; accordingly,"… social, financial, training, political and human security". Furthermore, while examining the effects of this virus they have given some suggestions that may facilitate in controlling this pandemic. Their examination uncovered that the COVID-19 has proved to be extremely fatal for world economy. In a research by Fetzer 4 , Hensel, Hermle, and Roth, the raised monetary nervousness due to COVID-19 has been investigated. In this research, the researchers have tried to explore the worldwide web information indicating the drastic effects of COVID-19. Their interpretation concludes that due to COVID-19 not only USA but many developed countries are going through economic trauma. Besides, their study gives recommendations in terms of government funded instruction for COVID-19 which would ultimately lead to better control of this virus. There is also a research conducted by Sahu 5 about the effects of COVID-19 on education, staff and the students. The findings of his study indicated that over 80% students in the world have been suffering due to COVID-19 restrictions. The internet facilities are not available everywhere which has caused huge stress among the staff and the students. In some cases, the staff is not properly trained to conduct online classes. These issues have raised the students concerns about their courses, lectures and examination. A general research based on the impacts of COVID-19 on education, health and world economy was carried out by Igwe 6 . He explained in his research that the students studying in USA, Australia, and Canada are suffering due to lock down situation and are unable to return to their homelands. Government of the respective countries need to take adequate action to solve the problems of these students. This article is noteworthy since it covers various problems caused by COVID-19 in different fields. Evans 7 has investigated the financial effects of coronavirus alongside certain arrangements and approaches. He has settled on proactive administration approach that incorporates, wellbeing arrangement plan including national and global moves in ventures. Besides, the global crisis and the political disturbance due to COVID-19 has been effectively explored by Karabag 8 . He explains that national and worldwide emergency has been the result of COVID-19 immediate spread. An attractive part for the social researchers in the current situation is to conduct research based on COVID-19 effects on the world financial situation 9 . Hence, China's economic condition has been explicitly explored by Bouey 10 while some researchers have investigated the effects of COVID-19 on travel industry in China and other countries 11 . The findings of their study indicate that since travel plays vital part in a countries economy therefore due to COVID-19 pandemic the travel industry has been badly affected and added to further loss in the economy of different countries including the social life of people. The above studies on COVID-19 are mainly based on educational, economic or social context. However, there is no study which reflects the challenges faced by the Muslims during COVID-19 and this study fills in this gap. Discussion: "Cleanliness is half of faith" Scientific research on the spread of COVID-19 has indicated that the virus can be controlled and humans protect themselves by washing their hands for twenty seconds. Islam has been empowering individual cleanliness for quite a long time. "The Quran instructs Muslims to keep their clothes clean in one of the earliest revelations 12 , remarking "God loves those who are clean" 13 . Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) before fourteen centuries back stressed "cleanliness is half of faith". In different Ahadith we can see Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizing people to regularly stay clean, wash hands before and after meal. In addition, Muslims perform ablution before every prayer in which they clean their private parts, hands, mouth, eyes elbows and feet. Besides, even while using toilet papers, Muslims make use of water to clean their private parts. In some cases, "bidet sprayers" are also a part of Muslim washrooms.

"Mosques Closure and Friday Administrations"
Muslims all over the world go to the mosques for Jummah prayer and Friday sermon. This gives a feeling of unity to the Muslims. However, the situation in the COVID-19 is different since there is a ban all around the world on social gathering and mosques are close for Friday sermon which also marks a struggle for Muslims during COVID-19. "Friday prayer is the main Muslim supplication that must be acted in a mosque. It comprises of a 30-hour long lesson followed by a five-minute congregational prayer directed soon after early afternoon. Halting Friday supplications on a worldwide scale has not happened since it was presented by Prophet Muhammad in 622, after he relocated to the city of Medina from the mistreatment he and his adherents suffered in Mecca" 14 . For the sake of protecting the lives, Iran on fourth of March and then Indonesia as well as Turkey closed mosques for Friday prayers. However, this attempt had nothing to do with the routine prayer and in many places Friday sermon was observed online as well.

Effect on Ramadan and the Annual Pilgrimage to Mecca
The holy month of ramadan and Hajj are two main strays of Islamic practice. "Fasting in Ramadan" means Muslims are abstain from eating, drinking and conjugal relations from fajr time till Maghrib. Since this a month of Ebadat, Rehmat, Maghfrat and Nijaat therefore Muslims recite Holy Quran and spend most of their time in Ebadat. Which makes this mnoth safer for Muslims from COVID-19. However, Tarawih and late night's meals are influenced in this pandemic. Besides, Muslims for the most part welcome their loved ones to these meals. In Western nations, the solicitations incorporate non-Muslim colleagues too. Islamic associations have just reported the abrogation of iftar meals. Eid which is the three-day Islamic festive after ramadan will likewise be constrained correspondingly to the primary family.

The Effects of COVID-19 on Hajj
On 27 February 2020, Saudi Arabia banned people to enter Saudia as to protect the spread of COVID-19. The primary journey (hajj) season happens in late July. Besides, the primary journey of Hajj is likely to ban as a safety measure from COVID-19, however, this holy journey never stopped in the fourteen centuries. Moreover, since Muslims pay complete expenses to go for performing Hajj, and in case of dropping of hajj, there are chances of reserve funds for the Muslims which would ultimately affect the pilgrimage industry.

Precaution and Reliance on God: A way towards Harmony
In the circle of Muslims an initial debate across COVID-19 which is mainly observed is a religious one. His universe as trusted by the Muslims is made by Allah; hence proceeds to effectively oversee its issues. It suggests that this virus is made by Allah due to the human obliteration of the earth. Hence God cautioned and rebuffed humankind for industrialism, and individual overabundances. This implies battling the pandemic is pointless and individuals ought to depend "tawakkul" on Allah to secure the equitable. This reasoning lessens the dread feeling among Muslims, however, it may likewise make individuals pointlessly smug. Besides, even though the rise of COVID-19 was not a matter of human control, however its spread unquestionably is. The Muslims remind us that a man who did not ties his camel as he had strong trust on God, received an advice from Prophet Muhammad(PBUH): "tie the camel first and then trust in Allah". Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was an advocate of medical treatment and he always fortified his followers for pursuing therapeutic cure, saying "Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease-old age". Following is the advice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on quarantine: "If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; if the plague outbreaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place". Sometimes affliction inevitably comes our way. Muslims are taught to consider these grim circumstances as test. As God says in the Quran "they are temporary hardships to strengthen us 15 ".

Conclusion:
Corona virus is a global pandemic. People all over the world are currently under isolation and prefer social distancing. COVID-19 has brought challenges to the Muslims and changed their lives. There is a need to create a balance between precaution and Reliance on Allah. Allah, the Glorious, declares in Surah al-Baqarah: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. 16 The faith of Muslims urges to show flexibility in the midst of hardship and tribulation, with adequate solidarity to make it to the opposite side unblemished. In such circumstances, people will be deprived of their income or labor including their lives. This would be considered as a Noble cause as declared by Prophet Muhammad