Ihsaan Magazine May 2020 Issue - Living your best Life | Página 36

Surah Al Mulk
A spirItual antidote to the
global
pandemic
In this global pandemic, it is understandable that we have fears and anxieties.
Reflecting on the current situation and the way out of this global crisis can make
us feel overwhelmed. But is there a way to find peace, perspective and balance in
approaching this situation?
Written By: Dina Mohamed Basiony
This is what Surah Al Mulk
(‘The Sovereignty’ Chapter
67 of the Qur’an) presents; it
gives a powerful perspective
and a means to find peace
and answers to many of
the fears and uncertainties
ahead. In this article, we’ll
share a few thoughts and
lessons inspired by this
Chapter.
A Mindset Shift: Give up
Control to The One in Control
“Exalted (Blessed) is He who
holds all control in His Hand;
and He has power over all
things” (Qur’an 67: 1)
The first word of Surah
Al-Mulk in Arabic is often
translated to blessed or
exalted. Yet, the word
“Tabaraka”, is a superlative
form for the word “Barakah”
that contains all meanings
of exaltation, greatness,
abundance, and permanence
of virtues and excellences.
When this superlative form
of Barakah is describing God,
it means He is Unlimited
in His Superiority. He has
complete control over
everything and the entire
dominion of the universe is
in His grip.
Why is this relevant?
Being Allah-centric versus
being Self/Ego-centric is
important now more than
ever as we’ve realized how
the self is limited and how
incapable it is to deal with
inevitable matters beyond
our human capacity. If
matters were strictly in the
hands of our limited worldly
means, we should certainly
panic. But when we are
directed to the Unlimited,
we experience peace and
tranquillity knowing that He
is capable over all things.
“And it is Allah’s Will to
lighten your burdens, for
humankind was created
weak.” (Qur’an 4: 28)
Lesson #1: Be Allah-Centric,
not self-centric. The whole
world from the East to the
West is in His Hand. When
we align with The One in
control, the Capable Owner,
not the limited creatures, this
will give peace and alleviate
much of our panic, stress,
and anxiety.
Dealing with the Fear of
Death
“[He] who created death
and life to test you [as
to] which of you is best
in deed – and He is the
Exalted in Might, the Most
Forgiving -” (Qur’an 67: 2)
The modern world has
difficulty processing death
and is obsessed with Life.
Yet, Allah highlights in this
verse that He created death
before He created life. The
time, date, and scenario of
our death have been decreed
by the Creator before He
even breathed life into our
bodies.
This is an important
reminder: The Coronavirus
will not create anyone’s
death beyond the decree of
the Creator Himself. It will
not speed up or delay our
death; our death date has
already been decided before
our souls were breathed
into us. This necessitates
that we don’t panic over the
Coronavirus itself. But to
benefit from the pandemic
as a strong reminder of
the closeness of death. We
are but a number of days
reducing as each one passes.
It is necessary for us to
acknowledge death, because
to acknowledge death is to
acknowledge that this life is
not the end. It is a phase that
must end sooner or later,
when we accept that in peace
we can focus on preparing