Combatting loneliness

Mankind, by their nature, are said to be social being, who engage with others and live within the concept of family and circles of friendship. ‘Need and want’ are two aspects of human life that bind us all together but if they are not met we feel unsupported by others. We are all aware that loneliness is different from being alone and many people enjoy the happiest of lives in the company of a book or by surrounding themselves with nature. For many others, many Muslims included, engaging in the remembrance and Glory of God fulfils their needs.

So what is loneliness?  To me, it is the state of being where people feel totally unsupported, their needs are not given any attention and they feel socially alone even when surrounded by other people. In other words, they have become a ‘social outcast’. We also develop this feeling of loneliness when we have people around us with whom we don’t have meeting of minds, or a deeper emotional connection or intellectual or social bond.

Many experts would say that ‘loneliness’ is not a mental health problem. Nevertheless, a long drawn out period of being lonely can and does have an impact on the mental welfare of a person and may adversely affect their lives.

Loneliness is at the root of many of our physical ailments such as depression, anxiety, mental tension and sundry other health problems.

Islam is well aware of the grave human problem of loneliness and offers its own solutions, through Allah’s teachings for the welfare of human life. So let us see how Islam deals with this phenomenon of human loneliness.

Loneliness, as indicated earlier, often arises from a feeling of social abandonment or lack of emotional, spiritual and intellectual engagement in our lives. Islam deals with all of these aspects to bring a purpose to human life.

Islam, through its teachings, encourages a close relationship between a person and his Creator or Maker. What does this close relationship with Allah mean in reality? Starting with the spiritual aspect; a close relationship with God gives inner strength and contentedness, no matter in what state we may happen to be, but also encourages us to strive to attain a better state of being, through the Mercy of God, by asking Him for it. One way to forge this relationship is to develop an attitude of gratefulness to God.

The Quran says: ‘And call to mind when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will certainly grant you more (increase you in My blessings), but if you are ungrateful to my favours, My chastisement is terrible’. S14 V7

What does an attitude of gratefulness mean? It is the recognition of the good things we have and to then share them with others. This encompasses anything that others may lack in their lives. It may look like a strange solution to loneliness, however, life is meant to be about sharing and mitigating the pain of others, in order to make our society a healthier place. If we pay only lip service in our gratefulness to God and remain tight fisted and uncaring towards others, we commit an unacceptable act in the Sight of God.

Islam emphasises that there is no place for any feeling of despair in our relationship with God, for it will dilute our faith in the bountiful providence of Allah. Islam encourages people to travel in the pursuit of Allah’s blessings, as provision among other people and in different parts of the world is affected by their places of residence.

Islam offers ways of engaging with each other. The concept of ‘Jama`ah’, congregation or collectiveness in the society, is very important and a religious requirement. It starts with the Five daily obligatory prayers in congregation in the mosque. Then Friday is designated as being the day of weekly festival, so that all people in the society can engage and look after themselves and reduce any sense of loneliness. 

Zakah, or the payment of annual obligatory charity and its distribution strictly among the people who well deserve it, is another way to look after people and minimise their sense of loneliness.

Fasting in Ramadan is a community event, which engages the community as a whole. One of the names given to the month is the ‘month of consolation and solace’ (al-muwasaat),i.e. when a person reaches out to others suffering from a loss, lack of resources or community congregations.  This to show that fasting is a support mechanism for all those who need support, seek social and spiritual strength, wish to bond with others, and is not only an exercise in being hungry and thirsty.

Society matters in Islamic teachings. Islam engages people with each other. In a hadith, which is a saying of the Prophet Muhammed, he outlines some of the social obligations placed upon Muslims. He says: ‘The rights of a Muslim on another Muslim are six: when he meets him he should greet him with peace, if he invites him he should respond to his invitation, if he seeks some guidance or sincere advice from him, he should give him such, if he sneezes and praises God, he should bless him, when he gets ill he should visit him, and when he passes away he should attend the funeral.’

In another hadith, the Prophet Muhammed likened the attitude of one person to another with a building, all of its parts supporting it. He also said: ‘He who does not show mercy is not shown mercy’. This is directed particularly towards the weakest in society, older people, children, women, people in the service to others and orphans. They are all likely to be more susceptible to loneliness.

The role of a neighbour is very important in Islam in looking after the welfare of his own neighbours. The Prophet Muhammed advised one of his companions about his neighbours saying: ‘Abu Dhar! When you cook your curries, increase it with water and look after your neighbour’. 

Loneliness is also caused when a person find himself unworthy and devalued by the people around him or does not visit enough venues to engage in socially healthy contacts. Islam encourages people and makes it a religious duty to engage with each other and help fulfil other people’s needs. Congregations, collective actions, meetings are always to be encouraged to achieve this. Attending the daily prayers in congregation is said to be 27 times better than doing it alone. This is because a person’s attendance increases his benefits to others, his care for the welfare of other people and the society he is living in.

In conclusion, Islam offers a mix of spiritual, social and economic solutions with which to deal with the problem of loneliness. What would be best way to finish this? For me, nothing better than a hadith of the Prophet Muhammed, highlighting the great sense of care in human society, when he said: ‘The example of believers in their mutual love, merciful acts and compassion towards each other is like a human body, when a particular part of it suffers an ailment, all of the body falters with lack of sleep and temperature’! 

Charity – an Islamic perspective

Before I reflect on the importance of the acts of charity or indeed a charitable deed in Islamic teaching, let me read this verse from the Surah 63:

‘And spend of what Allah has granted you by way of sustenance before death should come to any of you, and then he says: ‘Lord! Why you did not defer my return for a while so that I might give alms and be among the righteous. But when a person’s term comes to an end, Allah never grants any respite. Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S 63 V10-11

This verse tells us all about the importance of charity in Islam. Some points from this verse to be noted are:

1-      God commands people to spend from the sustenance given to them, in the way of charity.

2-      God is generous and He wants His servants to be generous with what they have been granted by God.

3-      God telling us that an act of charity is one of the things that will be desired by people in the next life and they will wish they had done it in this life.

4-      Additionally, acts of charity lead to a righteous life, full of compassion, kindness and caring for people.

Hence, charity is a detailed subject in Islamic teachings. Charity is divided into two clear categories: 1) Zakah 2) Sadaqah

1)      Zakah is the compulsory act of charity, and applies widely to all aspects of finance and commodity related items.

a) Zakah is levied at 2.5% from the annual calculation of whatever a person may have in the form of money or investments.

b) Zakah also applies on commodities and merchandise that are held for trade purposes. Both are calculated as 1/40 or 2.5% of their value.

c) There is also Zakat on agricultural produce, if it exceeds a threshold of 651.4 kg, according to the majority of scholars.

d) Zakah also applies to livestock, such as cattle, sheep and camels, paid in kind, whose value is determined by an established method of calculation.

Zakah’s importance lies in its position as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakah, besides being a contributing factor in reducing social inequality, has a spiritual purpose. The Quran puts it succinctly, saying: ‘O Prophet! Take alms out of their riches and thereby cleanse them and bring about their growth (in righteousness) and pray for them. Indeed your prayer is a source of tranquillity for them. Allah is All Hearing, all-Knowing’. S9 V103

Who are the recipients of Zakah? The Quran gives the details. They are eight categories. It says: ‘The Alms (Zakah) are meant only for the poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the Way of Allah and for the Wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. S9 V60

Sadaqah:

Now we come to the second type of the charity, Sadaqah. Sadaqah differs from Zakah in that it is a voluntary act of generosity, goodness and giving to others. Charity is a noble word and a highly appreciated act in Islam. Charity is something that pleases Allah and raises the ranks of the giving person. The general rule to describe this is: ‘All acts of goodness are charity’. It is extremely rewarding act and for a Muslim it is a way to get closer to God.

The Prophet Mohammad said: “Every act of goodness is a charity. And it is an act of charity to meet up with your brother with a smiling or cheerful face, or by emptying your bucket of water into his bucket.”

The Prophet Mohammad also said: “No Muslim plants a tree or grow a crop, but that a human, or animal or birds or anything else eats from it, but it would be a charity for him”.

As we can see, the concept of charity is not limited only to financial support for others. Charity is a much wider concept in Islam. Indeed,  it provides the opportunity for all segments of people to be generous and charitable in their own way, whatever their expertise or social standing.

The Prophet once said: “Charity is compulsory on all Muslims.” His Companions said: “O Prophet of God! If someone doesn’t have anything, what he would do?” He replied saying: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and do charity.” The Companion said: “If he does not find anything then what he should do?”  He replied: “He should go out to help those in desperate need.” They said “If he didn’t find anyone to help what he should do?” The Prophet replied: “Let him do good and withhold himself from evil and that would be a charity from him”.

The Prophet also said: “Every soul is obligated with doing charity every day the sun rises in it. For instance,  he may reconcile between two people, which would be a charitable act for him. He may help someone to get on the back of his riding animal and that would be a charitable act. Or, he helps another to lift his goods on to the back of his animal and that would be a charity for him. Or, he should remove harmful objects from the path of people and that would be a charity for him. Every good word spoken is a charity. Further, the steps taken to go for prayers are also charity.”

We can see from all that I have  mentioned, that charity is a much wider concept in Islam and, of course, includes voluntarily giving financial support to those who need it. With regard to financial charity, we are provided with further guidance:

The Prophet said: Giving in charity does not decrease in your wealth’.

And the Quran says: ‘Allah deprives interest (usury) of all blessing, whereas He blesses charity with growth. Allah loves none who is ungrateful and persists in sin’. S2 V276  

The Quran says: ‘If you dispense your charity publicly, it is well; but if you conceal it and pay it to the needy in secret, it will be even better for you’. S2 V271

So who are the recipients of sadaqah?

Once the Prophet said: “Give in charity.” A man said: “I have one dinar, Who deserves it as a charity?” The Prophet replied: “Yourself. “The man said: “I have another dinar?” The Prophet said: “Give it to your wife as charity.’’ The man said: “I have another dinar. Who deserves this charity now?” The Prophet replied: “Your child.” The man said again: “I have another dinar, who would deserve this one?” The Prophet replied: “If you have any servant she deserves this charity.” The man said “I have another dinar, now tell who deserves this charity?” The Prophet replied: “Now it is your discretion to spend it on whoever deserves it most.”

In conclusion, it seems to me, as a student of Islamic theology, that in addition to those acts of goodness and charity designed as obligations in Islamic teachings, all other voluntary acts of monetary help, generosity and goodness to others and dealing with people kindly, is regarded as Sadaqah, or charity, and considered as rewarding acts by God.

Hajj 2020: downsizing of hajj

The date of hajj 2020 is getting ever closer, but this year we face an unusual situation for hajj and pilgrims. Potential pilgrims were, as usual, excited and waiting to fulfil their fifth pillar of Islam. It is a spiritually emotional occasion; a lifetime journey, taken for Allah, alone, which binds us with a spiritual attachment to our destiny.

However, the devastating effects of coronavirus, Covid-19, have turned the world upside down. The world ‘s affairs seem to have come to a grinding halt. The resultant lack of routine in people’s lives and its negative impact on our thinking, may also have created cynicism or despair in our minds.

As a result of the Corona virus epidemic many world governments have imposed strict measures in their efforts to minimise any further spread of the virus. Social distancing has been one of the required measures and has, in some countries, been strictly enforced. In the Muslim world, this has impacted heavily on the five congregational daily prayers, Friday congregations and other such activities, such as night prayers in Ramadan or Eid salaah; all of which are extremely important activities in a Muslim’s spiritual life. Muslims are still waiting for their mosques to be reopened and their religious, spiritual and their social lives, to restart.

Hajj was always in the back of Muslims’ minds. People wondered whether Hajj would be performed this year or not. Most of us thought it was unlikely, at least on any big scale, despite it being an international event.

This was partly due to the required social distancing between people, but also due to the fact that international flights have been brought to a near halt. Strict measures taken by different countries, to stop the spread of Covid-19 through the movement of people, meant people would not be able to travel internationally to any destination. As a result, flights were not organised and any flight that was would be many times more costly, even if available.

The social distancing rules meant less people in a wider space which would make it impossible to accommodate any large numbers of people and control them in one place.

In the wake of this difficult situation, the Saudi Government took, after much long and hard thought, a wise decision; not to hold the hajj this year for international pilgrims. Instead, the decision was taken to organise the hajj on a smaller level and only for pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, drawn from both the expatriate Muslim communities and Saudi citizens. This decision has been well received, widely appreciated and supported wholeheartedly by Muslim communities all over the world.

Islam is a live religion and serves its communities in their changing situations accordingly through a process call Ijtihaad; finding a current solution to a relevant problem through a process of applying the spirit of religious texts and the target purpose of its teachings.

So, hajj 2020 has not been cancelled. Instead, its spirit has been accommodated and it is being performed on a smaller scale, which is nearly as good as being performed on a larger international level.

Islam has a very important rule in the form of a saying of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. The Prophet said: ‘Allah loves that His allowances were taken and applied as He loves His obligations were performed’.

We find, in Islamic teachings, so many allowances, even in the matters of religious obligations. For example, when people are on journey, they are allowed to shorten their prayers (Salaah) from four Rakaah to two Rakaah. In difficult situations, Muslims are allowed to combine certain daily prayers in order to avoid certain difficulties.

Women are allowed not to offer their salaah during their monthly cycles and to make up for any missed prayers afterwards. Men and women are allowed not to fast during extended travel or, if they are ill, until they get better. In Islam, we have numerous other examples that show Islamic teachings as being pragmatic and applied in accordance to the situation at the time.

The Quran offers certain guidance in this regards too. It says in the Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse 286: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility (obligation) on anyone beyond his capacity.’

This guiding rule exists in the Quran in many different forms and seems to be the spirit of divine teachings.

Saving life has precedence in Islam over all other considerations such as the consumption of what is considered haram if it saves life. Because of the possible or potential infection of Coronavirus, the downsizing of hajj this year will help in the saving of many lives,

It is estimated that, throughout Islamic history and for many reasons, there have been more than 40 occasions, when hajj was either downsized or was not performed at all. In the light of this, the Saudi Arabian government’s wise decision to avoid the infectious viral disease of Covid-19, makes very good sense.

Hajj demonstrates the majesty of Islamic teachings and sends a powerful message of Islam towards humanity and towards their Creator the Almighty, Allah. The powerful Khutbah (sermon) given by the Prophet Mohammad, during his farewell hajj, reminds us all of the ever binding obligations towards Allah and humanity on each occasion of hajj every year.

The downsizing of hajj this year, by the Saudi Government, does not mean its purpose has less value or that we pay less attention to the spirit of its teachings. Hajj will return and continue in all its majestic appearance and continue to send a powerful message by our performance of its spiritual activities. We look forward to next year and pray to Allah, the Almighty, to remove the epidemic of Covid-19 or any other such viral diseases from humanity and that the world regains its health and full glory of activities.

Ramadan in Corona virus lockdown

Tonight the blessed month of Ramadan begins and once again we warmly welcome it in order to fulfil our duty towards one of the five pillars of Islam. This year Ramadan arrives at a time that finds all of us in the particularly stressful situation described as ‘lockdown and social distancing’. How will this affect our spiritual commitments in this blessed month of social and community engagement? Our mosques are closed and religious congregations are not allowed, while the pilgrimage journey to the centre of Islam not possible. How will that impact the intensity and quality of our spiritual journey throughout this month?

Every single pillar of Islam is designed to have an impact on our spiritual wellbeing. They purify the inner soul, then lift it and connect it with the Most High, Allah. They are perfectly designed to achieve their purpose under all circumstances. As the Quran puts it beautifully: ‘So fear Allah as much as you can, and listen and obey, and be charitable. This is for your own good. And whoever remains safe from his own greediness, it is such that will prosper.’ Surah 64 Verse 16

The preceding verse means we must practice our religion to the best of our ability, despite the inconvenience of the time and place. Islam is gentle and kind to the personal circumstances of people, indeed, it encourages people to strive to get the best out of their efforts. It never seeks to diminish the quality of any of our actions or dampen people’s enthusiasm when we face adversity.

Ramadan comes to assist in the recuperation of human souls and reconnect them with each other and put them in the service of all humanity. It gives people, rich and poor, one of the greatest experiences in human life: the appreciation of Allah’s favour upon mankind, and the opportunity to connect with each other through the acts of kindness, compassion and charitable work.

I would like to mention two of the guiding sayings (hadith) of our beloved Prophet Mohammad, Peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, which highlight some of the sublime purposes of the blessed month of Ramadan.

In the first, the Prophet said: ‘Ramadan has come to you, it is a blessed month, its fasting has been prescribed upon you, the gates of Heavens are opened in it, and gates of Hell are closed therein, all the rebellious satans are chained in this month. Allah has made a night in it which is better than the nights of a thousand months; if anyone was deprived of its goodness, they would be deprived of all goodness’.

In the further extended version of this hadith, it is narrated: ‘ the gates of the heavens are opened and none of them are closed and a caller calls: O seeker of goodness come forth and O seeker of evil deeds stop. In the month, Allah frees people from the Hellfire, in every night of the month.’ (narrated by Ahmad, Nasai and Timidhi

In the second hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him said: ‘Ramadan has come to you, a month of blessings in which Allah covers you through them. He sends down His mercy, removes (forgives) sins and grants acceptance to people’s calls and supplications to Him. Allah looks to your competitions in this month and takes pride with His angels in you. So show Allah goodness from you (in your deeds).

These two hadith highlight some important points for people to understand. There is a ‘lockdown’ mentioned in the hadith: that is for satanic forces and its instigators. There is never a lockdown for the forces of goodness. The doors of opportunity, for making a difference and changing to a better situation, are always open and available. In the lockdown situation that we are in now, perhaps the isolation will help many of us into becoming more focussed on the more serious purposes for our being. Social distancing could be regarded as a step towards a spiritual closeness to Allah and employed as an act of introspection or retrospection, by which to reflect and correct much of what is wrong in our lives.

The double effect of both lockdowns, one that we are in at the moment and the other that is the satan’s lockdown in the month, should be far reaching and doubly effective in changing our outlook on life and on the purpose for our lives, granted by Allah the Creator.

What both hadith do seem to be impressing upon us is, that if we are deprived of the benefits of these blessed times in this month, then indeed we are deprived of all goodness. This needs to be reflected upon and looked into seriously. A moment of reflection could save us from a hard time for a long time.

According to the hadith, Allah wants to see us in competition in all our acts of goodness. This is no time for depression or giving up, so a lockdown situation should not be a barrier to making difference to our own lives or indeed to the lives of others. That is the beautiful message of Ramadan, the month of fasting and restraints, but also the month that develops, in believers, new disciplines and fresh ideas.

A person who pauses for reflection in this month, may hear a voice calling to him in his innermost being. If this person has carried out acts of goodness, they will be encouraged to keep walking the path of goodness and do more. If the person is someone who commits evil deeds, it reminds them of the time and opportunity to desist and cease from their evil actions and think about the consequences.

Ramadan quenches the spiritual thirst of those who want to enlighten themselves through the guidance and teachings of Allah. The manner in which it’s days and nights should be spent are both excellently designed as peaceful and reclusive connections with Allah. It is a journey that catapults us spiritually into the realm of pious people.

We may miss the glitter of outside life in Ramadan, but surely, that may be a blessing in disguise. We all need time without distractions when reflecting on our own spiritual commitments. Ramadan is often showcased, by outsiders and indeed by many Muslims, as the month of excessive food preparation, with too much focus on the end of fasting meals. This may be the opportunity we needed to cleanse this impression and be the opportunity for all of us to understand the true meaning of its purpose and what a spiritual connection with Allah means in our lives.

Ramadan is a habit breaker and helps us in rethinking and re-evaluating  our habits, good or bad. We enter into error and divert from the path of wisdom too often, sometimes unwittingly, but continue on blindly without further thought, walking a different path to that which leads us to the right destination. Ramadan gives us a chance to break this cycle and grants us the opportunity to examine ourselves. Let this Ramadan be one of those times that becomes ever blessed in our memories. The once in a lifetime opportunity, resulting in a successful outcome, beyond our wildest dreams. May Allah grant us that opportunity and accept from us this Ramadan all the acts of worships and goodness that we may do in the month and grant acceptance to our dua. Aameen.