By Ishola Balogun

As victims of COVID-19 contend with the treatment, trauma of isolation, others at home are finding it extremely stressful to deal with the lockdown, lonely experience, and loss of income.

Many artisans who depend on their megre daily income to make ends meet will be one of the hardest hit in the whole scenario. Also, prices of some food items including groceries have skyrocketed since the President handed down the order to stay at home in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja.

As Muslims, what we need to activate our zakaat and sadaqah scheme as provided for by the Quran and hadiths to assist the victims as well as Muslim parents who could not meet their needs during this auspicious time.

In one of the sound hadiths, just like many other Verses of the Holy Quran, Islam emphasises alms giving, charity and donations especially to those in need, the less privileged and to ease the pain of others.

“Good deeds protect one from misfortunes, from calamities, and destruction; and the people of goodness in this worldly life will be the people of goodness in the Hereafter.”

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It is evident that charity is desirable as it is not only a righteous deed, it also repel misfortune and the calamity.“Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim may Allah have mercy upon him said in his book Ihddat As-Sabereen:““In charity, there are numerous benefits which no one can enumerate but Allah, among which is that it protects one from misfortunes, from calamities and repels trials to the extent that it repels tribulations off an oppressor.

So, under this present situation in the world particularly our dear country, various masajid should come up with means and ways of alleviating the condition of Muslims observing the Stay-at-home order.

The first thing to do is to gather the zakat of every Muslims in the neighbourhood masjid especially from the states that are not affected or better still that have no need for lockdown to send their collections to affected states and masajid to ease their condition.

Secondly is to have a team of volunteers who would be responsible for the outreach and distribution to their homes.

A few volunteers in our various neighbourhood who don’t need to move out of the area can as a small group connect with members and send them some food items and other basic needs. and We can connect with them, especially if they are single or live alone.

They can also link those providing essential services to deliver their packages to various Muslims in the neighbourhood.

You can also collaborate with other organizations, just like the initiative of MPAC and other organisations. There is no point reinventing the wheel. Collaboration with other religious bodies, interfaith groups and government agencies will produce efficient result and lasting impact. All we need at this period is social services to those at homes but without food as well as solidarity to victims of the virus.

Muslims response can also come in form of advocacy, distribution of hand sanitisers, further enlightenment on good hygiene, using various and available platforms to disseminate information to Muslims and non-Muslims in the neighbourhood.

May Allah, the Exalted grant complete healing to all those who have been tested positive, all those in self-isolation in this country and beyond. May Allah forgive us our sins and grant us peace and tranquillity in this country and make our return to him a pleasing one that will lead us to Aljanah Firdaus. Amin.

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