Friday 13 March 2020

Lessons from Corona


The novel coronavirus that spread from the Wuhan, Central China has vulnerable lessons for the people around the globe. Scientifically a deadly disease for the young kids and older generation having weak immune system; costing several lives in China, Italy and Iran and severely effecting parts of Europe, Gulf nations and South-Asia. The outburst of the corona virus has certainly shaken many ethical and core issues in the global world today. From the extreme Islamophobic philosophy in the west versus the Islamic belief system, to the precautionary healthy measures concerning the health facilities worldwide towards productive online educational system at the onset of closure educational institutes  and lack of effective political leadership all around the globe.

COVID-19 appeared deadly for 1,000 lives in Italy; raising the bar to 5,374 deaths as per the statistical information from worldometer online. The Western states declared complete blackout on the same footings as in Kashmir, Palestine and many war-turn areas for many years; but ironically pictures of empty roads and ancient places were surfacing on the social media and many hearts were melted at such a display of art which never did for the bloodbath in New Delhi from the speakers of UN, SAARC, Arab League and veto-countries. The growing concern for protective masks and virus shield kit became vulnerable tool and had to be imported to China with President Xi Jinping wearing it; visiting the religious place Big Mosque in Northwest China and forgetting the crime against Chinese Muslims in Xianjing for prayers against the epidemic. Islam, indeed provides all the solutions; serving as the complete code of life; from being a remedy for protective measures in the form of veil and hijab; symptom of heinous crime in the western countries; it is indeed the first safety measure prescribed by the teaching of Islam; to five times daily Wudu being a protective shield for the virus free human body; towards asking for mercy and Allah’s help in the times of crises as narrated in the Holy verses of Surah Nooh (71st Surah, Juz 29). Indeed, Islamic principles has life learning principles which the west had been criticizing and boosting the sentiments of Muslims.


Coronavirus uncensored the health system along with lack of scientific research in the twenty first century; training and common practices of the people. With the tweet of the Canadian Prime Minister about Sophie Trudeau being tested positive for coronavirus with mild symptoms, one wonders even the economic giants lacked what it takes to defeat corona towards growing concerns of no renaissance vaccination for dealing with the virus with medical and scientific hands. With such fate of the virus, health experts telecast their precautionary measures on the political talk shows like sanitizing their hands every twenty seconds with liquid or the cheapest soap available; as it best cures it remarked by Nasir Shah, Information Minister of Sindh, Pakistan. The Chinese originated virus is televising the common practices of the citizens at least in Pakistan; where commonly followed measures has to be advertised in multiple languages; like regular hand washing after touching a dusty item, post-eating food, covering mouth and nose when coughing; learning nonverbal gestures if having cough, fever or red nose and avoiding close contact such as broadcasted on the national television between Pakistani cricketers Yasir Shah and Hassan Ali during PSL. Yet, many international followed the same path and despite oratory speeches for a diverse action ended up touching their face as did the Executive Director of WHO did on a video being viral on the social media. Therefore, the business teachers, money-making trainers and leadership institutes needs to effectively teach the non-verbal gestures worldwide; with its meaningful impact.

Coronaviruses is certainly a new phenomenon, being large family of viruses that cause illness from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory Syndrome, not identified in humans before and are zoonotic transmitted between animals and humans; as per WHO disclosure on the official website. The zoonotic disease lead to closure of educational institutes all around the world, restricting indoor activities and producing the e-learning. But in this world of artificial intelligence are the Pakistani teachers trained in e-teaching. Certainly, the case is opposite where traditional teaching methods and Indus valley teachers being the last resort for the Tabdeli nation and creative teachers are restrained from narrating critical thinking. Today, we are opening gates for utilizing technology as zooming on the social media where different institutes are starting online classes. We need to realize that it would spent countless energies and system failures.  In order to cope with such issues, nations are mentally and technological trained long time ago; by empowering the creative minds to productive teaching; best hospital services as did the Great Wall Chinese state did, by building hospital in days where as in our case the patients are buying fruits near the border declared protected zone. Soon they are flying towards the commoners in weddings.

Though Crises produce visionary leadership but tweeter restrained such an action from surfacing globally.  Surprisingly, the worldwide Charismatic leaders only appeared to be newscasters of a banned channel and tweeting about SAARC coalition for own ends was state’s posture. Yet the state of Pakistan did had the taste in the form of CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah; who remained proactive having emergency eleventh hour meetings; announcing closure of educational institutes for public safety, full-proof PSL match in the awake of corona proving that we do have worthy administrators only if given a free hand from non-state actors and lawless NAB assigned. The outburst of Corona has provided several life learning lessons; the whole world needs to sit in quarantine, and rethink about adopting Islamic fundamental principles, issuing ordinances for modern hospital facilities; reading books and proper e-training to the educational masters. We as a nation and globally, need to learn a lot. It isn’t a meme, stay safe everyone throughout the world.