Faizel Patel – 08/06/2020
Photo: NPR
As the COVID-19 pandemic hits closer to home, esteemed Islamic scholar Ml Sulaimaan Ravat has urged people to have a balanced approach when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the last few days, masaajid, schools and even some businesses have closed after worshippers, learners and employees have been infected by COVID-19.
There have also been a number COVI9-19 related deaths in Lenasia, Johannesburg and other areas in Gauteng.
Over the weekend, Gauteng Premier David Makhura also identified Mayfair and Johannesburg as a Coronavirus hotspot areas.
Ml Ravat says people have to embrace the fact the COVID-19 is the new normal in South Africa.
“There are going to be cases in our masaajid, madaaris, schools, businesses, right here on our doorstep, in our localities. Our mindset needs to be balanced and our approach needs to be balanced. You cannot become overly paranoid. On the other extreme is where you are too casual about it. It is a reality, it’s highly contagious, but it’s not highly fatal.”
Ml Ravat says there has been a balance between faith and preventative measures.
“You have faith on one hand and you’ve got preventative measures on the other hand. It seem like people are again falling on either extreme when it comes to this debate. There are those people who only focus on means to protect yourself from the virus and they don’t focus on the fact that Allah is the creator of the virus and Allah is curer of the virus. Then there are others who start speaking about the faith part of it in a way where they are actually undermining the preventative measures that need to take place. Take all the preventative measures, but put your reliance on Allah.”
Ml Ravat has also urged people to read and listen to authentic voices and educate themselves with authentic information.
Listen to the discussion by Ml Sulaimaan Ravat
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