With the Coronavirus pandemic and the decision for social distancing, many people should not pleased with the elevated solitude, the sensation of being lower off from the skin world, and the lack of our common social interactions.
And whereas it’s nice that we have now the blessing of expertise to just about join with others throughout this time, Islam teaches us that there are additionally nice advantages in social distancing and taking time away from the distractions of our world.
In Islam, there may be an emphasis on establishing a constant behavior of solitude, by which one spends time alone with God. In Arabic, it is called khalwa, which refers to withdrawing and retreating from the world to be alone with God.
As human beings, we’re wired for connection. It’s an important want inside all of us. We have now a coronary heart inside us that’s designed to lengthy to attach, and its nourishment comes from being related to all that’s good. However finally, its biggest nourishment and success comes from satisfying its longing, by way of connecting to its Creator.
However once we are so distracted by the world, folks, our materials wealth, day by day duties, and all of the noise that surrounds us, we grow to be extra disconnected from this longing inside our hearts. We neglect our want for God, as we connect to all that’s exterior of us and rely upon it for success and happiness. And as our attachment to the exterior noise grows, the voice of our coronary heart turns into more durable to listen to. We not grow to be pulled by that longing inside us and we grow to be extra pulled by the longing of our egos and our needs. And as we proceed chasing the noise of the world, the eager for what is larger is ignored, and our coronary heart is left unfulfilled and malnourished.
It’s till we will disconnect from the exterior noise and settle into the discomfort of the solitude, quietness, and stillness, that God opens the center to obtain what it wants, what it has been looking out, searching for, and eager for all alongside. And thru the examples of God’s biggest servants (peace and blessings be upon them), we will see how solitude and distancing ourselves socially, will be the means to receiving what we have to spiritually thrive and develop!
“Ibrahim was truly an example: devoutly obedient to God and true in faith. He was not an idolater, he was thankful for the blessings of God, which shows him and guided him to a straight path. We gave him blessings in this world and he is among the righteous in the hereafter. Then we reveal to you O Muhammad follow the creed of Ibrahim a man of pure faith was not an idolater“
(Qur’an, Nahl: 120-23).
It is in the solitude that we learn we are never alone and God is always near. We see this in the example of Prophet Yunus, or Jonah, (peace be upon him) who found himself isolated within three layers of darkness: the darkness of the night, the darkness of the ocean, the darkness of the whale’s stomach. And yet, it was in this extreme depth of isolation that God responded to His call, forgave him, and elevated him in this world and the next. Prophet Yunus (as) was isolated, but He was not alone. He was in the farthest and deepest place, but God was so close and near. And what was the darkest period of his life, became the period in which He was elevated by God and brought closer to Him!
“And [remember] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
(Qur’an, 21:87-88)
From these examples, we can see the spiritual power and beauty that God holds for us when we utilize our solitude to connect with Him and to renew our relationship with Him. Through studying the best of humans (peace and blessings be upon them), we can see how close God is to those who remember Him in their solitude and the strengths that He cultivates in those who withdraw from the world to be with Him. We see the great blessings that God holds for each soul that disconnects from the noise of the world to connect to the Lord of all the worlds!
And now with the Coronavirus pandemic and the required social isolation because of it, God is giving us this opportunity to follow their great example and receive such great blessings as well!
He has even made it easier to do so through the practice of social distancing! God has filtered out much of the external noise we were accustomed to. He has minimized our interactions with others, giving us more room in our life to interact with Him. He has created a situation in which we have more time and space to create more moments with Him alone. He is giving us the opportunity to remember what our heart truly needs to thrive and feel the freedom, fulfillment, and connection it has always longed for. It is during these times that God is calling us to receive what will truly suffice, nourish, and satisfy our hearts!
“It is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace”
(Qur’an, 13:28)
