Boosting Faith During Coronavirus (Covid-19) – Advice from the Pious Hearts Team
Let’s face it.
By now, you or someone you know has probably been affected by coronavirus (Covid-19).
During this trying time and test from Allah SWT, a lot of us are working from home, looking after family members, or may be experiencing business and personal hardships.
While we are all quarantined, what are some things we can do to help us boost our eman, better ourselves, and improve our overall mental and physical well-being?
The Pious Hearts team has put together these tips to show you how.
Tip 1: Practice Gratitude
All of the news lately has been very negative.
As Muslims, we can practice gratitude everyday by increasing our dhikir (remembrance of Allah SWT).
Try to say Alhamdullilah as much as you can as you look at all the blessings that Allah SWT has given you.
If we are quarantined, alhamdulliah we are able to spend more time with our families.
Alhamdulliah we are able to stay safe.
Alhamdullilah we are able to keep our children near us during this time.
Alhamdulliah we are Muslims. We can pray, fast, and use this time to prepare for Ramadan.
Alhamdulilah we are able to live another day and spend our time worshipping Allah SWT.
Many coaches recommend using a gratitude journal, and starting your day by writing everything you are grateful for.
Yes, Coronavirus is scary and we are not trying to downplay the severity of the pandemic. We should take the appropriate measures to stay safe, but at the same time, shift our mindsets and focus on what we are given rather than what has been taken away from us.
Focusing on the blessings that Allah SWT has given us will make us that much more grateful for what we have, will allow us to appreciate our “normal” lives so much more, and will help us all start feeling a little bit better.
Tip 2: Give Charity to Your Local Community
It’s so easy to get carried away with panic buying and ensuring that your family is well taken care of, especially in the event of a city-wide shut down.
As Muslims, we also need to be mindful that there are thousands of people in our community (both Muslims and non-Muslims) who are below the poverty line.
These people are unable to get the basic essentials they need to survive on a daily basis.
In NYC alone, 750k kids rely on school for their meals.
The NY Food bank provides 5 meals to families for every $1 donated. Their volunteers risk their lives every day to deliver food to people in need.
You can donate here: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/ or find your local food bank here: https://www.feedingamerica.org/.
Another thing you can do, if you are healthy and able to do so, is donate blood.
Blood banks are running out of blood to serve patients who may need surgery. The US is currently facing a huge blood shortage.
You can learn more about donating blood here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus–covid-19–and-blood-donation.html
As Muslims, it is our duty to step up and help our community as much as possible, even when we are unable to volunteer directly.
Al-Bukhaari (6015) and Muslim (2625) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
“Jibreel kept urging me that neighbours should be treated well until I thought he would make them heirs.”
Let’s stay safe, and also try to help our community as much as possible (even if all you are able to help with is a $1 donation). Everything helps.
Tip 3: Listen to Islamic lectures
Now is the perfect time to work on bettering ourselves and increasing our Islamic knowledge.
Many of us in the Pious Hearts community have goals to get married, to become better people, to grow in our careers, and to improve our relationships.
Sheik Yasir Birjas has incredible lectures on marriage, like this one called Selection of Prospective Spouse.
We can also learn more about the sahaba, our beloved Prophet PBUH, and topics in Islam that are interesting to us.
Tip 4: Use your “Commute” to Read Quran or Other Books
A lot of us lead very busy and stressful lives.
Whether we are in school, raising a family, or working full time, we often do not have time for the things that we would like to do.
During this quarantine, one thing you can do is start reading the Quran, a translation of the Quran, or even self improvement or professional development books.
Even starting with one aya or half a page per day will make a huge difference.
At-Tirmidhi (2910) narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever recites a letter of the Book of Allah will have one hasanah for it, and each hasanah brings a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter; rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter.”
Tip 5: Work With a Coach to Reach Your Personal Goals
With all this newfound time, now is a great opportunity to focus on reaching your personal goals that you may have shoved aside.
Many of us would like to better our personal lives and relationships.
Pious Hearts offers exclusive coaching to help you with that. Our team has certified coaches, counselors, and therapists ready to help you.
Our team will help you select the type of coaching that you need depending on your goals (becoming a better person in order to prepare for marriage, improving relationships you currently have, and growing personally and professionally).
You can read about what Pious Hearts has to offer here.
The great thing is that all sessions are virtual, and you can now set aside time to work on action steps to improve yourself day by day.
Tip 6: Share knowledge with your family and friends
Having the additional time with your family can be very beneficial during this time.
As you read more, listen to lectures, or work on coaching, you can take this time to teach those around you what you have learned.
Set aside time for a weekly halaqa, where you can talk about a new hadith, aya, or share a few tips with your family.
If you live alone, you can even schedule time for a “virtual halaqa” with a few friends or family members.
This will help open up opportunities for good discussions, and move the focus away from fear and anxiety related to the virus and more towards something positive and beneficial, inshaAllah.
In Summary
Coronavirus (Covid-19) is a test for all of us.
Let us take extra precaution to stay healthy and safe and to make sure that our families are also healthy and safe during this time.
While many of us stay home or are in areas that are in complete quarantine, we can use this extra time granted to us in order to better ourselves personally and professionally.
Whether we spend our time reading more, or working with a life coach or counselor, let us use this time wisely inshaAllah.
Let us also keep in mind this beautiful Aya in surat al Tawba, which states:
Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed For us: He is our Protector ” And on God let the Believers Put their trust (surat Al Tawba Aya 51).
The Pious Hearts team prays that everyone stays healthy inshaAllah.