How To Rise Above Violence and Civil War in a Muslim Country

Bombing, bullets, killing. Strife and unrest prevail. Lives are in danger if people venture out of their homes. Civic life has come to a standstill; people are stuck at home. The news is the focus of attention, speech and energies. Security is scant. Food, water, basic amenities and petrol are dwindling in supply. The future (even the coming week) is uncertain. Worry, stress and despondency are on the rise, as are anger and resentment as we see our normal lives spiral out of our control.

At times like this, hidden aspects of a person’s beliefs, personality and character come to the surface. Some like to point fingers at others, others just whine and complain, while a rare few clasp positivism and faith, taking charge of the situation with presence of mind. When people come together but do not unite, chaos ensues. The important thing to do is, for each person to analyze – for their own selves – "What should I do now?" Leave the rest of the world – while stranded at home, as you sit at your computer, talk on your cell phone, watch TV, cook in the kitchen, or talk to your family – what should you be doing? What’s the best pastime in such unusual circumstances?

1. Think of those who experienced this before you. Think Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir, Ukraine, Palestine and many other war-torn lands that have made the news in recent years. You saw the coverage on TV and heard about families fleeing their homes, being torn apart, or desperate for food supplies. At that time, you knew you’d go home from school/work safe, and you planned your career or your marriage, knowing that it was happening to them, not you. Well, now you know how they felt.
2. Think positively. Sure, it’s bad right now. But it could get better soon. People die, countries and empires are toppled, kingdoms and governments come and go….but there’s always the light at the end of the tunnel. You are alive and well. And you have some control over your life left. So, all’s not lost.
   "…and surely when We make man taste mercy from Us, he rejoices thereat; and if an evil afflicts them on account of what their hands have already done, then-surely man is ungrateful." (Quran, Surah 42:48)
3. Guard your tongue. If not for the sake and pleasure of Allah, guard what you say during trials like these for the sake of preventing negativity and despondency from spreading. Idleness coupled with worry and uncertainty tempts us to say negative things, put the blame on others, and be ungrateful for what we DO have. You have been secure and safe for almost all of your life (if you are reading this, it means you are educated, and that means you are among the very few of the world’s people who are literate). You have probably never slept on an empty stomach (or even if you have, it was rare). Now is the time to realize just how privileged you are. Thousands of people lack security and food/water. Maybe what’s happening right now will allow you to know how that feels. 

4. Remember the power of Dua. Fate cannot be changed except with sincere dua (asking your Lord for something sincerely). Offer two rak’ahs of nafl prayer and make dua to Allah to forgive those who have died. As you sit at home, people are being hit by stray bullets, or their houses are being destroyed. So stop griping that you won’t be able to attend your friend’s party, or that funky ball you bought tickets for, or that your car is out of petrol or that you are stuck at home making do with mom’s food and not having coffee at some nouveau Café. Be grateful that you are alive, safe and healthy.
   
   "And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful." (Quran, Surah 14:34)
   Supplicate to your Creator to help the state of your country, to guide and educate its dwellers in both religion and formal education, so that they know how to react to unfavorable circumstances like these. Ask Allah to bless its people with knowledge and provision, because the combination of ignorance (jahaalah) and poverty (faqr) is lethal. Killing and mayhem result, as we all can witness.
5. Your country is a blessing, no matter what it's like. It's a great blessing for anyone to be dwelling with freedom and independence, with no fear of persecution by oppressors. Remember that when you want to flee your country for greener pastures abroad, when you hear yourself lamenting about how unlucky you are to be “stuck in a dump full of terrorists”.

Some of the greatest people mankind has known – those who brought about major change in their short lives, who made a difference to millions of people – were born out of unfavorable circumstances: they converted their defeat to victory, their limited provision to opportunity, and their thinking to action. Think of Muhammad [may Allah's peace be upon him] in the cave, Nelson Mandela in jail, Jinnah in a turbulent India. Great minds are the result of chaos and strife. What you do or say during tribulation will affect people around you. So, reflect on what CAN be done to save the situation, rather than what’s lost. And remember to be grateful for what’s not lost, and think positively about tomorrow, as tomorrow IS another day...

Sadaf Farooqi is  writer  of this article. She can be contacted directly at sadaff@hotmail.com.