Fears and fears for the present

Recession, war in Europe, government crisis, resignations, uncertain elections, growing Islamophobia. In this climate of great uncertainty, even believers and practitioners can think of an epochal change and experience fears and fears for the present while knowing that the future is in the hands of Allah.

The battered economy of Italy but also of Europe and Britain is sliding towards a breaking point, according to Bloomberg. The headline figures make a grim reading. The economy is on track to contract in the second quarter, raising the possibility that much of Europe (including Italy) and the UK will be in recession.

Titles like this are enough to scare anyone. However, our religious teachings emphasize that the secret of happiness lies not in the number of material goods we have, but in what is within us because the highest good is the heart. Imam Ghazali, to whom the West has attributed the name of Alghzel, considering him a philosopher whose teachings have profoundly influenced Western scholars such as Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Maimonides and Ruggero Bacon, stressed that “the heart cannot accept the divine grace if God’s laws are not obeyed in one’s outward conduct. Only after external obedience can the devastating diseases of the heart be removed ”. This is what we repeat several times, there is no spiritual way if you do not first follow the dictates of the great Way (Shariah).

Moral diseases such as arrogance, greed, jealousy and anger must be replaced by virtues such as repentance, humility and sincerity. Constant remembrance of death can also prepare the heart for Divine Grace. Only through the purification of evil traits and the embellishment of the virtues of compassion, forgiveness and patience is one able to face the trials and tribulations of life, as well as to face the adversities and afflictions of the world.

I am neither an economist nor a politician enough to fully understand the significance of our national GDP or national debt on the country’s budget. But even I can clearly predict the stress of the current economic crisis showing its signs in various ways such as:

  • increase in unemployment, especially among young people;
  • inflation that begins to have values ​​never seen in practice for decades;
  • wage cuts, especially on illegal work, a great Italian but also English scourge;
  • stagnant growth, the war in Ukraine has undermined the growth prospects of our country;
  • low consumer confidence, the rich devote themselves to safe haven goods and the poor hardly spend any more.

These economic indices have serious social and psychological consequences that can lead to health problems such as anxiety, financial insecurities, which can cause family breakdowns, community unrest and an increase in the crime rate, as well as, unfortunately, a dramatic increase in suicides. I believe these problems can be addressed by taking refuge in religion and spirituality. I believe that spirituality can come to the rescue of besieged and psychologically troubled people, perhaps this is what Immanuel Kant meant when he said that “man needs God”.

In a state of misery, self-incrimination and worthlessness, we can lose sight of the bigger picture. We feel as if the world closes in on us, almost consumes us, which leads us to self-pity, depression and despair, even if we do not go to the extreme of contemplating the act most hated by Allah, the renounce His greatest Gift: earthly life. The simple remembrance of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala should help us to regain “steering our boat”. But, not only the remembrance of Allah can soothe the situation but the remembrance of His well-loved Creature, the Holy Prophet, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah and ours fall abundantly on him forever, and of His saints and martyrs, Rahimullah Anhum – may Allah have mercy on each of them, they can work real miracles to reduce anxieties and negative feelings. Let us think of the situation of the prophets, Alayihi Wa Sallam, who faced the powerful of the earth, the revolts of originally friendly peoples.

Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala comes to save us, comfort us, free us from our miseries! The denial of Allah is the distraction of the human mind, the reluctance and inability to pay attention to Allah. We may well ask why Allah is apparently absent? Why does he seem to have become distant? Why does he sometimes seem even non-existent? It is not because He is absent or non-existent but it is because we are forgetful, negligent and distracted, we are too absorbed in the world. It is we who do not think of Allah and for this reason he appears to us almost absent, almost distant or even non-existent.

The following hadith describes how the love of the world is accompanied by three vices. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu, reported: <<The Holy Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever absorbs his heart in the love of the world will be entangled by three things: 1) The misery that will not cease to trouble him. 2) Greed that will not achieve independence from him. 3) Vain hopes that they will never reach the end. Because the world seeks and is sought. Whoever seeks the world, the Hereafter will chase him until death comes upon him and grabs him. Whoever seeks the afterlife, the world will pursue him until his providence runs out>> (Tabrani).

I suggest some practical spiritual approaches that are always important but above all necessary in times of crisis:

Ask Allah for forgiveness (astaghfar) as much as possible with astaghfirullah. If the Holy Prophet, Sallallaho Alaihi Wa Alihi Wa Barik Wa Sallam, has admitted pleading for Allah’s forgiveness over seventy times a day (Al-Bukhari Sahih) who are we not to beg for Allah’s forgiveness daily?

We deepen our own trust in Allah. We put Allah first and this is the best insurance policy, the best safety net. We prioritize what is essential in one’s life. We will attract the resources we need to fulfill our soul purpose and make our contribution to a better world.

We simplify our lifestyle to reduce our expenses. Do we really need all that stuff we intend to buy for us and will we never take it to the grave? The planet could certainly use some lightening and reducing energy consumption.

We are generous to others. There are always others more in need than us and what we give with your heart will return to us a hundredfold!

We remain present in the present moment. Not even the best financial experts know what will happen to the economy in the future, so the best approach is to stay aware and awake in the present so that you can be flexible and respond as needed. Let us always remember that the Past and the Future are always in the Hands (metaphorical and metaphysical) of Allah, He is the Master of the Destiny of all that belongs to him. It is up to us to make the choices of the present moment and what better operative choice is to ally our Will with Divine Providence to contrast Destiny.

Let’s focus on emerging opportunities. We pay attention to the new doors that open while the old ones close. Crisis can sometimes bring wonderful surprises and much-needed changes that are blessings in disguise. And above all we think that Allah does not abandon his Creation even for a moment and that Allah has placed us, humans, in a privileged place, so much so that we are aware of his existence and can even become his friend and not just a servant!

[Elaborazione su un tema originale del Dr. Musharraf Hussayin]

Fears and fears for the present