Remembering over 100,000 Lives lost due to COVID-19 Pandemic

We have hit a grim milestone during the Coronavirus pandemic. More than 100,000 lives have been lost to date. There has been a death every day since March 2020.

Behind every single death is a real person with a life -with family, hopes, aspirations and dreams.

The pain, grief and devastation can’t be expressed in words. A year ago, it would have been unthinkable to lose so many of our community members. Muslims, forming part of BAME communities, have been disproportionately affected throughout this pandemic.

Many of us have not even been able to properly mourn our parted family members, be at their bedsides at their last moments or bury them following our traditions. The excruciating inability of families to carry out the Islamic custom of bathing the body before burial can’t be explained.

It was grief upon grief when many of us could not even attend our loved ones’ funeral prayers (Janazahs), which invoke God to confer honour, dignity, and forgiveness upon the deceased. 

Whatever may be missing in their farewell from the living, rest assured, they shall have an honourable reception in the next world. We believe that life is not ended in death, but rather the soul is transferred to another realm. The promise of eternal life brings hope even in our darkest moments.

The emotional and mental impact of the tsunami of grief and isolation has been enormous. However, we take comfort in the fact that our God is not socially distant. He has neither abandoned those who have died nor their grieving families. We are people of Hope in God’s Mercy:

Abu Saʿid al-Khudari (ra) reports that the blessed Prophet ﷺ said, “Whenever a Muslim is afflicted with hardship, illness, sadness, anxiety or depression – even a thorn’s prick – God expiates their sins because of it.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Whilst we remember our deceased, we honour the selfless heroism and professionalism of all who have continued to serve us during this pandemic, whilst risking their own lives.

There is light in this darkest moment. We are grateful for the development of vaccines. Taking the vaccine is currently the only available solution to defeating Coronavirus, save thousands of precious lives and be with our loved ones again.

We ask the Ultimate Healer to grant those still afflicted with disease or trauma a complete recovery and lasting healing. We pray that the Loving God grants us relief from COVID-19.

Imams across the country will hold a special prayer this week in memory of those lost to COVID-19 and to pray for everyone’s safety from the deadly virus.