Commentary on COVID-19 and 5 digital solutions

Introduction

New normal: If you’d ask me what is the one thing that the whole Covid19 situation has taught us, I’d confidently answer conforming to a new normalcy of digital disruption on our regular as well as special activities. As the world grapples to resolve one of the most catastrophic pandemics in history, Muslims around the world continue their quest for an adjusted spiritual, cultural and theological coping mechanisms during this challenging period.

Adjustments: From the initial cultural changes of discouraging Muslims to shake hands and exchange warm hugs to replacing them with the ‘Salam Mufti’ gesture, where one places their hand close to their hearts as a greeting symbol. To the closure of mosques for at least five days for cleaning to a more sensitive yet tactful measure of closing all 70 mosques till further notice. From limiting the number of wedding guest attendees to a hefty approach of postponing pre-planned solemnizations.

Oppositions: These adjustment measures were opposed by some adherents of determinism and fatalism. In which, they assume everything happens by the will of God. Life and death are predestined by Him and to be infected or not is beyond our human control and means. To fear other than God Himself would mean an act of deviation from the faith. Others argued that preventive measures like postponing the solemnization would lead to a series of misconducts such as pre-marital sex.

Realisations: However , as cases continued to escalate, people understood that being pious and true to our faith, doesn’t mean engaging in harmful and reckless behaviour in the name of religion, but rather, it means prioritising life over death and public health over individual cases of those who may engage in pre-martial sex. Nonetheless, when death inevitably occurs it ought to be accepted and religious leaders ought to find creative ways to strengthen the community’s faith and protect its members from vices while encouraging everyone to cooperate with protective state orders.

Adapting to the sudden wave of changes, Muslims around the world, particularly in Singapore are addressing this dismal feeling differently. Apart from the obligation to turn to God for every matter, Muslims turned to digitalization to reach God. Read more on the 5 digital solutions popularly adopted.

1. Online marriage solemnisation

It is everyone’s big day. And a memorable one indeed. Donning the elegantly modest white scarf for the bride with the groom’s black songkok fitted like a throne on his head, the thoughts of virtual solemnization has never crossed one’s vast imagination. The Circuit Breaker has seen the suspension of any social gatherings which includes marriage solemnizations. A new bill was drafted and quickly passed to allow both civil and Muslim marriages to be conducted virtually.

Muslim solemnisers, known as Kadis , were trained and processes were adapted to ensure couples can continue embarking on their new stage of life and meeting their religious obligations. with the help of technology, all while keeping necessary preventive measures in place.

2. Online knowledge

One might be going to his preferred religious institution or centre every Tuesday for his weekly classes. Another one would be torn between choosing Class Y or Class Z which take place on the same day. No doubt the current pandemic has restricted social gatherings from taking place but it led to an instantaneous proliferation of religious content streamed online. Mosque and religious service providers are creatively engaging the public using mediums like Zoom, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. From being torn between classes to being inundated with a plethora of religious content made available, like MUIS Academy talks on its Fb channel, SalamSG TV, Kuliah.sg, Fatihativ.com or as far as Cambridge Muslim College classes at their own convenience.

Interestingly, this whole pandemic challenged religious service providers to learn, unlearn and relearn ways to effectively digitalize the pedagogy of teaching. The duration, content curation, presentation, interaction, and the personalities hosted are some of the important considerations before going virtual.

3. Online donation (crowdfunding)

Undoubtedly, we do miss the mosque volunteers carrying the donation box during the Friday prayers. We also miss donating our only 10 dollar note visibly available in our pvc leather wallet, firmly believing in God’s blessings in return. The act of physically folding your money into the familiar rectangular hole accompanied by your sincerest intention, is a satisfaction you can rarely get elsewhere. In this challenging period, we were able to still able to feel the satisfaction of donating, albeit differently. Donation channels were accessible even to those who do not go to mosques. People looked for glimpses of donation details and QRs codes which were made readily available on platforms like ourmasjid.sg, tabungmasjidsg.com, zakat.sg.

Making their quest for support digital helped our multi-functional mosques adapt quickly to the new norm. After all, mosques are community spaces that are abuzz with activities that serve various socio-religious needs of the nation. The community was thankful that they could still contribute to sustaining the services of the mosques in Singapore.

4. Online recitals

Pre-covid-19 we could see our fellow Muslims gathering to recite the Qur’an in mosques. When Ramadan approaches, these recitals occur religiously among congregants, after all, it was during Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed to humanity. While this Ramadan such highly desired gatherings were not possible, loving faithful believers, led by tech-savvy religious teachers or Asatizah persevered. They organised virtually on platforms like Zoom and Google Hangout their individual Tarawih to collectively recite their Qur’an. Previously, we have seen the advent of online recitation via Whatsapp as initiated by an independent group called, One Day One Juz SG (ODOJ SG), which has been running since 2014.

Through the democratisation of knowledge, people strive for a simple vision - to find ways to reach out to as many people as possible to foster a gracious culture of unity and togetherness. It was people’s way to strengthen spiritual bonds through encouraging the daily practice of Quranic recitation in spite of social distancing.

5. Access to free publications online

Circuit breaker meant people would be spending their time at homes regularly checking their four-edged amoled display phone. While some are glued to the layman long chained narrative of Whatsapp messages, others, as avid readers devoured much literature. There are Islamic publications of various genres online, for instance, MUIS Academy offers free access to its entire body of literature to those who so wish to read. Away from religion, those who are interested in understanding the Covid-19 situation have access to International publishers like Brill and Oxford University Press, which offer free access to Covid-19 related journals in order to shed light on the current pandemic.

As the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad, 1400 years ago (96:1) espoused the importance of reading, what is our excuse to not read?

Way forward

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” said Plato in the Republic. This whole Covid-19 pandemic has compelled us to creatively diversify our usual religious and educational approach by leveraging on current technological advances. It’s safe to say that everything happens for a reason. From an IT illiterate not knowing how to mute on a conference call to a web conferencing settings expert, choosing cheeky virtual background settings on Zoom. People must adapt, for its not the survival of the fittest, but the most resilient, inclusive, contributive, adaptive and progressive.

Unconditional gratitude: Let’s be grateful for blessings, even when they come disguised as challenges, for the Qur’an reminds us that with every difficulty, there is ease.

Challenge of our generation: Covid-19 directly exacerbates the on-going challenges of wellbeing, diversity, digitization and the future economy. Let’s explore how the community can contribute on all these fronts. The Islamic Discourse Framework, developed by MUIS Academy, facilitates such scenario planning, sense-making and forward-looking discussions to raise awareness of possible best practices and available pathways to a gracious future.

5 pertinent themes will be explored; Islamic Thought (Theology of Tauhid, Unity, and Taqwa, Consciousness), Public Sphere (Citizenship, Wellbeing and the Shared Future), Diversity (Compassion, Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion), Globalisation (Interconnectedness, Sustainability and Digitalisation) and Leadership (Future Economy).

Let’s co-create a more compassionate sensing of the world to offer clear norms, ideas and solutions for positive social change. After all, the wisdom of faith traditions is not solely for personal development, but it inspires people to transform themselves, their families and societies, to care for our integral wellbeing to advance or cosmic condition.

COVID-19 and 5 digital solutions