وبائی مرض کرونا کے پاکستانی معاشرے پر اثرات اور مسائل (شریعت اسلامیہ کی روشنی میں ان کا تدارک)

The Impacts of Corona Epidemic on Pakistani Society (Social problems and their solutions in the light of Islamic Shariah)

Abstract

In the course of time, human life faces many challenges some of which are individual and others are collective in nature. Contagious diseases like plague, cholera, Spanish Flu, AIDS, Ebola Virus and, in the recent times, Corona virus have been an inseparable part of human history. Their impacts are also gigantic which disturb every person individually as well as collectively. Man has always been busy in finding solutions to all the challenges of life including the epidemics.

Spreading from Wuhan province of China in December of 2019, Corona virus jolted the whole world leaving far reaching impacts on individual and social life of all the residents of the globe. The present research study looks at the religious, social, educational, political, and psychological effects of Corona virus epidemic on Pakistani society with the recommended solutions that are sought in the light of the teachings of Islamic Shariah. This study fathoms the impacts of the Novel Corona Virus on religious rituals (including infringement of Sharia regulations, ban on collective prayers and social distancing in the mosques, discontinuation of Hajj and Umrah), on social life (like divorce, suicide, and distancing), on educational system, on shrinking economic activities (giving rise to unemployment, inflation, and starvation) as well as on the political scenario (where the governments had to face the ordeals of governance). This epidemic also affected general mental health of the citizens.

The topic of the present study is significant as the variants of Corona virus are emerging regularly. Islam offers a complete code of life; therefore, it is always possible to consult Quran and Hadith for guidance. The present study tries to work out solutions to the COVID-induced problems in the light of Islamic Shariah. Towards the end, the article will also put forth some suggestions and recommendations on what can be planned to keep the masses safe from the damages if COVID-19 or any other epidemic emerges in future.

This article will use the descriptive analytical approach to carry out the research.