To appreciate frontliners, let’s all stay at home

when things are overwhelming and challenging, disciplined people will follow the law, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Failure to obey rules and regulations will create more problems and give room to others to also break laws.

In a saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) hadith narrated by AnNu`man bin Bashir, the Prophet said: “The example of the person abiding by Allah’s orders and limits (or the one who abides by the limits and regulations prescribed by Allah) in comparison to the one who does wrong and violates Allah’s limits and orders is like the example of people drawing lots for seats in a boat.

“Some of them got seats in the upper part while the others in the lower part; those in the lower part had to pass by those in the upper one to get water, and that troubled the latter. One of them (that is, the people in the lower part) took an axe and started making a hole in the bottom of the boat.

“The people in the upper part came and asked him, (saying), ‘What is wrong with you?’. He replied, ‘You have been troubled much by my coming up to you, and I have to get water.’ Now if they prevent him from doing that, they will save him and themselves, but if they leave him (to do what he wants), they will destroy him and themselves.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2686).

And in the context of the pandemic and lockdown, we must all obey the standard operating procedures to break the virus’ chain of transmission.

Encourage, appeal and talk to family members, friends and neighbours to stay at home, and to go out only to buy essentials.

This is not the time to roam around.

This is one of the best ways to reciprocate and appreciate the efforts of frontliners.

They are our heroes. We are humbled by their selfless attitude, risking their lives for the benefit of the nation.

We cannot afford to lose more souls to the pandemic, which has put great pressure on the healthcare system, economy, education, businesses and social activities.