With the continuous surge of affected individuals, the world is at the verge of a global emergency as it wages battle against the large scale pandemic that took it by storm. COVID-19 will be a name forever remembered by people living in this decade, for sure.
As the numbers in Malaysia hiked up to 428 yesterday (it’s 553 today), many people, particularly in Klang Valley went into panic buying mode, in anticipation of heightened control measures put into place to contain the virus; the trending word of the day – “lockdown”.
While understandable that people are worried and scared (I’m worried too – I won’t lie), but people need to reflect and remember, rash moves doesn’t help at all.
Ibn ‘Abbas told Ibn az-Zubayr, “I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say, ‘A man is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour is hungry.'”
Al-Albani
I wonder which part of coming out of this calamity together that people don’t understand?
It takes each and everyone us to play our parts to get out of this, if one of us goes off tangent, then all efforts goes to waste – futile.
It is during challenging times like this that everyone needs to be rationale and practical – the time when common sense is most crucial.
Common sense is not common anymore.
We hear this phrase a lot these days. It usually comes up when people make decisions and take actions that doesn’t make sense to the majority. However nowadays that line seems to be getting thinner and blurred, with many instances where unfounded and wrong stance becomes the choice of the majority, which is quickly becoming the root of the problems in society.
Sometimes we wonder how these stupid decisions or actions come about: is it because we are too far from reality and delusional? Is it because some of us are too lazy to think and just go with the most vocal person in the room? Is it because those decisions/actions are aligned to our selfish agenda?
Probably a mixture of all.
I’m not good at a lot of stuff but I do believe I made it to where I am today, particularly in my career because of my ability to practice common sense – at least that’s what people tell me.
I’m a graduate in IT from a local private university called Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), started in the insurance industry without any basics, ended up with core role of strategy, help set up 3 takaful operators, numerous distribution channels and partnerships – and I managed to pull it off mainly because of my ability to practice common sense. The other stuff of putting in the hard work, continuous learning etc. comes after that.
I’ve found that most of the stuff I’ve helped or seen other people solve is not because they are “book” smart, but because they have high common sense.
So how do you define common sense especially in a world where it is not common anymore, with everyone interpreting it according to how they want to see it?
I don’t have a textbook answer to this but my approach to it is simple:
#1 It has to be practical.
#2 It should not make other people’s life difficult.
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not repulse (them).
Bukhari
To me, this is where the base of “common” is established – it’s for sure not self interest but when it is for others, it’s core should be to make it easier for everyone “rightfully” and not just for certain groups of people.
The problem with common sense these days:
#1 “No” common.
Coming to the earlier point, there isn’t really a “true” common. Everyone has their own interpretation and while we cover it up with large words and justifications, it really falls back to self interest. Don’t get me wrong, everyone wants their interest to be protected but it cannot be at the forefront.
In the case of this calamity, if we can’t even agree on a common goal and approach, then how can we establish common sense?
#2 “Self” sense.
In most cases it is the root of the issue – people put their self interest first above everything else even when it is not exactly the right to do. We lose our sense of rationale, in light of our own benefit or survival.
This can clearly be seen the moment when everyone panicked in buying household items. Instead of stocking what you actually need, the usual ration of a week or two, some people end up stocking up for months.
Imagine an orphanage home coming to the supermarket to buy their weekly food supply for the kids and there isn’t anything there? The next time they come, prices of goods get hiked up because supply has suddenly become lower than demand? Aren’t they exposed to the same COVID-19 risks as each of us? Have you just taken the rights of others?
Touch your chest, ask your heart. You’re a better judge of yourself.
#3 “No” sense.
Ironically, the most common of it all – common “no” sense, i.e. common nonsense.
People just cannot stop themselves from either giving insensible opinions, mixing issues or deviating entirely from the subject matter, adding nonsense to the equation.
In the COVID-19 situation we are facing, there is so much unnecessary side-topics being thrown around: sentiments, bias views, be it on social, economy, politics, racial, religious matters or just insensitive jokes.
All of which not needed at the moment.
The common sense test.
Tonight, the Malaysian government has announced and imposed the “restricted movement order” from 18 to 31 March 2020 in its efforts of curbing further the spread of COVID-19.
It is a plan with specific boundaries and flexibilities, where the necessities are being managed in a controlled manner, so that everyone can continue to live comfortably during this restrictive moments.
…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.
Al Baqarah 2 : 216
So – step back and use more common sense on what is important at this moment, the decisions and actions you would take, for yourself, your family, the community and the country.
Thank you heroes.
Taking this opportunity for a special shoutout and sincerest appreciation to all the unsung heroes: doctors, nurses, medical assistants, cleaners – all of them at the hospitals, the think-tanks in the respective government offices who plans, monitors and execute the plans, the media who continuously strives to report and disseminate the most accurate information out to the public, to people behind the scenes who we don’t know but plays a critical role in managing this delicate process and to all those responsible people out there who are trying their best to do the right thing during this trying times.
Salute.
