USM PENANG, 28 April 2020 – The month of Ramadhan Al-Mubarak that is celebrated by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) community will surely be remembered and reflected upon in the future, as the community embraced it while the nation is in the midst of dealing with the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19.

Behind all these, there are divine blessings and secrets from Allah Almighty to be understood by mankind around the world.

The Director of USM Islamic Centre, Ustaz Hj. Mohamad Shukri Osman said that, personally for him, Ramadhan@COVID-19, as how he called it, is truly unique in itself, as aside from the staff being able to work from home, the Muslim campus community could also undergo their fasting while taking preventive measures against the COVID-19 outbreak, which would surely result in various benefits that could be continued in the future.

“For a Muslim, the uniqueness would be in embracing the situation positively, wholeheartedly and with an open mind.

“When one is 'tested' with something good, we would always be grateful with the blessings offered by Him, and even when the 'test' leads to feelings of worry and distress, we would be reminded to exercise patience and to stay positive, and where only the true believers (mukmin) would have a firm belief in the faith,” he added.

Shukri also believes that the Muslim campus community, especially the staff would be able to learn something new and valuable that would benefit them throughout this Movement Control Order (MCO) period, relating to conducts of leadership and the importance of the family institution, in addition to being responsible towards the demands of their careers.

“With the motto of USM ‘We Lead’, I am sure and believe that this Ramadhan has presented a certain degree of positiveness which could be seen as blessings.

“Be it as the imam, the bilal, cook, gardener and preparing onwards as the Khatib to read the sermon for the Aidil Fitri prayers at home with the family will surely be a lifetime experience to be cherished, and which explains ‘We Lead’ in bringing about community members to become leaders at heart, regardless of their job positions or ranks,” he said during the online 'tazkirah' session on the topic “RAMADHAN@COVID-19: DI MANA HIKMAHNYA?” for the public.

Aside from that, he also touched on the aspect of sustainability as a mainstay of USM, in which this Ramadhan reminds us on the practice of moderation and to avoid excessive and wasteful habits regarding the consumption of food.

“Ramadhan@COVID-19 teaches us to embrace it in moderation and to avoid wastage, practising sustainability which has been a norm for the USM community members all this while," Shukri added further.

In ending the 'tazkirah', he hopes that the campus community members can exercise patience, to practice leadership and share the love within their families, as this is the time when Allah Almighty will shower His blessings and wisdom on the reason for this Ramadhan to be in the MCO period.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Original text: Mohd Azrul Mohd Azhar/Photo: Ebrahim Abdul Manan