This is not a religious post. Although the timing of it during the holy month of Ramadan is purely coincidental.
However when we do talk about Ramadan, one thought that comes to mind is how it is being practiced during these unprecedented times. Especially the way it has affected all of us. The pandemic has not discriminated against status, race, nationality or religion. For those to the left, they are already lambasting at the consequences of such a scenario and it’s possibilities.
I digress. The matter of this post is to talk about faith and fate. When I speak of faith, I do not mean religion in any specifity but just the general idea of having a belief in something – a higher purpose. Some of our faith is unwavering and we tend not to deviate. It can come from religion, spirituality and even ones education. When we demonstrate faith, we are demonstrating a belief in an intangible direction. And in this way, faith is a great and powerful tool which in these uncertain times has brought about much needed positivity.
However we then look at fate. The question of fate being inevitable is becoming harder to refute. Why? Because of the increasing use of faith to help change our own fate or the fate of others. For most this comes in the form of prayer and the belief that the faith in prayer will allow their fate to be one they want. Interestingly enough, whatever fate has assigned to us, those with faith will always see a way to work it into their own favour. Even if it is the complete opposite or the most negative result, they will see it as way of faith working.
In our current environment of Covid-19, faith is playing a much more significant role. With no end in sight and numbers of those infected increasing everyday, all we can do is have faith. A demonstration of faith can be receiving a piece of positive news about how in some ways life is getting back to normal. Or how there are those who are trying to make the most out of these extraordinary times.
But what does faith mean when we are thinking about our current state of events? Does faith become stronger as the news of the spread become dire? Does our inevitable fate stand a chance? The second part is hard to say as we can’t predict the future but the first part I think can be true as we pray and hope harder for better things to come. I know there are some of us who will even argue that our faith will determine our fate. Maybe. I mean who are we to question what is meant for us tomorrow? And in a way, that is kind of fabulous. The unpredictability of fate but the hope of faith combined can sometimes give us a very positive outlook on something that can seem quite negative.
So have faith in knowing that fate is what we make of it.
