The Mosquito who wouldn't bite

 Many years ago, when Dengue was new in our city. 

My son got infected. He had fever and his blood test showed relatively low platelet count. Not very serious, but ill still. 

We have a tiny pond in our garden. There were fish living in the garden. The media was full of scary news about clean still water as breeding places for dengue-spreading mosquitoes. I was under pressure to empty the pond. The fish would have died. I resisted the pressure. 

As I was walking in the garden, I saw a nice, big, black and white striped mosquito sitting on a leaf. I looked at it, and it seemed to look at me. We stared at each other for quite a long time. It didn't seem interested in biting me. Just so you know, generally I'm a magnet for mosquitoes. They are quite eager to feast on me. So, this was strange. 

Alhamdolillah. Nothing happens without the express permission of Allah. I believe that at that time, this mosquito did not have the permission to bite me. Alhamdolillah. 

My son recovered in a few days. Alhamdollilah. 

Mosquito is the first non-human creature mentioned in The Quran in Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 26. Here's how I try to understand the ayat: Mosquito-borne Diseases. 

Nothing can harm without Allah’s Permission

Some years ago, one day, a series of strange incidents happened. 

First, as I was about to get in my car, I was setting something on my mobile phone to listen to, while my brother was standing there to see me off. Engrossed in my phone, I wasn't really paying attention to anything else. A motorcycle, with three young men on it, stopped next to us. One of them jumped off, extended his hand towards me (to snatch my phone?), my brother scolded him, he climbed back on the motorcycle, and they ran away. Much later, I realised that it was an attempt to snatch my phone. Alhamdolilliah, in my mentally absent state of mind, I was protected from the physical and emotional harm of the situation. Alhamdolillah. 

Next, as I drove away, just two signals later, a great wind blowed, such that a large billboard just fell on the road, right in front of and next to me, leaving just enough space for me to steer the car ahead by quickly veering towards the other side. Alhamdolillah, again I was saved from physical and emotional harm. Alhamdolillah. 

There was another third incident that day, yet I cannot remember it. Alhamdolillah for it, and for all the harms that Allah, our Rabb ذُو ٱلْجَلَالِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامُ, keeps protecting us from day and night, throughout our lives.     

Diseases & Pandemics

The Quran 24:61 permits the diseased and the healthy to eat together or separately. It includes a clause to send salaam upon our own nafs... 

When the Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) started affecting many people globally, countries went into lockdown. Social distancing became the norm. Everyone started wearing face masks. Those who were tested positive for the virus were put into isolation. ... The world was facing a pandemic! 

My daughter tested positive for the virus. She was in severe pain. By the Grace of Allah, we didn't have to hospitalise her or put her in isolation: a friend sent over his pulse oximeter; another sent over a portable oxygen concentrator. 

We were with her throughout her ordeal. We did not isolate her. We ate together. I even slept beside her on the same bed. I also developed a few symptoms. 

When her test first came positive, we had ourselves tested as well. By the Grace and Mercy of Allah, we tested negative. After her body had developed antibodies, I was tested again. Alhamdolillah, again my test result came negative. 

No, I'm not invincible. It was only the Mercy of Allah that He Protected me from the virus. 

The purpose to share this story is to glorify Allah and to help people realise that nothing happens without Allah decreeing it. All things good and bad happen with His Permission (Q57:22). The good is from Allah, while the bad is from our own nafs (Q4:79). We need to seek Allah's protection and forgiveness, and patiently endure whatever trials Allah decrees for us. May Allah help us, guide us, and improve our condition.

The رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ (Holy Spirit || Pure Command) has brought down The Quran in Truth from Our Lord (Q16:102). We need to learn to trust the guidance in The Quran.