Coronavirus bringing Superpowers to a Standstill

News:

US: As COVID-19 Crashes the Economy, Workers and Business Owners Wonder If Anything Can Save Them From Financial Ruin (TIME). Shortage of protective gear has become so acute that hospital officials are actively seeking homemade masks from the community. (New York Times)

Comment:

The plight of a people who labor over their paychecks and then have to pay high taxes and social security percentage only to find in a time of emergency the average American household will be left without a backup plan or relief funds to fetch their necessities and even worse having to decide between healthcare or food. Here is a horrifying real life circumstances that the people are facing in the wealthiest nation in the world. The core ideology bares all flaws and deficiencies to the word, Capitalism is individualistic in nature and no amount of rectification can alter its existence. The overwhelming amount of criticism by the general masses is pushing them to speculate to what and how the US government is going to handle the economic and pandemic fallout. A relief stimulus is in the works as Trump is negotiating it. The US does not have state industry to rely on for the inflow of revenue where taxation is its source of revenue. Here the free market and privatization of industry and natural resources are all siphoned into the pockets of capitalists.  Widening the all-ready gigantic gap between the wealthy and the potential for risk class, the wealthy are hoarding their money without demonstrating social responsibility especially some of these multi-dollar companies are not paying the sufficient sick leave nor providing proper healthcare for their employees and their dependents.  There is a call to borrow some of the strategies in public health policy and economic relief measures from other governments, but the vast majority are being giving the blind eye to these calls resulting in people becoming more destitute and unable to receive the required treatment. This will push the people towards radical measures because when the stomachs go hungry and children need to be fed and unemployment checks are being withheld while the government is unable to meet their needs quick enough, this is a quick recipe for riots and searching for alternatives.

When people are left vulnerable paying to the government and then not to have a sense of security proves to them the exploitive nature of their governments and leadership. The coronavirus pandemic has brought this to blunt discussion of how the US is going to handle this today and in the near future. Healthcare professionals are suffering for the lack of safety equipment to shield them properly from the contagion of the coronavirus. The US mostly dependent on imports due to cheap labor abroad which has been greatly delayed due to the pandemic. Leaving the questions, why are manufacturing companies and the medical industry slow to produce the necessary items like the face masks, body suits, sterilization items etc. Hospital Workers Make Masks From Office Supplies Amid U.S. Shortage ‘We’re not getting new supplies and our stores are almost depleted.’ This is the title of news article featured on Bloomberg Staff are resorting to makeshift face masks from on-hand office supplies. This is in the world’s advanced wealthiest nation! Lives of medical staff are being endangered when there is a shortage of supplies as these people return to their families and homes, potentially spreading the virus outside the facilities.

What is an alternative to this dominating ideology? Under the state of Islam, the Khilafah state (Caliphate), the industry must be based on a military basis and in this case the state will produce advanced protective gear for health professionals as well as citizens to protect them from harm; thus will not be caught in a lag like in the situation of today’s capitalist governments pleading for volunteers to sew face masks. “Are they effective like an N95? No….we are not claiming they are. If we had all the N95s in the world, it would be wonderful. But there’s a shortage right now.” (NYT)

The Khilafah state policy is based on the rulings of Islam guided by the Shari’ evidences that ensure the fulfilment of needs and welfare of its citizens both Muslim and non-Muslim whether it is in economic risk or a pandemic as the coronavirus of today. In the Draft Constitution of the Khilafah State, Article 125 states, “It is obligatory to guarantee that all the basic needs are met for everyone, and are completely met on an individual basis, and to guarantee that every individual is facilitated to satisfy the extra needs (non-essential needs) to the highest level possible.” Allah Almighty says,

[وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّـهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ]

“And give them from the wealth of Allah which He has given you.” [TMQ 24:33] Hoarding of wealth is strictly forbidden and the State would take swift measures to ensure that the economy is stable unlike the stark contrast of today’s multi-million dollar capitalists and their enabling system. Moreover, the healthcare system in the Khilafah would be top notch to deal with any potential cases, stemming from the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah (saw)

«الإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ»

“The Imam is a guardian and he is responsible for his subjects.” (Agreed upon by Muslim and Al-Bukhari). Bringing satisfaction and calmness to the citizens of the Islamic State instead of frenzy and distrust in times of a pandemic as sadly seen today, every man for himself.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Manal Bader

#كورونا                 |                   #Covid19                     |                  #Korona

#أقيموا_الخلافة                    |         #ReturnTheKhilafah   |          #YenidenHilafet