As the Philippines enter another era of a new administration, we cannot help but notice several of our countrymen expressing discontent and frustration at the loss of their desired candidates for presidency and vice-presidency.
While discontent and frustration are two normal human emotions, we have seen people channeling these negativities to sway and influence other people to fight with their friends, relatives, and colleagues. So much of this toxic energy can be seen and felt in the social media, where people have been severing relationships because of differences in beliefs.
However, Associate Professor and UP Institute of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina A. Morados, Chairperson of the 17th Shari’ah Bar Examinations, has written advice for her fellow Muslims on how to get over these frustrations and develop a mindset that we are in one country and that we should all be united.
Below is the advice of Professor Morados:
“Ang kapayapaan at pagkakaisa ay Walang Kulay…
Paano ba ang isang Muslim mag move on sa mga frustrations? Simple lang ang steps. Una, balikan lang natin ang isa sa mga 6 articles of faith na ating pinaniniwalaan, No. 6 to be exact, belief in Al-Qadar or predestination. With this, we return everything to Allah swt and acknowledge our limitations – there are things beyond our control. Then, Remember, the ayah in the Quran : “ Allah swt is the best planner” so we just have to fully submit to His Divine Will. Kahit anong plano gagawin natin at the end of the day Allah swt’s plan will prevail. He alone knows what is good for us – that is the bottomline.
By this time, huwag na natin hayaang magkawatak watak at magkagulo dahil sa mga bagay na di naman natin kayang idikta. Yong konseptong majority rule or consensus may basis yan sa Islam kaya ang pwede natin iambag sa ngayon para makamit ang kapayapaan tungo sa pag unlad ay pagsuporta sa ating mga leaders mula national at local levels na hinalal ng karamihan. Hayaan natin silang ipakita ang kanilang kakayahan tungo sa pagbabagong ating inaasam asam. Let us find comfort in our strong belief that God is all-knowing and most compassionate. Laging may pag asa at magandang bukas na naghihintay.
Kaakibat ng pagsunod sa ating mga leaders ay sinabi ng Allah swt na “enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong” hindi rin tayo matutulog sa gitna ng katiwalian at injustices —yan ang turo ng Islam. Magsama sama tayo para sa katiwasayan lahat tayo ay may kanya kanyang mga tungkulin kaya tulong tulong tayo.
Mula ngayon kaanib na tayong lahat nagmula man sa ibat ibang kulay ang ating naunang sinoportahan. Iisang kulay, iisang minimithi at iisang adhikain… Para sa nag iisang Bansang ating Minamahal.”
May we all find comfort in knowing that God has perfect plans for each and everyone of us. Let us put aside our differences and do our best to embrace unity for our nation and countrymen.
