Islam's CoronaVirus Cure - open a teeny weeny window!

This is not an April Fool's Joke - This is for real!! On Sunday (March 29th, 2020) Dr Irfan al-Alawi, the Executive Director for the 'Islamic Heritage Research Foundation', as well as the International Director for the 'Centre for Islam's Pluralism', a Visiting Fellow of the Wilson International Centre for Scholars, and a Visiting Fellow for the London University, when asked by Faisal Assegaf of the 'Albalad.co' what his solution to the Corona Virus was, said that the "final" cure for the Corona Virus was to open the little window on top of the green dome of the prophet Muhammad's grave in Medina, and pray. He insisted that the Saudi Arabian government needs to open this window until they hear that the pandemic in the world had started to disappear, as "this is the only means we have left...otherwise millions will die and suffer". Asked why he thought this may help, he responded that it has been used successfully before during a similar crisis in the Ottoman era. For support, he went to where every good Muslim should go, the Qur'an (Surah 4:64) where it says, "We sent no messenger save that he should be obeyed by Allah's leave. And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had but come unto thee and asked forgiveness of Allah, and asked forgiveness of the messenger, they would have found Allah forgiving, merciful". Now, before you all think that this fellow is 'bonkers', let me suggest another angle to al-Alawi's 'cure'. Perhaps he is up to something here which doesn't initially 'meet the eye'. Dr al-Alawi is well known as a supporter for pluralism in Islam (i.e. championing all three major Muslim sects, the Sunni, Shi'a, and Sufi groups), and has assiduously advocated for protection of their respective religious buildings and shrines, in particular ancient Islamic buildings such as the Ka'aba in Mecca and the prophet's grave site in Medina, decrying the ongoing modernization at these sites which may damage or hurt the old structures. What better way to advocate for the prophet Muhammad's grave then to put it at the center of a possible solution to this pandemic sweeping the world? By putting it 'front and center' Al-Alawi is forcing the hands of the Saudi Arabian authorities so that if the pandemic were to abate, credit could easily be afforded this little window atop the great green dome, which would make it then impossible for the government to subsequently rebuild, or enlarge the building itself (one of al-Alawi's pet projects). A further underlying reason to open this window can be found in another of Al-Alawi's responses, where he said, "This is also excellent Da'wa (i.e. Islamic evangelism) for the non-Muslims that Islam is the religion chosen by Allah without associating to Shirk and bida" (i.e. what supposedly Christianity does by 'associating' Jesus with God). So, what does he mean? He is watching the daily statistics on the pandemic, and, just as the rest of us are noticing, while the numbers are increasing exponentially in Europe and in the US; elsewhere, particularly in China, the numbers have plateaued, and are beginning to recede, a pattern which he knows will soon follow in the rest of the world; specially if the Chloroquine being tried in France proves to be effective. By opening this little window now, he can claim credit later for solving the problem of the pandemic, proving (he will say) that all the medicines of the West could not do what this little window did, because of the power of Allah at that place. The Dome and its small window would become a new shrine with millions clamoring to pray there for their own infirmities for centuries to come, similar to the Catholic shrines and grottoes we see dotting Catholic countries, and he will be given full credit. Remember, he is an expert in Tasawwuf (i.e. Sufism, or Islamic Mysticism), so this little 'magical' window fits his world-view perfectly. I hope I'm not prophetic, but see if he doesn't take credit when this foul epidemic finally recedes and blows away. This little window atop that great green dome may yet become the Muslim answer to the Catholic's 'Our Lady of Lourdes', thanks to Dr Irfan al-Alawi. © Pfander Centre for Apologetics - US, 2020 (27,220)