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Over the last few days, the language linked to the omicron virus has left many of us worried and confused as to what we can and should do. The prime minister has said that “we're now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant Omicron," that there’s “a tidal wave of Omicron coming." There’s an urgency in these words encouraging us to get vaccinated, protect ourselves and the NHS. At the same time, the government has given guidance that people in England should now work from home if they can, to curb the spread of this new variant. For many, in the run up to Christmas, this is a huge blow – the uncertainty surrounding what we can or should do has created a sense of anger, panic and confusion – others remain apathetic. A religious festival, Christmas is also a holiday period for most of us, a joyous time when families and relatives look forward to coming together. People have made long awaited plans for national and international travel to see family and friends - after a gap of 2or 3 years in some cases - many will now be forced to rethink or cancel completely. This should be a busy time for businesses but they’re already seeing a drop in customers, and again anxious about their long term survival. So what is the right thing to do when some of the current restrictions are given as guidance only. Guidance can be vague and ambiguous, a linguistic ploy to put off making ultimate decisions because the liberal state knows that human liberty can’t be taken away lightly. But I see guidance as that which speaks to our conscience, what we know is the right thing to do despite the lack of legal clarity. The Islamic concept of guidance comes through the word hidaya and in the opening verses of the Qur’an, the believer implores God to give them guidance, to keep them on the straight path. This concept of guidance permeates the Qur’an in ambiguous as well as specific terms. The moral mandate speaks through the language of individual conscience as well as divine command. However we decide to interpret the guidance this Christmas, constant mistrust is corrosive for society as well as our own emotional wellbeing. It’s easy to lose hope and be suspicious of the politics and communities around us, but we need courage to re-build faithfulness and good will even when we feel betrayed. Because a society which lives on the right side of hope recognises that we are dependent on each other and that human solidarity is the ultimate value for creating new beginnings.