Outline
- Introduction
- COVID-19: Background
- Islam’s Guidance Pertaining to Epidemics
- How Did the Companions Overcome the Plague of Amwās?
- Are Outbreaks Punishment or Blessings?
- Why Are We Tested with Outbreaks?
- How Do We Move On From Now?
- COVID-19: Additional Preventive Measures
- COVID-19: The Point
Introduction
Alhamdulillah… Infinite praise and thanks are due to the Almighty Allah, who has bestowed upon us countless blessings. Complete blessings and salutations go to the most grateful Prophet, Sayyidinā Muhammad, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path till the end of time.
As the COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, I asked myself: what if I contract with the existing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or any other plague, outbreak and whatnot? What if I’m destined to die from such an outbreak?
Yes, these are matters of the future. They are matters of the unknown. Your smartness and cautiousness are only preventive measures, they can’t outsmart divine decree. But one must know what the Muslim needs to know and how he’s is expected to react and stay relevant when times like befalls him.
Obviously, the best is to go back to our Islamic literature, to find out what Islam says about pandemics, and how the companions handled plagues and outbreaks.
In this article, I’m sharing with you the answer I found for these questions, and the way forward form now.
COVID-19: Background
It’s February 29, 2020. And for the past two months, the world has been on its toes after the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China. Since then, countries which are geographically and economically close to China have been, all out, fighting the outbreak as number of confirmed cases keep rising. While there are cases of patients who have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals, countries far from China are now reporting cases of confirmed cases.
As I was writing the draft of this article, Nigeria has just confirmed its first case. With cases confirmed in Iran and the Middle-East, Saudi Arabia has just suspended travel to Makkah and Madīnah until further notice.
As at now, only Allah knows the unconfirmed cases, let alone the unknown or purposely hidden cases.
But what is Islam’s guidance during times like this? And how did the companions handle epidemics?
Islam’s Guidance Pertaining to Epidemics
In a ḥadīth, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “a plague (epidemic) is a punishment which God sends to whomever He wills.”
Please don’t jump to any conclusions. We’ll discuss this further later in this video, insha Allah.
So, what does the Muslim do, if an epidemic strikes the place, city or country where he lives? Should he escape for his life? The answer is NO!
In a hadith reported by Imam al-Bukhari and Muslim from the narration of Sayyidunā Usāmah ibn Zayd, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:
إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِالطَّاعُونِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلَا تَدْخُلُوهَا، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلَا تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا.ـ
“If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; and if the plague breaks out in a place where you are, do not leave it.”
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said this, 1400 years ago. Today, despite technological advances, the best way to contain epidemics is to put infected one in isolation and to quarantine potential careers. Additionally, bar residents from affected countries (or cities) from leaving their place of residence, let alone going to other cities or countries.
Here, it’s worth indicating that outbreaks are among the signs of end of time. Imām al-Bukhārī reports from the narration of ‘Awf ibn Mālik, who went to the Prophet during the Battle of Tabūk, and then the Prophet said to him:
اعْدُدْ سِتًّا بَيْنَ يَدَىِ السَّاعَةِ، مَوْتِي، ثُمَّ فَتْحُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، ثُمَّ مُوتَانٌ يَأْخُذُ فِيكُمْ كَقُعَاصِ الْغَنَمِ، ثُمَّ اسْتِفَاضَةُ الْمَالِ حَتَّى يُعْطَى الرَّجُلُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَيَظَلُّ سَاخِطًا، ثُمَّ فِتْنَةٌ لاَ يَبْقَى بَيْتٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ إِلاَّ دَخَلَتْهُ، ثُمَّ هُدْنَةٌ تَكُونُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ فَيَغْدِرُونَ، فَيَأْتُونَكُمْ تَحْتَ ثَمَانِينَ غَايَةً، تَحْتَ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا.ـ
“Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour: my death, the conquest of Jerusalem, a plague that will afflict you (and kill you in great numbers) as the plague that afflicts sheep, the increase of wealth to such an extent that even if one is given one hundred Dinars, he will not be satisfied; then an affliction which no Arab house will escape, and then a truce between you and Banī al-Aṣfar (i.e. the Byzantines) who will betray you and attack you under eighty flags. Under each flag will be twelve thousand soldiers.”
As a matter of fact, some of these signs have happened long ago. And we’re witnessing some of the rest. And the outbreak repeats itself as it has already happened to the companions.
So, how did the companions handle the plague of Amwās which invaded them?
How Did the Companions Overcome the Plague of Amwās?
In the 18th year of Hijrah, during the caliphate of Sayyidunā ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, a plague outbreak hit Palestine very hard. It started in a village called Amwās and rapidly spread throughout Palestine. Because it started in Amwās, it’s called the Plague of Amwās. It’s reported that the death toll of the Plague of Amwās ranged between 25000 and 30000 in a very short span.
Among the companions who died to the Plague of Amwās were Abū ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, Mu’ādh ibn Jabal, Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān, Ḍirār ibn al-Azwar, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr, Abū Jandal ibn Suhayl, Shuraḥbīl ibn Ḥasanah, Al-Faḍl ibn al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib and many others from the companions of the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
As the number kept increasing, they created distances among themselves. They went out to the mountains as such viruses and plagues can’t spread in the mountains.
The companions did just as the Prophet taught them. No one was allowed to come in, in fact, no one was interested to come. And those inside refused to go out. And this is exactly what the companions did, when the plague of Amwās stroke them in Palestine. They refused to leave Palestine. As per the teaching of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Are Outbreaks Punishment or Blessings?
The out-of-the-box answer to the question of the above heading is ‘yes’ and ‘yes.’ But I know this is not enough for many. So, keep calm, take a sip of coffee, sit back, and let’s learn.
Regardless of how and when outbreaks start and spread, the Muslim should remember that nothing happens until Allah wills for it and allows it to happen. He’s the Creator, whose knowledge encompasses everything.
وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٥٩﴾ـ
“He holds the keys to the unseen; none knows them but He. He has knowledge of all that land and sea contain. No leaf falls without His knowledge, nor is there a single grain in the darkness of the earth, or anything, wet or dry, but is recorded in a clear Record” (Sūrah al-An’ām, 6:59).
Therefore, anything hurtful, painful, or dreadful is a form of test from Allah. This test is what was referred to earlier as punishment.
This test befalls the Muslim as well as the non-Muslim. It befalls the pious and the evil. It befalls the kind and the transgressor. However, the state in which this test befalls the individual or any group of people is what categorizes them into two groups.
The means, when something befalls us from God, it’s either for:
- punishment, or
- blessing
For the believing folk, the one who is submissive to God, and worships him as He’s prescribed upon him, it’s a blessing. Because Allah tests the believers with pains, so He would forgive their sins and grant them His pleasure.
Imām al-Bukhārī reports from Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, who once asked the Prophet about outbreaks and he said:
أَنَّهُ كَانَ عَذَابًا يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ، فَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَلَيْسَ مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقَعُ الطَّاعُونُ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي بَلَدِهِ صَابِرًا، يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُصِيبَهُ إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ الشَّهِيدِ.ـ
“Plague was a punishment which Allah used to send on whom He wished, but Allah made it a blessing for the believers. None (among the believers) remains patient in a land in which plague has broken out and considers that nothing will befall him except what Allah has ordained for him, but that Allah will grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr.”
This means, for the believing person who dies from a pandemic, he’s considered as a martyr. In fact, this is further affirmed by the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as reported by Imām al-Bukhārī from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu:
الطَّاعُونُ شَهَادَةٌ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.ـ
“Plague is the cause of martyrdom for the Muslim.”
In other words, a believing soul is tested, no regardless of his state of belief. In fact, the stronger his belief the more severe his test may be.
However, as for the transgressor, for the evil, for the despot, it’s either of two things:
- warning, or
- punishment
When the one who has wronged himself, realizes his wrongdoings and transgressions, and then reconciles with God, he’s forgiven. His test then becomes a blessing for him. Because it has changed him for the better.
But, if when the test befalls, and he persists on evil and transgression, it becomes a punishment for him. And a painful one indeed. This is in this life. And what awaits in the Hereafter is even more severe.
In other words, sooner or later, Allah will punish the transgressor, and the despot. However, he forgives the one who repents and dismisses any punishment that might has been due upon him.
Why Are We Tested with Outbreaks?
Allah sends us reminders in many ways. He has sent Prophets and Messengers to teach us, guide us and remind us. He has also empowered people from among ourselves to guide us and remind us. When all this are not effective enough for us, He afflicts us with pains and hardship, so we will humble ourselves, reflect and take heed. Listen to what He says:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ ﴿٤٢﴾ـ
“We sent messengers before you [Prophet] to many communities and afflicted their people with suffering and hardship, so that they might humble themselves” Sūrah al-An’ām, 6:42).
It’s true, that COVID-19 started in China, and to be specific in Wuhan. Yes, whether China admits it or not, COVID-19 has broken the knees and the ego of China. China is seeing ghost cities. But, this is not something for you and me to be happy about.
Whether you are inside China or outside China, by now, you are hit by some fear and anxiety. If this is the case with you, then you’re equally affected, just like anyone who has contracted with the virus, inside or outside China. Simply because contracting with the virus is not a death sentence. How many have died to diseases other than COVID-19 in the past two months? They are certainly multiple the number of those who died to COVID-19, regardless of the number of those who died to COVID-19. As a matter of fact, people who are right now dying to influenza in the United States are by thousands. People die to various sicknesses all the way down to simple headaches. It’s needless to mention that people die in their sleep without real reason other than death.
If your business is affected, you worry about your salary, and you are disturbed as it’s taking more than usual to receive your parcels and goods from China, then you’re equally affected by COVID-19.
So, at this point of time, we’re equally afflicted with suffering, pains, and hardship, so that we may humble ourselves. And the time is now.
How Do We Move On From Now?
Regardless of the causes and sources. Whether transmitted through bats soup, bush meat, monkeys, snakes, unlawful sex (zina) and what not, an epidemic is an epidemic. It will always start from one source. And regardless of how someone got infected; whether he’s innocent or a culprit, epidemic is an epidemic.
So, as much as we’re concerned and worried, in fact, as much as we are anxious about COVID-19, we should be concerned, worried and intact, anxious about all possible outbreaks. The ones that have always been there.
And as much as we get horrified when it comes to physical infections and outbreaks, as Muslims, we should be even more horrified regarding the spiritual infections that covers us around the clock.
COVID-19 is just one of the many viruses that we can measure and anticipate their effects and impacts. What’s more serious that COVID-19 and all sorts of virus and epidemics is our spiritual and moral viruses, with which we are already infected, and which we’ve been spreading to others: knowingly and more dangerously, unknowingly.
While we work together to combat physical viruses, we should also hand-in-hand combat all forms of moral and spiritual viruses. Let’s repent to God. Not only that we repent, let’s stop the corruption we’re soaked in. Let’s stop the zina that’s breaking our communities apart. Let’s stop the killing of one another. Let’s stop worshiping the devil through black magic sorcery.
We block all physical contacts and abstain from interacting with potential carriers of viruses. We self-quarantine ourselves, or the authorities will. And we take extra preventive measures to stay safe; thus, extra hygiene measure is taken, and hand-sanitizers are all over the place now.
Let’s do the same to the spiritual viruses, that are damaging our humanity and equal us with animals. That takes us from being slaves to God to being slaves to sex, material and the devil.
COVID-19: Additional Preventive Measures
For the Muslim, you must strengthen your faith in Allah and know or remember that He is in charge and He decides and wills whatever He wants. Thus, repenting to him and seeking His forgiveness is the utmost thing to do.
Thereafter, we should take preventive measures. And there are two ways of preventive measures you must take. Read this article to find out what they are: The Muslim’s Guide to Protection Against Coronavirus and Other Deadly Viruses.
COVID-19: The Point
Let’s agree that our worst fear from this epidemic likewise our fear from any other epidemic sickness is the pain that we will be inflicted with. Not necessarily death. Simply because with or without coronavirus, death will come. It’s just better for us to prepare for it.
One of the companions who died from the plague of Amwās was Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ. Do you remember who is? He is the trustworthy one of this ummah.
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa ṣallā said:
أَلاَ وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينًا وَإِنَّ أَمِينَ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ.ـ
“Truly, every nation has a trustworthy one, and the trustworthy one of this Ummah is Abu ‘Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah.”
In addition to that, he is one of the 10 whom the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave the glad tidings of Paradise in one single hadith.
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam once said:
أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَطَلْحَةُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَسَعْدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَسَعِيدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.ـ
Abu Bakr is in Paradise, ‘Umar is in Paradise, ‘Uthmān is in Paradise, ‘Ali is in Paradise, Ṭalḥah is in Paradise, Al-Zubayr is in Paradise, ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf is in Paradise, Sa’d is in Paradise, Sa’īd is in Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah is in Paradise.”
COVID-19 is a divine test and each one of us must pass the test. If one happens to be disobedient to Allah, this is the time for him to change for his own good and betterment. And if one happens to be a believer, he should be steadfast in holding on to it.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ـ
“Believers, fear God as is His due, and when death comes, be in a state of complete submission to Him” (Sūrah āl-‘Imrān, 3:102).
This is what I came out with upon reflecting on the ongoing COVID-19 and the fears that come with it.
As much as everything highlighted here is applicable to the ongoing COVID-19, it is also applicable to all outbreaks and Pandemics, whether it’s HIV-AIDS, Flu, Asian Flu, Cholera, Ebola, Zika virus, Yellow Fever, Influenza,, MERS, and whatnot, regardless of place of origin and regardless of the extent of human involvement in causing it, accidentally or otherwise.
If you find it useful, kindly share it. Who knows, you may save someone from unnecessary fears and anxiety which could be more deadly than COVID-19 itself or other afflictions.
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Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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