وفِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَهٌ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَهٌ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ * وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ – الزخرف: 84-85
And it is Allah who is [the only] deity in the heaven, and on the earth [the only] deity. And He is the Wise, the Knowing. And blessed is He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and with whom is knowledge of the Hour and to whom you will be returned.
For whoever the Deen was the Daleel (evidence) would live in the world happy, and die a peaceful death and would be victorious on the day of Judgement
Allah (swt) says:
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ – آل عمران: 185
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
And for whoever the Deen was his desires and whims, he would live his live heedless and fail in this Dunya and the hereafter.
Islam is a pride for Muslims, and an honor.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ – فصلت: 33
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”
Despite the rabid global campaign against Islam adopted by the enemies by distorting the Shariah and alienating people from it while mocking at the Shari’ah rulings, attacking the Sunnah of the Prophet, Making mockery of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); the whole world stands amazed in front of the prophetic ahadeeth that were revealed about about how to deal with epidemics. The ahaadeeth in which the virtue of wudoo’, tahaarah and washing hands, in addition to the woman’s bashfulness and the covering of her face with her veil. Not long ago they were making fun of all that; but Allah changes the situations, for he is the one who changes the words and the hearts.
In Islam, there are Asbaab for preventing and treating epidemic:
One of the Asbaab to prevent epidemics is: the isolation of cities where an epidemic has spread, so no one enters or leaves them; That is stipulated in the hadeeth that dealt with the plague, and the plague is a kind of epidemic. The common meaning between them is the speed of their spread and along with it the contagion. In this hadeeth of ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) where he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say,
إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلَا تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ, وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلَا تَخْرُجُوا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ
“If you hear that it (plague) has broken out in a land, do not go to it; but if it breaks out in a land where you are present, do not go out escaping from it.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
And The hadeeth of Usama ibn Zayd (may Allaah be pleased with him) where he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
الطَّاعُونُ رِجْزٌ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أُرْسِلَ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَوْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ, فَإِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ, فَلَا تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ, وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا, فَلَا تَخْرُجُوا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ
“Plague is a calamity which was sent to Bani Isra’il or upon those who were before you. So when you hear that it has broken out in a land, don’t go to it, and when it has broken out in the land where you are, don’t run out of it”. [Bukhari & Muslim]
From the Asbaab of preventing the epidemic include: isolating people infected with it, preventing them from contact with healthy people so that the infection is not transmitted to them, and this is outlined in the hadeeth, including The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) where he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
لاَ يُورِدُ مُمْرِضٌ عَلَى مُصِحٍّ
“A man with sick camels should not let them graze or drink alongside healthy ones.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
In another hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ, وَلاَ هَامَةَ وَلاَ صَفَرَ, وَفِرَّ مِنَ المَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأَسَدِ
‘(There is) no ‘Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah’s permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion.” [Bukhari]
He denied what the people of Jahiliyah (pre-Islamic period) believe that the disease is contagious in nature, and does not infect by the hukm of Allah, may He be exalted. He established the truth of the contagion when he ordered to flee the leper. In the hadeeth of ‘Amru ibn al-shaared, it was narrated that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
«كَانَ فِي وَفْدِ ثَقِيفٍ رَجُلٌ مَجْذُومٌ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّا قَدْ بَايَعْنَاكَ فَارْجِعْ
“Among the delegation of Thaqif there was a man who suffered from leprosy. The Prophet sent a word to him saying: ‘Go back, for I have accepted your pledge.”‘ [Muslim]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not shake hands with him as he was suffering from leprosy.
One of the ways of protecting oneself from an epidemic is: Supplicating to Allah the exalted and seeking refuge from diseases and epidemics. From the du’a that were narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that he would recite in the morning and evening.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ, اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَأَهْلِي وَمَالِي
O Allah, I ask You for pardon and good health in this world and the Next. O Allah, I ask You for good health in my deen and my family. [Ahmad]
In the hadeeth narrated by Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of him) used to say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ البَرَصِ وَالْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الْأَسْقَامِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from leprosy, madness, elephantiasis, and evil diseases. [Abu Dawud, Nasai’I, Ibn Hibban]
One of the Asbaab for protection from an epidemic and to end it after it has spread is to Make Tawakkul on Allah, and to seek refuge with him by seeking his forgiveness, and by Sadaqa, du’a and Salah:.
As for Tawakkul, Allah (swt) says
وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ – الطلاق: 3
And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.
i.e Whoever entrusts his affairs to him (swt), he will be satisfied in all that concerns him
As for Istighfaar (seeking his forgiveness), Allah (swt) says, .
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ – الأنفال: 33
Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.
As for the Sadaqa, it was narrated in a hadith, It extinguishes the wrath of the Lord Almighty. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
فإن للصدقة تأثيراً عجيباً في دفع أنواع البلاء ولو كانت من فاجر أو من ظالم بل من كافر, فإن الله تعالى يدفع بها عنه أنواعاً من البلاء
Sadaqa has a wondrous effect in removing the types of trials, even if it was from a Fajir or a Dhaalim (oppressor) or even a kaafir, through it (i.e the Sadaqa) allah removes away from him various types of trials.
With regards to the du’a, it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘A’a’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), which said:
لَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ المَدِينَةَ, وُعِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ, وَبِلاَلٌ, … فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: اللَّهُمَّ حَبِّبْ إِلَيْنَا المَدِينَةَ كَحُبِّنَا مَكَّةَ أَوْ أَشَدَّ, اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي صَاعِنَا وَفِي مُدِّنَا, وَصَحِّحْهَا لَنَا, وَانْقُلْ حُمَّاهَا إِلَى الجُحْفَةِ, قَالَتْ: وَقَدِمْنَا المَدِينَةَ وَهِيَ أَوْبَأُ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ
When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) reached Medina, Abu Bakr and Bilal became ill….. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) then said, “O Allah! Make us love Medina as we love Mecca or even more than that. O Allah! Give blessings in our Sa and our Mudd (measures symbolizing food) and make the climate of Medina suitable for us, and divert its fever towards Aljuhfa.” Aisha added: When we reached Medina, it was the most unhealthy of Allah’s lands [Bukhari]
In the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them), he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say at the time of difficulty
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ العَلِيمُ الحَلِيمُ, لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ العَرْشِ العَظِيمِ, لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ رَبُّ العَرْشِ الكَرِيمِ
” There is no god but Allah, the Great, the Tolerant, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Heaven and the earth, the Lord of the Edifying Throne.”
As for Salah , Allah (swt) says
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ – البقرة: 45
And seek help through patience and prayer,
And Hudhaifah Narrated that :
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا حَزَبَهُ أَمْرٌ صَلَّى
When anything distressed the Prophet (ﷺ), he prayed. [Abu Dawud]
And what would be a greater distress for people than an epidemic that has taken roots among them and is infecting them.
From the Asbab for treating the epidemic after it has infected people include: medication with proven useful medicines and immunity boosting foods, Healthy food has a great impact on the body’s strength and its fight against diseases and infections, most victims of epidemics are the poor and needy. Medication is Shar’an permissible and an obligation. It is narrated from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that he said
لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءٌ، فَإِذَا أُصِيبَ دَوَاءُ الدَّاءِ بَرَأَ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. [Muslim]
In the hadeeth of Usama ibn Sharik (may Allaah be pleased with him), he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
تَدَاوَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلَّا وَضَعَ لَهُ دَوَاءً، غَيْرَ دَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ الْهَرَمُ
Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age.
الناس إزاء الأوبئة والتعامل معها طرفان ووسط:
There are three groups among people when it comes to how they are dealing with this epidemic. Two on extremes and one on the middle path.
The first group are those who are struck by fear and panic; they are not at peace when sleeping or eating, and they spreads panic and terror among those around them. They exaggerate in the subject of precaution to the point of obsessiveness, and this fear and panic kills its owners before the epidemic reaches them.
The believer must make Tawakkul to Allaah, may He be exalted, and should not be anxious by what Allah has destined for humans; Being anxious is one of the chracteristics of hypocrites.
فَإِذَا جَاءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِي يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ – الأحزاب: 19
And when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes revolving like one being overcome by death.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would seek refuge with allah from cowardice and miserliness.
What strengthens the heart is the Tawakkul in Allah and believing in Qadr (what is destined), and contemplating on the ayaat that have been revealed on the subject
The second group is a group of people who are careless and are not wary of the causes of the epidemic, not out of Tawakkul on Allah, may He be exalted, but rather out of stubbornness, heedlessness or indifference or due to the lack of appreciation of the risks to those surrounding them and those in contact with them, especially parents, wife, children, family and relatives.
The third group is the one that is following The middle path and that is followed by the most people of Imaan; they know that this deadly plague is destined by Allah, may He be exalted, and that it affects only those who he commands, so they tied their hearts to him, and they are making tawakkul on him, and they are not panicking or getting outraged because of their knowledge that the things destined by Allaah have khayr for the believers. And with their Imaam and their Tawakkul, they are taking the material Asbaab of isolating themselves from others and avoiding travel except in need, and to be sure of protecting themselves from what could bring them the infection, so as to protect themselves to be able to worship Allah, the Almighty, as the Saheeh hadith narrates that the best of the people are those who have long lives and who spend them in Good deeds.
So this group of people keep in consideration that they could receive the disease and pass it to their loved ones, therefore they feel the responsibility, and do not take the subject with ease.
The Prophet (saw) said:
وَكُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges:
This includes keeping those under their responsibility away from everything that can cause them harm.
