The Corona Virus (COVID-19)بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ، والصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ علَى مَنْ لاَ نَبِيٍّ بَعْدَهُ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ، وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا. وَبَعْدُ:
Allâh Taâlâ tests His slaves with their wealth, children, fear, and hunger whether they are Muslim or Kâfir, Sâlih (righteous) or Fâsiq (corrupt). Allâh Taâlâ said regarding this,وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allâh is a mighty reward.” (al-Anfâl 8/28);
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ
“Surely, We will test you with a bit of fear and hunger, and loss in wealth and lives and fruits.” (al-Baqarah 2/155)
Allâh Taâlâ destroyed Namrûd (Nimrod) with a fly, and sent grasshoppers, insects and frogs upon Fir’awn (Pharaoh). Today, He Taâlâ is testing the people with a virus that is much smaller than these. This is a Kawnî Âyah (existential sign) which points out to the great power of Allâh Subhânahu wa Taâlâ. As our Lord said,وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ
“And none knows the soldiers of your Lord except Him.” (al-Muddaththir 74/31)
Our Lord Taâlâ sometimes frightens His servants so that they may take the right way. He Taâlâ also said in the noble verse,وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالْآيَاتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا
“And We sent not the Âyât (pl. Âyah; signs) except to warn, and to make them afraid.” (al-Isrâ 17/59)
This trial which we encounter today is undoubtedly because of what people earned with their own hands, since Allâh Taâlâ said,ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
“Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by (reason of) what the hands of people have earned, so He may let them taste part of (the consequence of) what they have done that perhaps they will return (to righteousness).” (ar-Rûm 30/41)
Today’s human beings considered themselves self-powered and they are arrogant and selfish because of the technology they have. That which is even more serious than this is that societies have turned away from Tawhîd in masses, and all parts of the earth are filled with evil and cruelty. Immorality, nudity, and even homosexuality have become widespread on a global scale and those who stay away from these are being condemned severely. Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam said while denoting the trials humanity will encounter in such circumstances,يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا إِلاَّ فَشَا فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَالأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلاَفِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا.
“O group of the Muhâjirûn (immigrants)! There are five things with which when you will be tested with, (there will remain no good). I seek refuge with Allâh lest you live to reach them (the era when they will occur). (The first of them is:) Immorality never manifests among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among their predecessors will spread among them.” (Ibnu Mâjah, Hadîth no. 4019)
This virus, which Allâh Taâlâ is testing people with, is an Adhâb (punishment) for some, but a Rahmah (mercy) for others. Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam gave us glad tidings that this Rahmah was martyrdom,كَانَ عَذَابًا يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ، فَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَكُونُ فِي بَلَدٍ يَكُونُ فِيهِ، وَيَمْكُثُ فِيهِ، لاَ يَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْبَلَدِ، صَابِرًا مُحْتَسِبًا، يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لاَ يُصِيبُهُ إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ شَهِيدٍ
“Tâ’ûn was a punishment which Allâh Taâlâ used to send upon whomsoever He willed. Then, Allâh Taâlâ made it a mercy for the Mu’minûn (pl. Mu’min; believers). Thus, there is no slave who is present in the land it is in, resides in it, does not leave that land, has patience and hopes for Allâh’s reward, and knows that nothing will befall him except what Allâh Taâlâ has written for him, except that he will get the reward as that of a martyr.” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 3474, 6619);
الطَّاعُونُ شَهَادَةٌ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
“Tâ’ûn is Shâhadah (martyrdom) for every Muslim.” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 2830, 5732; Muslim, Hadîth no. 1916);
الشُّهَدَاءُ خَمْسَةٌ الْمَطْعُونُ، وَالْمَبْطُونُ، وَالْغَرِقُ وَصَاحِبُ الْهَدْمِ، وَالشَّهِيدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
“Martyrs are five: Those who die because of Tâ’ûn (plague), abdominal disease, drowning, a building falling on him, and the martyrs Fî Sabîlillâh (in the Path of Allâh).” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 652-654, 2829; Muslim, Hadîth no. 1914)
Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam informed us that we should not go to the place where the disease of Tâ’ûn is found and that we should not get out of there fleeing,فَإِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ، فَلَا تَدْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلَا تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ
“So when you hear that it has struck a land, do not enter that land, and if it breaks out in a land that you are residing in, do not go out of that area fleeing from it.” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 3473; Muslim, Hadîth no. 2218);
الْفَارُّ مِنَ الطَّاعُونِ، كَالْفَارِّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ، وَالصَّابِرُ فِيهِ، كَالصَّابِرِ فِي الزَّحْفِ
“The one who flees from Tâ’ûn is like the one who flees from battle, and the one who is patient with it is like the one who is patient in the battle.” (Ahmad, Musnad, Hadîth no. 14478);
كَانَ فِي وَفْدِ ثَقِيفٍ رَجُلٌ مَجْذُومٌ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - ارْجِعْ فَقَدْ بَايَعْنَاكَ
“There was a leper in the delegation of the Thaqîf tribe. The Nabî Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam sent him news and said: “Go back, for verily, we have accepted your allegiance.” (Muslim, Hadîth no. 2231);
فِرَّ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الْأَسَدِ
“Flee from the leper as you flee from the lion.” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 5707)
“Amawâs”, the most painful Tâ’ûn in the history of Islâm, led to the death of the trustworthy of this Ummah (nation) and the great commander who was from amongst the ten promised paradise, Abû Ubaydah Âmir Ibn’ul Jarrâh Radiyallâhu Anh; again, the scholar and Muftî of this Ummah, Mu’âdh bin Jabal Radiyallâhu Anh; the son of Abbâs Radiyallâhu Anh Fadhl bin Abbâs Radiyallâhu Anhumâ; the commander of the Islâmic armies, Shurahbîl bin Hasanah Radiyallâhu Anh; the great commander Yazîd bin Abî Sufyân Radiyallâhu Anhumâ; al-Hârith Ibn’ul Hishâm Radiyallâhu Anh and Abû Suhayb Radiyallâhu Anh; Suhayl bin Amr Radiyallâhu Anh and his son Abû Jandal Radiyallâhu Anh; Safwân bin Wahb Radiyallâhu Anh, and many other great Sahâbah (companions) and other than them from many prominent figures of the generation of the Tâbi’în.
Umar Ibn’ul Khattâb Radiyallâhu Anh wrote a letter to Abû Ubaydah Radiyallâhu Anh, ordering him to take the people to a place that is far from moisture, high and also has clean air. (at-Tabarî, Târîkh’ut Tabarî. 4/61; Ibnu Kathîr, al-Bidâyah wa’n Nihâyah, Ihyâ’ut Turâth print, 7/90) However, the Commander Abû Ubaydah Âmir Ibn’ul Jarrâh Radiyallâhu Anh had passed away, and he was not able to apply this. Then, Mu’âdh bin Jabal Radiyallâhu Anh succeeded him, but he too passed away. Then, to prevent people from gathering together to recover from the Tâ’ûn, Amr Ibn’ul Âs Radiyallâhu Anh who became the new Amîr (leader), one of the greatest political geniuses of this Ummah, ordered the people to disperse in the mountains and slopes. With this as a means, the trial of Tâ’ûn was dismissed with the Will of Allâh. For extensive information regarding the Tâ’ûn of “Amawâs” which happened in the year 18H, the sources of Sîrah and Târîkh (history) may be consulted. (Refer to: at-Tabarî, Târîkh’ut Tabarî, 4/62; Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad, Thq. Shu’ayb al-Arna’ût, Hadîth no. 1697; Ibn’ul Jawzî, al-Muntadham fî Târîkh’il Mulûk, 4/247; Ibnu Kathîr, al-Bidâyah wa’n Nihâyah, Ihyâ’ut Turâth print, 7/91; Sibt Ibn’ul Jawzî, Mir’ât’uz Zamân, 5/267; Ibn’ul Athîr, al-Kâmil fi’t Târîkh, 2/377)
People are preparing for the corona virus, however, they are not preparing for the Âkhirah (Hereafter). They are finishing all provisions from stocks for the virus, however, -except for the few whom Allâh will- they are not getting their provisions ready for the Âkhirah. While humanity is panicking in the face of a tiny virus that even the human eye cannot see, humanity forgets the Qiyâmah, Âkhirah, and returning to our Lord. How true has our Lord said,اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ. مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ. لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ
“Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness. No new reminder comes to them from their Lord except that they listen to it while they play. With their hearts (totally) distracted.” (al-Anbiyâ 21/1-3)
Allâh Taâlâ has created seven heavens and seven earths. There is a 500-year distance between each heaven. Again, there is a 500-year distance between the seventh heaven and the Kursî (Footstool). When compared with the Kursî, the seven heavens are as small as a ring thrown in a desert. Then there is a 500-year distance between the water the Arsh (Throne) is upon and the Kursî. The Arsh is on water. Again, when compared with the Arsh, the Kursî is as small as a ring thrown in a desert. Allâh Subhânahu wa Taâlâ, who created all of these from nothing, is upon the Arsh. Now, while humanity is so afraid of this tiny virus, how much should they fear returning to Allâh Azza wa Jall?
We recommend all Muslims to turn back to Allâh. For verily, Yawm’ul Qiyâmah (the Day of Judgement) will come all of a sudden, and humanity will not be aware of it.
This brings to mind the following questions: Has a similar case happened in the history of Islâm? Again, were the Masâjid (pl. Masjid; Mosques) closed and was the Adhân (call to prayer) stopped being recited because of an epidemic?
In the history of Islâm, Masâjid were closed and the Adhân was stopped being recited because of Tâ’ûns, meaning epidemic diseases. This situation has repeated at least twice in the history of Islâm. The first took place in the years 448H/449H, and the second in the year 749H.
These events are mentioned in the books of the scholars as follows:
The Epidemic Disease which Occurred in the Year of the Great Hunger (448H-449H)
The scholar of Hadîth and history, adh-Dhahabî Rahimahullâh narrates the events that took place this year as follows,وَكَانَ القَحْطُ عَظِيْماً بِمِصْرَ وَبَالأَنْدَلُس وَمَا عُهِدَ قَحْطٌ وَلاَ وَبَاءٌ مِثْله بقُرْطُبَة حَتَّى بَقِيَت المَسَاجِدُ مغلقَة بِلاَ مُصَلٍّ وَسُمِّيَ عَام الْجُوع الكَبِيْر.
“Drought was really high in Egypt and in al-Andalus (Spain). And, in Qurtubah; neither a drought nor a plague was seen like that. So much so that the Masâjid remained locked, and there were no people who prayed therein. This year was called “The Year of the Great Hunger.” (adh-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm’un Nubalâ, Dâr’ul Hadîth print, 13/438)
He also said in another place,[عام الجوع الكبير بالَأندلس]
وفيها كان القحط العظيم بالَأندلس والوباء. ومات الخلق بإشبيلية، بحيث أن المساجد بقيت مُغلقة ما لها من يصلي بها. ويُسمّى عام الجوع الكبير
“The Year of the Great Hunger in al-Andalus:
A great drought and plague took place in al-Andalus. A large number of people died in Ishbîliyyah. So much so that Masâjid were locked; there was no person who prayed inside. This year was called “The Year of the Great Hunger.” (adh-Dhahabî, Târîkh’ul Islâm, Thq. Tadmûrî, 30/25)
Wazîr Abû’l Mudhaffar Rahimahullâh, as known as Sibt Ibn’ul Jawzî (the grandson of Ibn’ul Jawzî), narrated this issue in general, saying,فلا يرَون إلَّا أسواقًا خاليةً، وأبوابًا مغلقة، وتعدَّى الوباءُ إلى أذربيجان
“…No market was seen except that it was not empty. Again, no doors were seen except that they locked. Then, the disease spread towards Azerbaijan…” (Sibt Ibn’ul Jawzî, Mir’ât’uz Zamân, 19/12-13)
The Epidemic Disease which Occurred in the Year 749H
The scholar of history Taqiyy’ud Dîn al-Maqrizî Rahimahullâh narrates the plague that took place this year as follows,وتعطل الْأَذَان من عدَّة مَوَاضِع وَبَقِي فِي الْموضع الْمَشْهُور بِأَذَان وَاحِد … وغلقت أَكثر الْمَسَاجِد والزوايا.
“… In more than one place, the Adhân was stopped being recited and only one Adhân was left in well-known places… Most of the Masâjid and Zawâyâ (pl. Zâwiyah; monasteries) were locked.” (al-Maqrizî, as-Sulûk li Ma’rifati Duwal’il Mulûk, 4/88)
As seen, Masâjid being closed due to infectious diseases is an application that has been repeated more than once in the Lands of Islâm.
Those who are within the scope of this virus should be subject to the example of Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam, not to leave the place where they are located and to stay away from crowded places as much as possible. We must avoid being sick and transmitting the disease to the same extent and must take the necessary measures. Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam said,“There is no harm and no reciprocating harm.” (Ibnu Mâjah, Hadîth no. 2340-2341)
This event also caused us to feel the breath of death on our necks more closely. Allâh Taâlâ said,وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ
“And the stupor of death comes with truth.” (Qâf 50/19)
What befalls us is not to wish being exposed to trials. However, if trials befall us, we should be patient against the trial. As Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam said,أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، لاَ تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ، وَسَلُوا اللَّهَ الْعَافِيَةَ، فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ فَاصْبِرُوا
“O people! Do not wish to face the enemy (in a battle) and ask Allâh for Âfiyah (well-being), but if you should face the enemy, then be patient (against all the hardships of the battle).” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 2965, 2966; Muslim, Hadîth no. 1742)
In the event of facing a trial, we must surrender to the destiny of Allâh, not letting go of steadfastness. In such a situation, what we must do is to say “Innâ Lillâhi wa Innâ Ilayhi Râji’ûn (Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return)”, as our Lord said,وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ. الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ. أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
“And give good tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the (rightly) guided.” (al-Baqarah 2/155-157)
We must decorate these days with doing good deeds, increasing Du’â, night prayer, charity, reciting of the Qur’ân, seeking knowledge, Adhkâr (remembrance), Tawbah (repentance), Istighfâr (seeking forgiveness), and must ask Allâh for help with Salâh (prayer) and patience. In order to get rid of the effect of this virus, prayers can be read like the following prayers mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam,دَعْوَةُ ذِي النُّونِ إِذْ دَعَا وَهُوَ فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ . فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْعُ بِهَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فِي شَيْءٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُ
“The supplication of Dhu’n Nûn (Yûnus Alayh’is Salâm) when he supplicated while in the belly of the whale was, “There is no -true- deity -worthy of worship- except You, Glory to You, Indeed, I have been of the transgressors.” (al-Anbiyâ 21/87) So indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, except Allâh responds to him.” (at-Tirmidhî, Hadîth no. 3505; Ahmad, Musnad, Hadîth no. 1463);
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقُولُ فِي صَبَاحِ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَمَسَاءِ كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَيَضُرُّهُ شَيْءٌ
“There is no worshiper who says, in every morning and night, “In the Name of Allâh, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing…” – three times, (except that) nothing shall harm him”. (at-Tirmidhî, Hadîth no. 3388; Abû Dâwûd, Hadîth no. 5088; Ibnu Mâjah, Hadîth no. 3869);
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ مُذْهِبَ الْبَاسِ اشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شَافِيَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا
“O Allâh! O Lord of the people, the Remover of trouble! Give a cure that will leave behind no ailment! You are the Healer, none brings about healing but You!” (al-Bukhârî, Hadîth no. 5742)
Taking the necessary precautions, tying our camels intact, and trusting Allâh, saying, “Do not punish us because of the foolish ones within us!” and saying, “Give us goodness in this world and give us goodness in the Âkhirah. And protect us from the punishment of the fire.” will be our last word.والله اعلم، وصل الله على محمد، وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
