{"id":5962,"date":"2020-12-12T19:37:41","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T23:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/?p=5962"},"modified":"2020-12-12T19:53:47","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T23:53:47","slug":"nine-advices-as-relates-the-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-shaykh-abdul-azeez-aal-shaykh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/nine-advices-as-relates-the-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-shaykh-abdul-azeez-aal-shaykh.htm","title":{"rendered":"Nine Advices as relates the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic [Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh]"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Name of Allah, al-Ra\u1e25m\u0101n al-Ra\u1e25\u012bm…<\/em><\/p>\n

In these days the world is witnessing the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and is utilizing its collective abilities and potentialities to limit its spread and to mitigate the outcome as relates its health, economic, and societal impact. This matter requires that the scholars and students of knowledge assume their roles in clarifying the legislated methodology of dealing with this new epidemic or other contagious pestilence and illnesses, and in explaining the religious rulings of precautionary measures and protective protocols taken by competent authorities such as: suspending work and schooling; curfews and travel bans; the enforcement of social distancing, nose and mouth covering, and quarantine and home isolation for those who have it<\/em>; as well as other precautionary and protective measures to safeguard human life.<\/p>\n

It is known that Allah legislated the religion of Islam to be the methodology of human living so that they may operate in accordance to its laws and teachings. So there is no matter in life and no newly occurring problem except that it has a ruling in Islam. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have neglected nothing in the Book.\u201d<\/strong> [al An\u2019aam<\/em>: 38]<\/strong><\/p>\n

From such measures and protocols that are legislated in our monotheistic religion that are befitting to utilize at the onset and spread of pestilence and contagious diseases\u2014such as the novel coronavirus\u2014are as follows:<\/p>\n

1.) The ban from entering or exiting localities afflicted with pestilence & illnesses.<\/h2>\n

On the authority of \u2018Abd al-Ra\u1e25maan bin \u2018Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard Allah\u2019s Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) say:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you hear of it\u2014meaning the plague\u2014breaking out in a land, then do not go there. If it takes place in a land that you are in, then do not leave it so as to flee away from it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Messenger of Allah also (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis painful disease was a scourge or a punishment or a remnant of a punishment with which some nations before you were punished. (In one wording: then a remnant of it remained upon earth. It comes and goes from time to time.) Whoever hears of it breaking out in a land, is not to go there. If it takes place in a land that someone is already in, then he is not to be driven to leave by a desire to flee away from it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was also reported from \u2018Umar bin al Kha\u1e6d\u1e6d\u0101b (may Allah be pleased with him) that he once left for al-Sh\u0101m<\/em> (i.e., Syria\/the Levant) and when he approaced al-Sh\u0101m<\/em> he was met by the commanders of the armies: Abu \u2018Ubaydah bin al Jarr\u0101\u1e25 (may Allah be pleased with him) and his counterparts. So they informed him that the pestilence had befallen the land of al-Sh\u0101m. Ibn \u2018Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: So \u2018Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) summoned the \u1e62a\u1e25\u0101bah<\/em> and sought their counsel. He told them that the pestilence had befallen al-Sh\u0101m, and so they differed about what to do.<\/p>\n

Some of them said,\u00a0\u201cYou left for a particular matter and we don\u2019t think that you should turn back from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others said, “You have with you people of posterity and Companions of Allah\u2019s Messenger, and we don\u2019t think that you should continue on with them towards this pestilence.”<\/p>\n

So \u2018Umar may Allah be pleased with him called out to the people,\u00a0\u201cIn the morning I ride and likewise should you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abu \u2018Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) said,\u00a0\u201dIs it to flee from Allah\u2019s Qadar?\u201d<\/p>\n

So \u2018Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, \u201cIf anyone else had said that, O Abu \u2018Ubaydah \u2014Umar disliked that Abu \u2018Ubaydah should differ with him! Yes, we flee from Allah\u2019s Qadar to something that is Allah\u2019s Qadar.\u00a0 What do you think you would do if you had camels that you took to graze in a valley with two pastures: one being fertile and the other one being barren? If you herded them into the fertile pasture wouldn\u2019t you have done so by Allah\u2019s Qadar? And if you herded them into the barren plain, wouldn\u2019t you have done so by Allah\u2019s Qadar?\u201d<\/p>\n

So \u2018Abd al-Ra\u1e25m\u0101n bin \u2018Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), who had been away, attending to some need of his, arrived and said: Indeed I have some knowledge about this. I heard Allah\u2019s Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) say:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you hear of it\u2014meaning the plague\u2014being in a land, then do not go there. If it takes place in a land that you are in, then do not leave it so as to flee from it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

So \u2018Umar praised Allah and later departed.<\/p>\n

2.) Forbiddance from intermingling with those afflicted (with a contagious sickness).<\/h2>\n

Islam affords care to bodily health and preservation of life. It encourages prevention from sicknesses before their onset. So it commands its followers to distance themselves from those stricken with contagious illnesses and to maintain distance from locations containing pestilence and plagues. There has come in \u1e62a\u1e25i\u1e25 Muslim on the authority of al-Shar\u012bd bin \u2018Amr al-Thaqafi may Allah be pleased with him who said: There was a leprous man accompanying the delegation of the Thaq\u012bf tribe. So the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) communicated by a message to him:<\/p>\n

\u201cReturn, for we have accepted your oath of allegiance.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Likewise, he (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) once said:<\/p>\n

\u201cA man with sick camels should not let them graze or drink alongside healthy ones.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meaning: let not the herder of sick camels introduce them to healthy camels.<\/p>\n

Also, he (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) once said:<\/p>\n

\u201cFlee from the leper as you would flee from the lion.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

3.) Encouragement of personal hygiene.<\/h2>\n

Indeed Islam strives to safeguard person hygiene. He (the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) explained that Fi\u1e6drah<\/em> consists of five acts. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fi\u1e6drah<\/em> consist of five: circumcision, shaving of pubic hair, the plucking of the armpit, the trimming of the mustache and the trimming of the fingernails.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

He (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) also forbade from placing one\u2019s hand in a vessel before washing it after waking from sleep. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen one of you awakens from sleeping, let him not submerge his hand in a vessel until he washes it three times. For certainly he does not know where his hand had been.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

He also forbade from breathing into a vessel or from handling the penis with the right hand. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cLet none of you touch their penis with their right hand while urinating. Nor is he to wipe after defecation with his right hand, nor is he to breathe into a eating vessel. (i.e., a plate, bowl, cup or water flask).\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whenever the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would want to sleep while being in a state of janaba<\/em> (i.e., major impurity requiring ghusl<\/em>), he would make wu\u1e0du<\/em>\u2019 and if he wanted to eat, he would wash his hands.<\/p>\n

Also, it has been reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) would sneeze, he would cover his face with his hand or with his garment, and muffle the sound with it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Likewise, He commanded to cover containers. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cCover the vessels and tie the waterskin, for there is a night in a year when pestilence descends, and it does not pass an uncovered vessel or an untied waterskin but some of that pestilence descending into it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In another wording:<\/p>\n

\u201cTie the mouth of your waterskin and mention Allah’s Name; cover your containers and utensils and mention Allah’s Name. Cover them even by placing something across it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

4.) Encouragement of environmental cleanliness.<\/h2>\n

For certainly Islam strives to safeguard environmental safety and cleanliness. It invites to safeguarding the elements and water sources and it forbids from all that is ruinous to the environment or that is disruptive to public utilities. It forbids urinating in still water and from defecating on public pathways or areas of shade. He (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of you should pass urine into still water and then perform Ghusl<\/em> from it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

5.) The command to medicinally treat illnesses.<\/h2>\n

The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) commanded to use remedies to treat sicknesses after their onset. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cTreat yourselves with remedies, oh servants of Allah! For indeed Allah has sent down no disease except that He has sent down with it its cure, except for that of death and old age.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Likewise, He (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAllah has sent down no disease except that He has also sent down a remedy for it. Those who know it, know it and those who are ignorant of it do not.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

6.) Avoiding rumors and frightening people.<\/h2>\n

Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when there comes to them a matter pertaining to public security or fear, they spread it (among themselves). But if only they had instead (first) referred it back to the Messenger and to those charged with authority from amongst themselves, then those who could derive the correct conclusions about it would have known (i.e., the proper course of action). And were it not for Allah\u2019s favor upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a very few of you.\u201d [al-Nisaa\u2019<\/em>: 83].<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is mandatory is that one takes information from competent authorities, just as it is mandatory upon him to ask the people of knowledge about that which is problematic or unclear to him of religious rulings whether that is pertinent to acts of worship or interpersonal dealings. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk ahl al-dhikr<\/em> (i.e., those with knowledge) if you do not know.\u201d [al-Na\u1e25l<\/em>: 43].<\/strong><\/p>\n

7.) Abstaining from taking advantage of these difficult circumstances to monopolize goods or gouge prices unjustifiably.<\/h2>\n

This is due to what monopolizing causes of harm to the general public. He (the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cNone monopolizes (hoards\/withholds essential goods until the prices rise) except for one who is sinful\u201d<\/p>\n

8.) Reliance on Allah and belief in Divine preordainment and predestination.<\/h2>\n

Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cSay: \u2018Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula<\/em> (Lord, Helper and Protector).\u2019 And in Allah let the believers put their trust.\u201d [al-Tawbah<\/em>: 51].<\/strong><\/p>\n

And He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him.\u201d [Yun\u016bs<\/em>: 107]<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is accompanied by taking the legislated means while believing that that does not contradict having reliance on Allah. The Muslim is not to go to extremes in taking the means, believing that they will repel sickness from him by themselves. Instead he is to believe that the entire of the matter is in Allah\u2019s Hand and that what Allah preordains cannot be prevented. (Allah) (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him.\u201d [Yun\u016bs<\/em>: 107]<\/strong><\/p>\n

(The Prophet) (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow that whatever has missed you could not have befallen you and that what has befallen you could never have missed you.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is befitting for the Muslim when stricken by illness to seek reward from Allah as relates what befalls him of sickness. He (the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201dThe plague is martyrdom for every Muslim. \u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sickness is also a purification of his sins. He (the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

“No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

One is to be positive and trust that relief is near and that this epidemic will depart soon, by Allah\u2019s leave. One is not to despair of Allah\u2019s Mercy and they are to be certain that Allah has wise reasons for these sicknesses and calamities.<\/p>\n

9.) Repenting to Allah.<\/h2>\n

For certainly, calamity does not descend except due to sin and it is not removed except through repentance.\u00a0 Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.\u201d [al-Ra\u2019d:<\/em> 11]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd repent to Allah collectively, oh believers, so that you may be successful.\u201d [al-Nur<\/em>: 31]<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is befitting for the Muslim to increase in supplicating, in taking recourse to Allah, and in reciting the forms of dhikr<\/em> and routine invocations that are legislated. He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Lord has said: Call upon me and I shall respond.\u201d [Ghafir<\/em>: 60].<\/strong><\/p>\n

Likewise, He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen My servants ask you about Me, then indeed I am near. I respond to the supplications of the supplicants when they supplicate to Me.\u201d [al Baqarah<\/em>: 186].<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is mandatory upon us is to adhere to having a taqw\u0101<\/em> as relates Allah in private and in public and in every circumstance. Having this fearful and pious consciousness is the legacy that Allah gave to the first of humankind until their last. He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah.\u201d [al-Nisa\u2019<\/em>: 131].<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having taqwa<\/em> for Allah entails the easing of matters and relief from calamities. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.\u201d [al-\u1e6calaq<\/em>: 2-3].<\/strong><\/p>\n

And He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd whoever fears All\u0101h, He will make his affair easy for him.\u201d [al-\u1e6calaq<\/em>: 4].<\/strong><\/p>\n

I advise everyone to cooperate with the competent authorities in confronting this epidemic. He (Allah, the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety).\u201d [al Ma\u2019idah<\/em>: 2].<\/strong><\/p>\n

Likewise, He (the Exalted and Most High) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cO you who have believed, obey All\u0101h and obey the Messenger and those in authority over you.\u201d[al-Nisa\u2019:<\/em> 59].<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abide by the directives and advices put forth by the health authorities and official agencies until this epidemic is under control, by Allah\u2019s permission. Each individual is responsible for protecting himself and whoever he is responsible for.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of the people of his house and he is responsible. A woman is the shepherd of the house of her husband and she is responsible.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is forbidden for a person to subject\u00a0himself or others to destruction and harm. He (the Prophet, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is to be no causing of harm nor reciprocation of harm.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Furthermore, I thank the people of authority in this land for what they put forth and exert of effort for the sake of protecting lives and mitigating the ill-effects of this pandemic. I likewise thank the Saudi Fiqh Council for presenting these sorts of topics.<\/p>\n

Arabic Source:<\/strong> Majallah al Jami\u2019yyah al Fiqhiyyah al-Sa\u2019\u016bdiyyah; \u2018adad kh\u0101\u1e63\u1e63 bi bu\u1e25\u016bth j\u0101\u2019i\u1e25ah fayr\u016bs kurun\u0101<\/em> (The Periodical of the Saudi Fiqh Council; Special Edition for Research Related to The Coronavirus Pandemic [Covid-19]) Introduction to the Special Edition: V. 1, pp. 7-12.<\/a><\/p>\n

This article as a PDF document:<\/strong>\u00a0http:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/9-Advices-as-relates-the-Novel-Coronavirus.pdf<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Translation by: Umar Quinn @AbooSuhailah<\/a> (1442.04.27)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the Name of Allah, al-Ra\u1e25m\u0101n al-Ra\u1e25\u012bm… In these days the world is witnessing the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and is utilizing its collective abilities and potentialities to limit its spread and to mitigate the outcome as relates … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,738,87,927,96,860,64,163,180,89,59],"tags":[240,1585,1589,1527,1583,1580,1584,1595,1591,1590,1558,1556,1588,1593,996,1453,1557,1587,1592,653,245,246,1594,1586],"class_list":["post-5962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiqh-islamic-rulings","category-foods-drinks-medical-treatments","category-general-reminders","category-islaamic-law","category-islamic-manners-behavior","category-news-2","category-original-articles","category-purification","category-questions-answers","category-supplications-fiqh-islamic-rulings","category-translations","tag-shaykh-abdul-azeez-aal-ash-shaykh","tag-articles-about-covid","tag-cleanliness","tag-coronavirus","tag-coronavirus-pandemic","tag-coronavirus-resources","tag-covid-19-fatawa","tag-dhikr","tag-disease","tag-fitrah","tag-islam-and-covid","tag-islamic-covid-regulations","tag-islamic-hygiene","tag-monopolizing","tag-muslim-authorities","tag-muslim-rulers","tag-muslims-and-covid","tag-personal-hygiene","tag-plague","tag-rumors","tag-scholars","tag-senior-scholars","tag-taqwa","tag-umar-quinn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5962"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5968,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5962\/revisions\/5968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}