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The Islamic Perspective of Corona Virus and Useful Guidelines
The Islamic Perspective of Corona Virus and Useful Guidelines
The Islamic Perspective of Corona Virus and Useful Guidelines
To date, China’s National Health Commission’s has recorded 79,257 cases in the mainland, and
2,835 deaths. Globally, 6,445 cases have now been confirmed outside of China, bringing the total
number to 85,702. The virus has spread to 61 countries and territories.1 The virus is spreading even
more. The virus is now in USA.
There is much speculation as to what has caused the virus. Most researchers believe that the virus
may have been passed from bats to another animal either snakes or pangolins and then transmitted
to humans. This transmission likely occurred in the open food markets in Wuhan, China.2
The coronavirus spreads through respiratory vapor. It could spread through a person sneezing or
coughing around you.3
It is our belief that every virus, epidemic and sickness is decreed only by Allah. An epidemic does
not spread by itself. This is understood from the following Hadith:
)٥٧٥٧ : (صحيح البخاري........ الَ َع ْد َوى َوالَ يط َََيَة:ال
َ َصلهى هللاُ َعلَْي يه َو َسله َم ق
َ هبي ي َع ْن أيَِب ُهَريْ َرَة َر يض َي ه
َعن الن يي،ُاَّللُ َعْنه
It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) that Nabi ﷺsaid, “there is no transitive disease and no
evil omen ………” (Sahih Al- Bukhari: 5757)
فَيَأْتي َيها،ال ال يظيبَ ياء
َ َالرَم يال أ َْمث
تَ ُكو ُن يِف يي،ت ا يإلبيل ٌّ الَ َع ْد َوى فَ َق َام أ َْعَري:صلهى هللاُ َعلَْي يه َو َسله َم قَ َال
َ َ ْ أ ََرأَي:اِب فَ َق َال
ول هي
َ اَّلل َ إي هن َر ُس:ال أَ هن أ َََب ُهَريْ َرةَ َر يض َي ه
َ َاَّللُ َعْنهُ ق
)٥٧٧٥ : فَ َم ْن أ َْع َدى األَهو َل (صحيح البخاري:صلهى هللاُ َعلَْي يه َو َسله َم َ هب ُّ ب؟ قَ َال الني
ُ ب فَتَ ْجَر
ُ َجَر
ي
ْ البَعَيُ األ
Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Nabi ﷺsaid, “there is no transitive disease”. A Bedouin got up
and said, “Don't you see how camels on the sand look like deer but when a camel with scabies mixes with them, they
all get infected with scabies?” On that the Prophet ﷺsaid, “Then who conveyed the disease to the first camel?”
(Sahih Al- Bukhari: 5775)
It is clear from the above Ahadith that an epidemic/virus does not independently spread. It is
decreed by Allah and spreads by the will of Allah.
We live in a world of apparent cause and effect. Allah has created an apparent cause for the
epidemic/virus to spread.
During the rule of Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu), a sever plague broke out in Syria (Sham) which
claimed the lives of thousands of people.4 If a Muslim passes away in a plague/epidemic, he will be
considered a Shaheed (martyr).5
Hereunder are some Islamic guidelines on what we should do in our circumstance of the Corona
Virus.
1. Correct our belief/ Aqidah:
It is our belief that every condition is decreed by Allah. Allah Ta’ala says:
)٥١ :ٱَّللي فَلْيَ تَ َوهك يل ٱلْ ُم ْؤيمنُو َن (التوبة
ٱَّللُ لَنَا ُه َو َم ْولَٰى نَا َو َعلَى ه
ب ه ه ي ي
َ َقُل لن يُصيبَ نَآ إهال َما َكت
Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and
Protector). And in Allah let the believers put their trust. (Surah Taubah: 51)
Sa’ad (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates from Nabi ﷺ, “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it;
and if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave from it.” (Sahih Al- Bukhari: 5728)
If possible, as a matter of precaution, it is advisable to abandon all travel plans.
3. Taharah and Cleanliness:
Shariah has emphasised on cleanliness and purity. Nabi ﷺsays:
اإلميَ ي
)٢٢٣ :ان (صحيح مسلم ور َشطْر ْي ُّ ي ه ول هللاي َ ه ٍي
َع ْن أيَِب َمالك ْاألَ ْش َع ير يي
ُ ُ الط ُه:صلى هللاُ َعلَْيه َو َسل َم ُ ال َر ُس
َ َ ق:ي قَ َال
Abu Malik Al- Ash’ari (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Nabi ﷺsaid: “Cleanliness is half of faith” (Sahih
Muslim: 223)
)٢٧٤٥ : (سنن الرتمذي........ أ َْو بيثَ ْوبييه,س َغطهى َو ْج َههُ بييَ يدهي ي
َ َوسلم َكا َن إذَا َعط
َ صلى هللا َعليه أَ هن الني ه,ََع ْن أيَِب ُهَريْ َرة
َ هب
It has been narrated from Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu) that: Whenever Nabi ﷺwould sneeze, he
would cover his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth …… (Sunan Al-Tirmidhi: 2745)
4. Disinfectants from Shariah
Coronavirus has been classified as an airborne disease. One possible way of preventing the virus
from spreading is to disinfect the air with Loban and similar disinfectants.
)٢٤٤٨ ،ص ْع َيرت (املطالب العالية تَب هخروا يِف ب يوتي ُكم يَبللُّب ي:اَّلل علَي يه وسلهم
َوال ه، َوالْ ُميير،ان ول هي
َ ْ ُُ ُ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُصلهى ه َ اَّلل ُ ال َر ُس
َ َق
Rasulullah ﷺstates, ‘Fumigate your houses with Loban, Murr (type of grass) and Sa’tar (pleasant smelling plant)’
(Al- Matalibul Aliyah, 2448)6
)٦٤٧ ، عليك َبللبان فإنه يشجع القلب ويذهب َبلنسيان (الطب النبوي:جاء رجل إىل علي بن أِب طالب رضي هللا عنه فشكى إليه النسيان فقال
A man came to Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), he complained of having a weak memory. Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu)
replied: Make use of Loban, for verily it strengthens the heart and enhances the memory. (At- Tibun Nabawi, 647)
وُدخا ُن اللييب ي، التييني الْيابيس إيذَا أُكيل:ان يويرََث ين الْع ْقل
)٢٣٤٨ :ان إيذَا ُيبيَر بييه (اجملالسة ي ٍي
َ َ َ َ ُ َ ُ َ َ ُ َ َشْي ئ:ال َُْي ََي بْ ُن َخالد
َ َق
Yahya bin Khalid states, two items that strengthen the brain, consuming a dry fig and the fumes of burnt Loban.
(Al- Mujalash: 2348)7
Loban is the resin of a tree, Styrax Benzoin. It is extracted by making an incision on the stem of the
tree; the secreted liquid is collected dried and sold for usage. It is the source of Benzoin acid, when
burnt, its fumes are used as a deodorant and as an antiseptic in sick rooms and hospitals. The
fumigation of Loban serves as a good insect repellent, antiseptic and fights epidemics.8
5. Turn to Allah Ta’ala with Dua and seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) and offer Sadaqah:
When we experience any calamity, we should address it from a practical dimension as well as from
a spiritual dimension. While the world Health Organizations are researching the cause of the
Coronavirus and its cure, the Ummat should also engage in Dua and seek forgiveness from Allah
Ta’ala. This virus could attack anyone at any time. Making Istighfar invokes the mercy of Allah and
changes negative conditions into positive conditions.
This is stated in the following verses of the Quran:
ٍ وميُْ يد ْد ُكم يِبَمو ٍال وبنيني وََيعل لَ ُكم جن. ي ريس يل ال هسماء علَي ُكم يم ْدرارا. استَ غْ يفروا ربه ُكم إينهه َكا َن َغفهارا....
)١٢ - ١٠ :هات َوََْي َع ْل لَ ُك ْم أ َْنَ ًارا (نوح َ ْ ْ َْ َ َ ََ َ ْ ْ َ ً َ ْ ْ َ َ َ ُْ ً ُ ْ َ ُ ْ
…. Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. 'He will send rain to you in abundance.
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Surah Nuh:
10 - 12)
We advise the following Dua be recited as much as possible:
)١٥٥٤ :اللهم إين أعوذ بك من الربص واْلنون واْلذام ومن سيئ األسقام (ابو داؤد
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, insanity, elephantiasis (type of skin disease), and evil diseases.” (Abu
Dawood: 1554)9
Abdullah bin ‘Amr (Radiyallahu Anhu) said: Nabi ﷺwas never obscene or coarse. The Prophet would say,
“Verily, the best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.” (Sahih Al- Bukhari: 3559)
)٤٧٩٨ : إ هن امل ْؤيم َن ليُد يرُك يِبُس ين ُخلُ يق يه درجةَ الصائيم القائيم (سنن اِب داود:رسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم يقول
َ َسعت
ُ : قالت،عن عائشة
ُ
Aishah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Nabi ﷺsaid: “Verily, the believer may reach by his good character the
rank of one who regularly fasts and stands for prayer at night.” (Sunan Abi Dawood: 4798)
It is our heartfelt Dua that Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us and remove this Coronavirus calamity
from us. Aameen.
It is now the time to turn towards Allah with Dua and Zikr. Allah alone has power over everything.
Allah Ta’ala says:
)١٧ :اَّللُ َعلَ َى ُك ييل َش ْي ٍء قَ يدير (املائدة ك ال هسماو ي
ات َواأل َْر ي
ض َو ي
يي
َ َ ُ َْو يَّلل ُمل
And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He
)wills, and Allah has power over all things. (Al- Ma’idah: 17
Indeed, Allah is in charge. Allah is in control of everything.
1 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/26/asia/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-update-intl-hnk/index.html
2 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/26/what-is-coronavirus-symptoms-wuhan-china-covid-19
https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-covid-19#coronavirus-types
https://www.sciencealert.com/coronavirus
3 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html