Islamic Guidelines on Epidemics Can Help People Cope With Covid-19
By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
8 April 2021
Religion is to guide human beings here and hereafter,
notwithstanding the situations, circumstances, and natural disasters of all
hues. Religions teach us how to protect the environment and nature and use them
for the benefit of humankind. If we paid attention to its teachings, we will be
safe from all-natural disasters we have faced.
Quran addresses humankind as the 'Ashraful Makhlooqat',
the most superior of all the creations of God. Humankind is superior of all
because Allah has bestowed upon them His finest wisdom and intellect to
understand His signs and work accordingly. Learned religious scholars have
practiced their intellect on the line of religious teachings and have saved
humanity on various occasions. This world is not permanent, it has to end and
it is the human being who will become the reason behind it.
Allah provided us with the knowledge of every subject from
astronomy to science for the betterment of His creation. During the golden
period of Islam the scholars of medicine, astronomy, and all other fields of
science have worked for the betterment of humankind and have successfully given
the world the knowledge that is still in use.
The modern days' scientists have used the knowledge bestowed
upon them by God for the devastation of human being more than its well-being.
The knowledge of science could have been a boon for humankind but, thanks to
the greed and sense of superiority of human beings it has become a bane.
Mosques opened across
the country on Sunday except in the holy city of Mecca to curb the spread of
the coronavirus [Reuters]
-----
Divine signs are there for us to understand as to what kinds
of natural disasters are there in the pipeline. Animals understand the natural
signs and most of them save themselves from the disasters but human being falls
prey because it does not study natural signs of God.
History shows that there have been devastating pandemics in
the past also, therefor Covid-19 pandemic is not a bolt from the blue.
At present world is facing the deadly pandemic Covid-19. It
is more than seventeen months old now but world scientists have not come to any
conclusion regarding its signs and cure. The preventive acts are also not
working as per the saying, 'prevention is better than cure. The cure; the
Covid-19 vaccines are also in the early stages and is under study, creating a
sense of doubtful fear. Anyways, something is better than nothing. It is better
to take the jab and go with the preventive acts.
------
Preventive Actions for All Kinds of Pandemics According
To Islam
Quran and Ahadees have numerous Ayats and narrations which
tell us that Islam has informed the believers of the danger of epidemics and
pandemics centuries ago and has commanded to take preventive actions to keep
safe of the deadly pandemics. Had Ayats and Ahadees been followed by the world,
epidemics and pandemics would not have been so destructive. The preventive
actions instructed by Islam are the rules of a healthy and clean life that even
medical science is recommending now. In this regard, the Holy Quran says:
“Believers, take precautions.”
Surah 'An-Nisa` 4:71
Precaution is better than cure, it is said. Had the
precautions been taken early, the world today had not been mired in the deadly
pandemic which has resulted in innumerable deaths, poverty and destruction of
world economy. The Quran also advises taking advice from the people who are in
the knowing. Consider the following verse:
And We sent not before you
except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message
if you do not know. - Surah An-Nahl
- 16:43 (Sahih International)
Because of the Covid-19, we are being advised to wash our
hands at regular intervals and maintain distance as preventive measures but
Allah, all Knower, has commanded its followers to keep clean in the following
two verses:
“Surely Allah loves those who
are most repenting and loves those who keep themselves pure." (Quran
2:222) - Mufti Taqi Usmani
....and Allah loves those
observing purity. Surah At-Tawbah - 9:108 - Mufti Taqi Usmani
The followers of Muhammad (SAW) are aware of his famous
saying:
“Cleanliness is half of faith.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Cleanliness being called ‘half of faith’ establishes its
importance for Muslims. Thus those who perform Wuzu five times a day maintain
the preventive measure of the present pandemic and Namaz thereafter is good for
physical exercise creating immunity in the body.
Hazrat Ayesha (RA) also narrates
“Be clean, Islam is clean.”
According to other Ahadees:
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah
(SWT) is Clean and loves those who are clean... is Generous and loves those who
are generous. Always keep your
courtyards and public places clean.”
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “When
you cough or yawn, place your hand in front of your face (mouth) and lower your
head.
Abdourahmane Ibn ‘Awf narrates:
Prophet (PBUH) said: “When an
epidemic breaks out in the land where you are, do not leave and flee from it.
When you hear of an epidemic outbreak in another land, do not go there.”
Muhammad (SAW) on Quarantine
Cafer Karadas, professor of Divinity at Uludag University
says that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had described the importance of quarantine
during his lifetime. He refers to the following widely known Hadees to prove
his point.
“When you hear that [a plague] is
in a land, do not go to it and if it occurs in a land that you are already in,
then do not leave it, fleeing from it.” (TRT World)
Muhammad (SAW) on Shaking of Hands
An expert in the High Council of Turkey’s Directorate of
Religious Affairs, Huseyin Ari, describes how Prophet Muhammad (SAW) refused to
shake hands when he came to know of a member of the delegation suffering from a
the contagious disease, as under:
“When Muhammad (SAW) was in
Medina and was about to make an agreement with one of the delegations, he
refused to shake hands with one of the people [from the delegation], who had a
contagious disease, sending him back [to where he came from],” (TRT World)
Hadees on Prayers at Home
Narrated Nafi', "Allah's Messenger used to tell the
Muezzin (who calls Azaan) to pronounce Azaan and say, Al Salat Fi
Beyootikum" (Pray at homes) in place of "Hayya Alasalah" (Come
for the prayer) at the end of the Azaan, on a rainy or a very cold night during
the journey. (Al Bukhari, Book Call for Prayers)
All the above-mentioned Ahadees and descriptions from the
life of Muhammad (SAW) are the preventive measures in the face of an epidemic
break-out. The same measures for the prevention of Covid-19 have been announced
by nations around the world. People who have to believe in the above-mentioned
preventive measures are safe and will remain safe, Insha’Allah.
------
------
Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com
URL:
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism