Brothers and sisters! Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed us with a deen or way of life that is complete and perfect for all times and places. Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “Today I have perfected your deen for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a deen for you.” (al-Ma’idah, 5:3). We also have in the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the best of examples, as Allah says in the Qur’an: “You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much.” (al-Ahzab, 33:21).
Whenever and whatever problem or issue a Muslim faces, he should turn back to Allah and his Messenger for guidance. There is nothing that happens in the life of a Muslim except that his deen has a solution to it. We are presently confronted with Coronavirus which has become pandemic, spreading across the entire globe, affecting the lives of many people and causing death to many.
There are a number of thoughts that should cross the mind of a Muslim when they hear of something like this. I want to share some thoughts that we could remember and internalize when we see or hear of such occurrences.
First of all, we should know that trials and tribulations are part of life. This is something that Allah informs us of and warns us so that when we are afflicted, we remember that it is ultimately Allah who controls all our affairs. It is He who will provide help and His knowledge of our affairs surpasses our restricted knowledge and intellect. Ayah 214 of Surat al-Baqarah says:
“Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so shaken that even the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹ near.”(al-Baqarah, 2:214)
Allah sends us tests to see how we react and how we handle them. How are we going to respond to those tests? Ayah 155 of Surat al-Baqarah says: “And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient ones” (al-Baqarah, 2:155). So how do we respond to a calamity? The ayah that comes immediately after the previous ayah tells us: “Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” (al-Baqarah, 2:156).
A Muslim is patient in trials. He knows Allah will never forsake him, nor will Allah burden him with a trial that is more than what he can handle. Illnesses and viruses such as the Coronavirus are not something new, nor is the fact that people are afflicted with illnesses. The companions once asked the Prophet (SAW): “Oh Messenger of Allah, who from amongst the people were tested the most? The Prophet (SAW) replied: the Prophets, then the next best and then the next best.”
We see that Ayyub (AS) was tested with a great illness. His story is a story of patience. He lost everything; his health, his wealth, and his family. Yet, we find that he did not give up hope in Allah and turned to him in this great trial. Allah says: “So We answered him and removed his affliction and We gave him his family and the like of them with them, as a mercy from Us and a reminder to Worshippers.”
The story of Prophet Ayyub (AS) is filled with lessons for us to ponder upon. The virtue of patience is shown to us in Prophet Ayyub (AS) through some of the most difficult situations that one can come across in life.
Brothers and sisters! The concept of fate or pre-destination is extremely important for a Muslim to understand. When incidents such as the Coronavirus occur, a Muslim should know that this is what Allah had decreed. We learn through a hadith that says: “And know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.” Allah will never harm us nor does He want evil to befall us. We may think something is bad for us due to our restricted knowledge, but there is always good in a situation. Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows and you do not.’ (al-Baqarah, 2:216)
A believer has two positions when it comes to pre-destination: one is before the situation occurs, and one is after it occurs. Before the situation he seeks help from Allah, makes du’a to Him, and relies upon Him. He asks Allah for good to come from it. After the situation, if the result was positive and good the person thanks Allah. If the event had a negative outcome, the person is patient because he knows that Allah will never forsake him even if it seems the result is negative, because indeed Allah is the best of planners. A Muslim should not overreact; at the same time he should not be careless about a situation and do nothing to resolve it. Taking the necessary means and precautions and then relying upon Allah is something which is emphasized in Islam.
Many of the health guidelines given by the Health care organizations are in fact normal practices for Muslims. Some of these guidelines are as follows:
- Washing hands: This is a part of ablution, a Muslim’s daily ritual of purity.
- General cleanliness: The Prophet (SAW) said: “Purity is half of iman.” This means that keeping our surroundings tidy and maintaining personal hygiene must be adhered to.
- Covering the mouth when sneezing: The Prophet (SAW) would cover his mouth when he sneezed. This basic etiquette can take a big part in stopping spread of viruses
- Quarantine in times of viruses which can spread: The Prophet (SAW) gave instructions on what to do if there is an outbreak. We learn through a hadith that says: “If you hear about plague is in a land, do not go there, and if it breaks out in a land where you are, do not leave, fleeing from it.”
We should always try to have a positive outlook regardless of the situation we are in. This is what Prophet (SAW) taught us, when he said:
“Amazing is the affair of the believer. Indeed, all of his affairs are good and this is not for anyone other than the believer. If something of good befalls him, he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him, he is patient and that is good for him.”
The deadly Coronavirus is a reminder to us all of our weak state. Regardless of our social standing and our financial position, we are helpless. Allah says: “Mankind was created weak.” (an-Nisa’, 4:28). We need to turn back to Allah for He controls everything and He is the one who can relieve us from our difficulties. The Prophet (SAW) has taught us to protect ourselves by invoking Allah through different du’as, for example:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“In the name of Allah with whose name nothing can harm on earth or in heaven, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing”
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
“I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.”
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
“I seek refuge in Allah and His Power from the evil that afflicts me and that which I fear.”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ وَالْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ .
“O Allah, I seek refuge in you from leprosy, madness, elephantiasis, and evil diseases.”
