My dear brothers and sisters! It is about eight months now since Covid 19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The severity of the pandemic still exists, and a surge is expected in the months ahead. According to John Hopkins University of Medicine, as of today, there have been about 9.7 million cases and 235 thousand deaths that have occurred in the United States because of this virus.
Scientists and health experts around the world are still struggling with the current health crisis in their effort to save lives and find a suitable vaccine for the pandemic.
I hope and pray that all of you are doing well and are safe with your families. May Allah keep you and your loved ones and the entire humanity in His divine protection and mercy during these trying times, and always inshaAllah. Ameen.
A question that often comes to the minds of the believers is: “Is the Covid 19, or any calamity for that matter, a punishment, a test, or a blessing from Allah (SWT)?” And this is the topic of my khutba today. To begin with, what do we understand by punishment. From an Islamic perspective, punishment refers to various types of trials, warnings, and disciplinary actions that may be manifested in this life or the afterlife.
Punishment in the afterlife varies in severity and duration depending on the extent of one’s injustice against oneself and others. Similarly, rewards in the afterlife also vary based on the extent of one’s righteousness. The believer should always be mindful of both rewards and punishments, as they motivate righteous conduct and discourage behavior that is unbefitting of a believer.
As for punishments in this life, the Qur’an separates them into two types. The first type is a retributive punishment that constitutes a decisive judgment from Allah. Allah says,
بَلْ تَأْتِيهِم بَغْتَةً فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
“Rather, it will come to them unexpectedly and confound them, and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be given respite.”(Qur’an, 21:40)
The intent behind such sudden punishment includes ending oppression, demonstrating Allah’s attributes of majesty towards a nation that rebelled against their prophet, and teaching future generations. The second type of punishment in this life is not meant to be a decisive judgment, but a deterrent that aims to bring people back to Allah and to reform society.
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأَ كْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
“And We will surely let them taste the nearer (الأدنى) punishment short of the greater (الأكبر) punishment so that perhaps they will return.” (Qur’an, 32:21)
Numerous companions of the Prophet (SAW) and early scholars have interpreted the “nearer punishment” as the difficulties, ailments, and general tests and tribulations of this life that Allah subjects His servants to with the purpose of encouraging them to repent and turn back to Him. Thus, the intention of the “nearer punishment” is to literally bring people nearer to Allah.
When the intention of the punishment is to increase societal harmony, this may be considered compassionate punishment. Therefore, we need to rethink our understanding of punishment, especially when it comes from the One who is more merciful to us than our own mothers.
These compassionate punishments are just like treating a patient with bitter medication or performing surgery on him that, despite being undesirable and possibly painful, may be necessary to achieve health and well-being.
Some afflictions may simply be tests meant to elevate the rank of an already righteous individual and to demonstrate how to deal with difficulties. The afflictions that Prophet Ayyub (AS) dealt with are an example of this.
The benefits or harms achieved are proportionate to the attitude and behavior of each person. Those who feel pain during a test but endure it with patience may have their sins expiated. The Prophet (SAW) said, “No hardship, illness, anxiety, grief, harm, or distress—not even the pricking of a thorn—afflicts a Muslim but that Allah will expiate some of his sins by it.”
Those who are content with Allah’s divine decree may be elevated in rank. The “nearer punishment” only becomes a further punishment for those who object to Allah’s decree and engage in displeasing behavior.
Although the Islamic sources confirm that afflictions, including plague-like epidemics, may constitute “nearer punishments” from Allah, it is beyond human perception to pinpoint the exact causes behind specific afflictions. It is pure conjecture for anyone to claim that the Coronavirus is a punishment to a specific nation (e.g., China) or for a specific reason. Coronavirus is a global pandemic and not an affliction to any particular nation. Allah warns us about speaking on His behalf without knowledge.
أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Or do you speak about Allah that which you do not know?” (al-Baqarah, 2:80)
When Aisha (RA) asked the Prophet (SAW) about the plague, he responded by saying, “It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whomever He wills, but Allah has made it a mercy for the believers. Any servant who resides in a land afflicted by plague, remaining patient and hoping for reward from Allah, knowing that nothing will befall him except what Allah has decreed, will be given the reward of a martyr.”
Therefore, it is reasonable to use the Prophet’s explanation about the plague to understand the Coronavirus. What does the Prophet’s answer teach us? First, we learn that the plague can be a punishment or a mercy. It is a great mercy and blessing for the believer who exercises patience, quarantines himself or herself, hopes in reward from Allah, and accepts that whatever happens is from Allah’s divine decree. The test of this affliction may be a means of forgiveness, elevation of rank, and the reward of martyrdom for the believer. It is a punishment for the one not having iman or who does not respond appropriately.
American Muslims have different patterns of beliefs regarding the Coronavirus as a test, a punishment, and whether they have witnessed any blessings as a result of it. The overwhelming majority believe it is a serious test from Allah and many consider it a punishment.
Studies conducted by the Yaqeen Institute show that those who read the Qur’an regularly were more likely to see blessings in this hardship, even if they also see the Coronavirus as a nearer punishment. The results also show that it may be unhealthy to see the Coronavirus as only a punishment and test, as people who felt this way reported higher anxiety and nervousness.
Pinpointing exactly what the Coronavirus is (a test, a punishment, or both) may not be possible. However, we can ask ourselves, “How have we responded?” “Are we good with our Creator?” This line of questioning is what the Prophet (SAW) directed us to focus on. When a bedouin came to the Prophet (SAW) asking when the final hour would be, the Prophet responded with his own question. He asked the bedouin, “And what have you prepared for it?”
What we learn from the Prophet’s response is that we should not worry about matters of the unseen that are out of our control. Such matters are the domain of Allah’s Lordship and our focus should be on what we will be asked about, This is why when the wind would blow strongly; the Prophet (SAW) would not dwell on whether it was being sent as a punishment or as a blessing. He would simply make du’a, saying, “O Allah, I ask You for its goodness and I take refuge with You from its evil.”
Regardless of whether the Coronavirus is a specific punishment, a wake-up call, or a general test, we begin by asking Allah for any good that may result from it and we seek refuge in Him from its evil. If it’s a punishment, we seek Allah’s forgiveness. If it’s a wake-up call, we should wake up from our heedlessness and focus on pleasing Allah. If it’s a test, we remain patient, engage in righteous deeds, hope for Allah’s reward, and are content with whatever He decrees.
Being grateful to Allah for His infinite blessings is one of the best ways to cope with hardships and please Allah. It also leads to better mental and physical health. We have in the Qur’an:
مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
“What would Allah benefit from punishing you if you are grateful and faithful? And Allah is ever appreciative and all knowing.” (al-Nisa’, 4:147)
Also, Allah promises to protect His servants who seek His forgiveness. Regardless of what mistakes we have made, big or small, Allah forgives our sins if we are truly repentant and mend our ways.
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (39:53)
As the Coronavirus has placed many people in financial hardship, giving charity during this time is incredibly helpful. Charity is a proof of faith. There are many non-profit organizations, such as masajid and relief agencies, that really need our support. Our charity will additionally shade us on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet (SAW) said, “Every person will be shaded by their charity [on the Day of Judgment] until judgment between people has been completed.” May Allah keep us among those who are shaded on the Day of Judgment. Ameen.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
Brothers and sisters! Many people invoke the name of Allah during times of difficulty and promise to change their ways. However, once the relief of Allah comes, they forget about the promises they made to Allah. InshaAllah, at the ordained time, Allah will lift the hardships caused by the Coronavirus. Whatever positive changes we make to our lives during trying times, let’s do our best to continue them when the situation changes for the better. Similarly, whatever bad habits we have been able to abandon during trying times, let’s continue to refrain from them when life returns to normal.
In conclusion, the Coronavirus may be a difficult test, a compassionate admonition from Allah to humanity, or both. Despite the challenges we are all facing; Allah intends good for His servants and wants to bring them near to Him. We should find comfort in knowing that Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child. Part of His mercy is allowing us the opportunity to grow stronger through trials and hardships.
How we react to the test of any calamity determines whether it’s a punishment or a blessing. May Allah make us close to Him always. Ameen. We need to turn back to Allah for He controls everything and He is the one who can relieve us from our difficulties. Besides practicing good hygiene, quarantine, and other preventive measures, we should also comply with the Prophetic teachings to protect ourselves, which are to stay away from sins, to seek Allah’s forgiveness for our past sins, and to invoke Allah through different supplications.
