Coronavirus: An Islamic Perspective - Shaykh Mustafa Abu Rayyan

Khutbah Opening

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and from the evils of our deeds.

Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever He misguides, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, pure of heart, of His creation, and of His friends.

Allah has sent him to all people as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. So he conveyed the message and fulfilled the trust, and advised the ummah. And he left us on the white pilgrimage — its night is like its day; none can escape it except through destruction. So peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and upon his family and companions, and upon those who follow his guidance and call to his call until the Day of Judgment.

Allah Almighty says:

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.

O you people! Fear your Lord, Who created you from one soul, and created from it a wife, and spread among them many men and women. And fear Allah, about Whom you ask, and the wombs. Verily, Allah is ever watching over you.

O you who believe! Fear Allah and say the right words. He will amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great triumph.

My dear ones in Allah, I advise you and myself to fear Allah and do good. Verily, Allah is with those who fear Him and are doers of good.

Life is a Test

My brothers and sisters, Allah in the Quran tells us among the reasons why He created us, and why we are in this world and why we exist. Allah tells us that this is a trial and a test.

It is Allah that created life and death to see and to test you — what you will do, and which one of you will have the best of actions.

And the Muslim has to always be in that mindset. Every aspect of your life is a test. Sometimes your life is good. Sometimes you are healthy. Sometimes you have wealth. And other times you might be struggling and you might be sick. Both are a test. Like Allah says in the Quran:

So it is extremely important that you always keep in mind that you are being tested by Allah. And every scenario that you are in and every situation that you are in, Allah is looking at how you will react and what you will do.

And the most important thing for the Muslim is always to be connected with Allah. So when you are blessed and good things happen, you thank Allah first and foremost. You recognize that it is Allah that has given this to you in the first place. So your immediate reaction is always going back to the One who created you, to Allah. And similarly, when we are sick, or when we are in trouble, or when we have personal problems, our first reaction should be that we go back to Allah. And this is why we are here — it is to have that relationship with Allah.

So remember, whatever you are going through right now — good or bad — if you just got married or if you are going through a divorce, if you just recovered from an illness or if you are just getting ill right now, any situation that you are in, if you are low on money or alhamdulillah you have a high income, it is all a test. And the one who is struggling must have patience the same way the one who has it good must be grateful. And this is your responsibility, and this is how you worship Allah.

And our messengers were tested. And more often than not these tests were the difficult ones. You would have prophets that would be tested with poverty, with illness. And sometimes, my brothers and sisters, these tribulations and these trials are not only on an individual level. Sometimes they are on a societal level. Sometimes a whole country might be struggling with a famine. Or an illness might break out.

The Coronavirus: A Reminder of Our Need for Allah

And I am sure most of you are aware of what is happening in the globe right now — how there is this virus, this microscopic virus that is spreading over the globe. And this is a reminder of how weak we are. And it is a reminder of how much we need Allah.

And this is why among Allah's beautiful names is As-Samad. And what does As-Samad mean? It is the One Whom we turn back to with all our needs. It is the One that is completely independent, and everything else is dependent on Allah. So we are dependent upon Allah for everything. And this is why sometimes Allah tests us in different ways — whether they are individual or on a larger scale.

Among these tests are illnesses. And when we get ill or when we get sick, sometimes people have serious illnesses — you can be diagnosed with cancer, or you can have a small illness and be having a flu. Each is a test from Allah. And for the believer it is not only a test, it is also a mercy.

Now one could argue: how is getting sick mercy? And this is why Allah and His Messenger has told us that every single time you struggle, every single time that you go through a problematic phase in your life — and that doesn't have to be only physical or physiological, it could be mental, it could be something regarding your relationships — every time you are stressed and in distress, it is a rahmah from Allah. How so? Because Allah is cleansing you from your sins. And yes, we are all guilty of sins, because we are all human beings that make mistakes.

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Hadith 4251; classed as hasan by al-Albānī)

All of mankind fall into mistakes and sin often, and the best of those are those that repent to Allah often.

The Sunnah of Patience in Illness

So what does the Muslim do when he is tested with an illness? Look no further than our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. During the last period of his life, he struggled. He was extremely ill — especially the illness that led to his death ﷺ. And from him we learn the sunnah of patience. The Prophet ﷺ, just because he was ill, did not leave off his responsibilities. He was still trying to lead the prayer. He was still trying to fulfill his responsibilities. He was still connected to Allah. He was exercising patience. And this is what the believer should do.

And also — go back to Allah all the time, every time. It doesn't matter if it is a small headache. Ask Allah to relieve you from it. Because it is a form of worship to ask Allah. It is a form of worship to make du'a to Allah. And use every opportunity in your life — whether something good comes your way or something bad — for it to become a way for you to fulfill your purpose, which is to worship Allah. Get into the habit of returning back to Allah. And also thanking Allah for giving you a means to cleanse you from sin.

Yes, you might be ill. Yes, you might be struggling. But we always have to remember that this life is temporary. This life is temporary and we are traveling to the hereafter. And if Allah knows that you cannot enter into Jannah just with your deeds, then Allah makes you go through trials so that He can lessen your burden, lessen your sins, so that you may enter Jannah. This is a good thing.

Now, that being said, it is extremely important that we ask Allah to heal us. What did Ayub (AS) do? When he was bedridden for 18 years, as some of the ayat mention, he was extremely sick. At some point he asked Allah, and Allah tells us how he asked Him:

Indeed, harm has touched me. Indeed, O Allah, I am struggling and harm has touched me — and You are the most merciful of all those who have mercy. Allah said: We relieved the difficulty and the pain that he was in, and removed his illness. This is the Sunnah of the Prophets. So always turn back to Allah — before you even seek other cures and medicine. And even when you seek cure and medicine, it is Allah that heals. Not the cure, not the medicine, not the doctor and the medication. They are a means — a means that Allah provided for us, and that we must seek out.

Plagues and Infectious Disease: The Prophetic Guidance

Now, among the types of tests that we go through as human beings in general are tests that are a lot more widespread, that are a lot bigger in scale — such as plagues, infectious diseases that spread and spread, and many people become ill and many people die. And this is not something new. This virus that is spreading all over the globe right now isn't the first one.

And as Muslims, what is our reaction towards this? How should we see this? What should we do regarding it? To begin with, we must understand it is Allah that brings about these illnesses, and it is only Allah that can take them away. Whenever Allah decides to bring harm, only Allah can relieve that. And if Allah decides to bring good, only Allah can take it away. Ultimate power belongs to Allah.

So why do these things happen? Our Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith that these types of illnesses and disease — these types of infectious disease that spread rapidly, the ta'oon or plagues — they used to be a form of punishment when people go astray, when evil becomes widespread. It used to be a form of punishment. But the Prophet ﷺ amazingly said that it is a rahmah for the believer:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3474; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2218)

And it is a rahmah for the believer. Now one might think: how is this rahmah? It is extremely important to understand that from the get-go, all of it is a test. And yes, Allah does punish sometimes. But Allah is more merciful than He is one that brings about punishment. So how is this rahmah for the believer? The Prophet ﷺ said that if one is a believer and these diseases — these rapidly spreading diseases — affect him and he dies as a result, then he is a shaheed. He is a shaheed — meaning he will go to Jannah. SubhanAllah.

The Story of the Plague During the Time of Umar ibn al-Khattab

And from this we also understand — if we look at our history — that during the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه), there was an outbreak that happened in Palestine. And the Sahaba were travelling towards it, and many Sahaba died because of this plague. Among them, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Mu'adh ibn Jabal, and Bilal ibn Rabah — amazing companions that we all know.

Now, Umar ibn al-Khattab and many companions were travelling towards this place and they found out that this disease was spreading rapidly. And then Umar stopped and he started consulting the companions. At first he called the Muhajirun and said: What should we do? Should we keep travelling, or should we go back? And they differed among themselves. Some said: We should have reliance on Allah — we were going on our way, we already travelled this much, only Allah harms and only Allah benefits, we are going to go. Others said: No. Why should we go and put ourselves in harm's way? We are going to go back.

Then Umar consulted the Ansar, and the Ansar differed among themselves as well. Then Umar ibn al-Khattab said: Call me the earlier companions — the ones that migrated with the Prophet, the sabiqoon, the elder companions, the wisest among them. And he consulted with them and they all agreed that they should not go.

Umar ibn al-Khattab did not know at that time that the Prophet ﷺ had explicitly said in a hadith — the Sahaba did not all know every hadith, because the Prophet would tell a group of them and some of them would not be present, and then later on they would find out. This is why one individual companion doesn't have all the knowledge. Umar ibn al-Khattab, being amongst the most knowledgeable of the companions, he didn't know everything. So he consulted the companions and they agreed that they would go back and not put themselves in harm's way.

Then Umar found out that the Prophet ﷺ had actually said this — a hadith that is in Bukhari:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5728; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2218)

If a plague happens — an outbreak, a disease that is affecting everybody in a town, or a city, or a place — then let those who are in that city not flee from it. And let those that are outside from it not enter it. SubhanAllah.

It makes sense that if you're not in the city, why would you go? Why would one of us now want to go and travel knowing that this outbreak is mostly there? We wouldn't go. Now the question comes: what is wrong with the person that is in the city leaving? And in fact our scholars and jurists — like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — mention that if this happens to you individually and you are in a city where an outbreak happens — and we're not talking about regular illnesses by the way, we're talking about a disease that's infectious, that can be carried on to others, that might cause a bigger problem — then you are required Islamically to stay in that place and have patience.

Now the question: what if you're not infected? Why would you stay and take that risk? Now we know that sometimes you could be carrying a disease and not know that you have it, and the symptoms will show a lot later. Or you might be immune but you could be a carrier and carry it to others. So SubhanAllah — a thousand four hundred years ago, our Messenger prescribed isolation and quarantine for these types of diseases, showing you the completeness of our religion. SubhanAllah.

So remember the earlier hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said: if this calamity befalls you and you are among those that are suffering from the plague or from this illness, and you die as a result, then you are a shaheed. And those that are not in that city are protected because no one is leaving.

Now, some of the scholars say that if the authorities decide to quarantine a place, Islamically this is allowed as long as it is for the safety of the people outside. And mitigating risk and preserving life is part and parcel of our religion.

This, O beloved ones in Allah, shows you a few things. It shows you how much depth there is in our religion and understanding. And also it shows you SubhanAllah — the rahmah of Allah — that even if you are suffering, if you are in such a situation and you die as a result, that you are a shaheed. And also remember, more importantly, that it is a test from Allah. Therefore what is required from you in that kind of situation? To have patience, and to make du'a, and to return back to Allah.

And all of us that are watching parts of the world struggle — it should be a reminder of how much we need Allah. And it should be a reminder for us to repent to Allah, and ask Him to keep us away from harm.

Oh Allah, we ask You to keep us away from all types of harm. And we ask You to relieve all these illnesses and relieve this calamity that has befallen us. Ameen ya rabbal alameen.

The Completeness of Islam: Cleanliness and Preventive Measures

Another point I want to highlight is with regards to our beautiful religion — that it is a religion of mercy and kindness. And SubhanAllah it is among the responsibilities upon the Muslim to know what's happening around him and to make sure that they are taking care of one another.

Speaking on the completeness of our religion and how it always gives sound advice — like Allah says in the Quran when speaking about the Quran:

Allah sent a messenger from Him, reciting purified pages — meaning the Quran — and in it are commandments that are beneficial, upright, and correct. If you follow the Quran and the Sunnah, they will always guide you to that which is correct and they will always keep you safe.

Now, from this illness and from this disease that is spreading, what are some of the advice that we are hearing from the authorities? We are hearing that you have to focus on cleanliness. You have to wash your hands. And the last — O beloved ones in Allah — the Sunnah of ablution and wudu. Make wudu as often as possible. And did you know that there is something known as تَجْدِيدُ الْوُضُوء — even if you have wudu, you can renew it again and you get rewarded for it. It is Sunnah. So keep making wudu. Instead of just washing your hands, make wudu. And this will help you gain reward and it will prevent you from perhaps catching this disease — and this is the advice that we are getting from the medical professionals as well.

Another one is that you should cover your mouth when you're sneezing or use a tissue. Did you know in Abu Dawud, it is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ when he would sneeze, he would say الحمدُ للهِ and he would also cover his mouth when sneezing or use a cloth.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 5029; Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2745)

So it is Sunnah to do so. And perhaps applying this Sunnah will take a huge part in lowering the risk.

Another one, O beloved ones in Allah, is generally being conscious of your health. And this is generally important in Islam because preserving life is so important, health is extremely important. Most things that are haram for us to consume are bad for our health. We are not allowed to smoke because it is bad for our health. We are not allowed to drink alcohol because it is bad for our health.

So, O beloved ones in Allah, remember — you apply the Sunnah and insha'Allah ta'ala Allah will save you. And if you are afflicted with an illness, remember it is a mercy from Allah and Allah is cleansing you from sin. Remember these guidelines that you can find from the Sunnah and from the Shari'ah. And you can see from all these ahadith insha'Allah ta'ala that we have shared how complete our religion is. And always remember — this is a test from Allah. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. And we need to be patient with all forms of calamities whether they are individual or on a societal level. And we should always thank Allah for all the blessings He has given us.

Visiting the Sick: An Islamic Obligation

It is among the rights of the Muslim — or the responsibilities upon the Muslim — to know what's happening around him and to make sure that they are taking care of one another. This is why it is among the rights that we should visit one another when we are sick.

The Prophet ﷺ said that among the rights of the believer is to visit him when he is sick. And the Prophet ﷺ would apply this and he would visit the companions and the people surrounding him when they were sick — even those who were not Muslim. And we know the hadith that the Prophet ﷺ visited a sick young Jewish boy that was his neighbor. And when he fell ill the Prophet ﷺ went to him, made du'a for him, and called him to Islam, and the young boy said لا إله إلا الله. But he died as a result of his illness.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1356)

O beloved ones in Allah, we need to show more kindness to one another. We need to be more conscious of how we are doing. Especially nowadays — if you are visiting someone, most likely it's your family member. But the iyad at al-marid — the visiting of the sick — is not specific to family members. If you are in a hospital and you have a family member in there, use the opportunity to go to others, see how they are doing, and ask Allah to heal them, whether they are Muslim or not. Maybe it's an opportunity to make du'a. The more kindness we do and show, Allah will have mercy on us. Remember this — our Prophet is a Prophet of mercy and we need to show mercy to everyone so that Allah can show us mercy.

Make it a habit. Allah will reward you for it. If someone is ill, you go to them. And there is a Sunnah when you go to them — the Prophet ﷺ, when he would visit someone that was ill, he would come with a positive outlook: "Insha'Allah you will get better. Don't worry. It will be fine. You look a lot better today." And the Prophet ﷺ was asked why he says these words. He said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5776; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2224)

I like to show positivity and optimism. And one time the Prophet ﷺ came to a companion that was very ill and said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3616)

No problem. Allah will cleanse you from sin, insha'Allah. It will clean you from all your mistakes. It's good, insha'Allah. And then this individual companion said: No, in fact it will take me to the grave. So he had an extremely negative outlook. And the Prophet ﷺ said: Do not have this outlook. And he ended up dying from the illness as a result.

So remember — share and show positivity. Even on your social media. When you're talking, when you're sharing things, have a positive outlook. Make du'a for people. Don't be all doom and gloom. This is very important, even as Muslims — that we remember this, that we show kindness to others and help others to the best of our ability. And we remind each other to be careful. We remind each other to be conscious of our health. We give each other sound advice. Like the Prophet ﷺ said:

(al-Mu'jam al-Awsat lil-Tabarani, Hadith 5787; classed as hasan by al-Albani in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah, Hadith 426)

The best of people are those who are the most beneficial to others. So remember this, insha'Allah ta'ala.

Now, specifically, if someone has the virus and it is advised not to visit, then of course you do not visit. Isolation is one of the ways to halt these illnesses and these diseases. That being said, there are always other ways to stay in contact with the person. You can make du'a from afar to heal them. And you can show kindness in many different ways, including calling and any other form of contacting. But as a general principle, remember to never neglect this ibadah of visiting the sick, insha'Allah ta'ala.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.