Corona Virus: View of Judgment Day
Dr. Mohammad NajeebQasmiSambhali
(www.najeebqasmi.com)
In the world from time to time there are incidents that remind us of the Dooms
Day. On one hand, where the world is moving towards Third World War, the
anti-nationalist forces seek to harm the country's secularism by creating hatred
and enmity among the Hindu and Muslims. In our country which is plagued by
economic crisis and has been witnessing immense protest against CAA, NPR and NRC
for almost three months, the corona outbreak spreading from Wuhan city in China
has reached India like many other countries. Much has been written about Corona,
and now everyone in the world is aware of this deadly disease and its symptoms.
According to doctors, the disease was already present, but no remedy or vaccine
has been developed yet. Despite the invention of drugs and vaccines for the
treatment of various ailments, new diseases continue to be exposed to all world
powers, a recent example of the corona virus being spread worldwide. Fear has
made China restless. Science has made a lot of progress. While some people are
busy looking for life objects on the moon, some countries are making big
missiles and destroying each other. Efforts are underway to make the whole world
a village through electronic media and social media. But scientists from around
the world have not managed to prevent some deadly diseases. Scientists are
compelled to look at the strange systems of the world and to say that they have
understood only a small part of the world. Just think how such a big system of
the world can operate without great power? Not at all, not at all. So take a
lesson from such ailments. Certainly benefit from the creation of the universe,
but also turn towards the Creator, obey His commands. Despite being a leader of
a country, being a rich man in the world, becoming a great scientist and gaining
a lot of fame in the world, there will come a day when we (like all human beings
on earth) will be buried beneath the soil. In fact, despite the progress of
science today, it is impossible to understand why all humans die, and why are
they born despite not wanting to taste death? And why this world existed at all?
This is the greatest sign of the existence of Almighty Allah and the Creator of
the universe.
Various things have emerged about the current Corona virus outbreak, whether it
is a model of biological weapons that one might use to weaken another power in
the future, or the US attempt to create an economic crisis in China, or Is there
a conspiracy or secret project of China that the world is still unaware of, or
is it really the punishment of God? But as Muslims we must know what we should
do in the light of Islamic law in the outbreak of such pandemic diseases. In the
light of the Qur'an and Hadith, the entire Muslim community agrees that first of
all we should have a stronger relationship with the Almighty. We must obey the
commandments of Allah and seek His forgiveness for our sins. Those who study the
seerah of Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are well aware that
in such circumstances, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to advise his
companions to turn towards Allah. Of course, some diseases can be transmitted
from one person to another, which is why at the outbreak of a pandemic, the last
prophet instructed if a plague accrues in a place, don’t enter it. If it accrues
in place where you are, don’t get out of it. But we must believe that sickness
and healing come only by Allah's command.
There is seemingly no cure for this current disease, so taking precautionary
measures is not contrary to Sharia law. But none of our plans should be against
the clear command of the Quran and the Hadith.
Of course, we should take precautionary measures, but relying on Allah is a part
of our faith. The use of resources is not against the Divine Law. As a
precautionary measure the Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, ordered for
discontinuing the congregation of prayers and Friday prayers indeterminately,
even the ‘Tawaaf’ in Masjid-e-Haraam (Makkah), the training centre of the
Muslims has been discontinued. In the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the
Caliph Rashidin, all political, social, and religious decisions were made from
the mosques. On such occasions the mosques serve as a refuge for Muslims. The
decision for closing the mosques throughout the Arab is taken by the Ulama Board
of Saudi Arabia, though such decisions are based on the government directives.
It is quite incomprehensible to close the ‘Tawaaf’ and mosques before closing
the airports, railway stations, bus stands and other services.
Even the excerpts from the Quran and Hadith have been quoted for closing of
mosques to protect against the Corona Virus Disease (CVD). No one can deny the
fact that since the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the 1400-years-old
Islamic history, pestilences had been spread throughout the world, even in the
reign of Caliph Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA), a plague-like pestilence speeded, but
no Islamic government issued such ordinance of closing the mosques throughout
the country. Whereas the People in those countries where the mosques have been
closed as per the government instructions, would not be guilty of leaving the
Jamaat. The government and the scholars will be answerable before Allah and all
people should repent.
The argument based on the Prophet (SAW) permission offering the prayers inside
the tents was only in case of severe cold and rain, shouldn’t correlate closing
the mosques throughout the country. In case of spreading an epidemic in any area
that is based on of facts and research, the mosques in the affected area may be
closed. Even in the battlefield where negligence of a moment can change the face
of the war, the obligatory prayers (FarzNamaz) were offered in congregation as
mentioned in the Holy Quran (Surah Al-Nisa, 102).
Therefore, it is advisable to use reason, but having trust in Allah is
absolutely necessary. The Qur'an has repeatedly emphasized on reliance on Allah.
For the sake of summary, I am quoting translation of few Quranic verses. "Trust
in the One who is alive, who will never die" (Surah Al-Furqan 58) "When you are
determined to do something, put your trust in Allah" (Surah Al-Imran 159). Allah
is Sufficient for Him. "(Surat Al-Talaq 3)" Indeed, the believers are the ones
who, when Allah is mentioned to them, their hearts soften and when their verses
are recited to them, they add to their faith and they rely on their Lord only "(Surah
An-Nafal 3). Our Prophet has taught us to rely on Allah several times, I will
present here only one Hadith: Hazrat Umar (RA) reported that The Prophet (peace
be upon him) said: If you trust in Allah as if you had the right to rely, then
Allah will provide you with sustenance just as He gives the birds that they
would get up empty stomach in the morning and will return with full stomach in
the evening. (Narrated by Tirmizi)
Take precautionary measures to prevent coronary disease from escalating, visit
the hospital immediately if symptoms of the disease occur, and even stay away
from others. All people should wash their hands repeatedly, especially during
each prayer. Drink water, avoid unnecessary gatherings, but keep in mind that
the time and place of death is fixed so there is no need to panic. Just try to
avoid the disease to the possible extent. Allah has repeatedly stated this fact
of death; the translation of the four verses is presented: Wherever you are (one
day) death will catch you, even if you are living in strong castles. (Surah An-Nisa
'78) Say:' The death from which you flee is near to you. That is, when the time
comes, death will surely surprise you. (Surah Al-Jama'a 8) So when their fixed
term comes, they cannot stay behind even for a moment. (Surah Al-A'raf 34) And
no one knows what part of the earth death will come on. (Surah Luqman, 34) These
verses indicate that every person will surely die, but the time and place of
death is unknown to them except Allah.
When we believe that all things come from Allah, He is the One Who relieves us
from difficulties, fulfills our needs, heals our diseases, so we should keep a
special arrangement of prayer because prayer is also an important worship. We
should never be lazy in prayer; it is a matter of great disappointment that we
make many plans for the calamity and suffering of sickness, but we do not do
anything that is easier and more useful. So we need to pray very well in front
of our Creator that only Allah will remove this disease from all over the world.