OBLIGATIONS OF MUSLIMS TO PREVENT AND FIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC : STRIVING AND GOING ALL-OUT, THE PREREQUISITE OF TAWAKAL (PERFECT TRUST AND RELIANCE ON ALLAH)

OBLIGATIONS OF MUSLIMS TO PREVENT AND FIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC :  STRIVING AND GOING ALL-OUT, THE PREREQUISITE OF TAWAKAL (PERFECT TRUST AND RELIANCE ON ALLAH)

In the name of The One True Love, I write. Salutations of peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

Indeed, we are being put to the test and tribulation by the COVID-19 outbreak that has claimed thousands of lives. Adding more concern, antidotes or vaccines have still not been found, while the virus spreads easily far and wide, whereas those infected cannot be identified until it was too late.

Various preventive measures - quarantines, lockdowns, closing borders and so on - have been introduced worldwide. Likewise, the official statements of governments, and edicts from great scholars of the world, seem to have a consensus; preventing the spread of this virus is a worldwide obligation.

What's more, for a Muslim, preventing the spread of this deadly virus is a religious obligation, compulsory, and it is wrongful to neglect this. It complies with the necessities of 'Hifz anNafs' (sanctity and preservation of life), which is requisite in Islam.

It is also stated in Qawaid Fiqh Kubro, that any harm must be eradicated and eliminated, as the Prophet ﷺ said, "La dharar wa la dhirar." (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah and  Malik) which means, "Do not be harmful (to yourself) nor be harmful (to others)."

However, it is very disappointing, that there are some preachers and teachers in our cherished homeland, who seem to be still unable to grasp the dangers of the virus and how important it is to stop it and prevent it from spreading.

They claim, "Tawhid (Belief in The One True God) means being only afraid of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala, and be not afraid of viruses." Similarly, "The virus is not harmful except by the permission of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala."

Likewise, "Death is in the hands of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala not in the hands of the corona." At a glance these phrases seem to be true, but they are misconstrued ensuing very dangerous implications insinuating,  "Expose yourself to this unprotected virus and spread it to others!" This is an obvious ignorance of religion - the religion which highly values human life!

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala says in the Qur'an,

" and do not cast yourselves into destruction with your own hands..." (al Qur’an: alBaqarah, 195)

Tawakal signifies a heart full of hope and reliance on Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala, while, as established by scholars, it does not mean doing nothing nor neglecting the obligation of strive and effort.

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala denounced the Muslims of Makkah (of the days of Hijrah) who refused to emigrate for the sake of safety and betterment their lives, and described them as self-harming, vowing hell for them.

"Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.” (Al Qur’an: anNisa, '97)

Is this not the same as  Muslims deliberately being exposed and spreading this deadly virus to others - for the sake of ( a false understanding of reliance and belief in One True God) tawakal and tawhid?

Let us reflect on how the Prophet ﷺ described tawakal, conditioning it upon effort. It is said that a Bedouin once came to Masjid Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah) to meet the Prophet ﷺ, and just left his camel untied.

The Prophet ﷺ  ordered the Bedouin to tie his camel, but he replied, "I put my trust in Allah, O Prophet." The Prophet ﷺ  said, "Tie the camel and trust Allah." (Hadith narrated by atTirmizi).

So what about Muslims who refuse to make efforts to prevent this virus? Aren’t they not complying with the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to strive and be reliant on Allah (tawakal)? If we are ordered to work even in handling that camel, then what about managing the lives of Muslims?

The Messenger of Allah  ﷺ, "Flee from leprosy, just as you run away from escaped lions." (Hadith narrated by alBukhari). That is for the preservation of life and health.

Those who accuse others who have taken up the cause in being conscious, guarding and wary of  Covid19 as weak in faith, then we ask them: Is the Muslim weak in faith when he obeys the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to flee from leprosy?

Naudzubillah min dzalik! (We seek refuge with Allah from that). What about some preachers of the day, who teach - indirectly – not to guard against this pandemic outbreaks which still has no vaccine?

Let us reflect on how Saidina Umar radiAllāhu anhu, a close companion of the Prophet ﷺ who was guaranteed Paradise, the second caliph after Saidina Abu Bakr radiAllāhu anhu, dealt and interacted with epidemics.

Saidina Abu Ubaidah radiAllāhu anhu and his army intended to enter Syam, in the wake of an epidemic outbreak. Saidina Umar decided against it. Saidina Abu Ubaidah asked him, "Are we fleeing from Allah's destiny?" Saidina Umar replied, "It would be better if someone other than you had said it." - because Saidina Umar did not like to disagree with Abu Ubaidah, and Umar went on to say, "Yes, we are fleeing from Allah's fate (epidemic), (returning) to Allah's fate(safety from the epidemic)." (Hadith narrated  by Bukhari and Muslim)

Indeed, Saidina Umar's faith and tawhid are more perfect than ours, thus he kept being on guard against the epidemic. This is the perfection of tawakal; where the attempt to prevent disease is tied to the full reliance of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala.

At a time when panic strikes the world, and every Muslim's heart flutters, "When will the help of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala come to us?", the task of calming and reassuring people rest in the hands of ustadh, teachers and preachers.

We have been entrusted by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to care for the people. Good intentions in observing tawakal should not be marred by ignorance in neglecting prevention of disease.

We call on the authorities, to monitor this perilous teaching and practice (of misconstrued tawakal), and to take appropriate action, risking the safety of Muslims, by misunderstanding the concept of tawakal and destiny.

Wassalam.

By: Ustaz Haji Mohammad Syafiq Ismail, Dakwah and Training Leader, Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM).