Islam Islam on plague

[mindlight]

“If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim.)

Is plague a sign of judgment in Islam? How do Muslims interpret good devout Muslims dying from plague? If your mother catches plague should she go alone into quarantine or should her family care for her?

I am interested in hearing a Muslim response to the questions raised by the SARs-Cov-2 virus and wish to investigate how it might differ from Christian responses to the same.

 

[Godistruth1]

Is plague a sign of judgment in Islam?

Hey mindlight to my knowledge dont think plague itself is a sign of judgment but this hadith may help in understanding coronavirus better

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’”

How do Muslims interpret good devout Muslims dying from plague?

There are many hadith that can answer this and above mentioned hadith also adds to it. Muslims in general are not so practicing and they have left practicing the religion so they get involved in the punishment. One of the hadith says Allah will punish us if we leave enjoying good and forbidding evil.

If your mother catches plague should she go alone into quarantine or should her family care for her?

Depends on the requirements. Doctors would advise based on the type of disease that is currently around. Right now people need to stay away as much as they can. In general rulings as u mentioned in hadith we should avoid the area where the outbreak has is prevailing and not leave if one is in the area.

 

[mindlight]

Hey mindlight to my knowledge dont think plague itself is a sign of judgment but this hadith may help in understanding coronavirus better

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’”

That Hadith seems to imply that plague and disease is a judgment for immorality

There are many hadith that can answer this and above mentioned hadith also adds to it. Muslims in general are not so practicing and they have left practicing the religion so they get involved in the punishment. One of the hadith says Allah will punish us if we leave enjoying good and forbidding evil.

So only bad Muslims get plague?

Depends on the requirements. Doctors would advise based on the type of disease that is currently around. Right now people need to stay away as much as they can. In general rulings as u mentioned in hadith we should avoid the area where the outbreak has is prevailing and not leave if one is in the area.

The Quarantine principle is of course a sensible one and was stated in Leviticus 13 some 2000 years before the founding of Islam

The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean. If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine them, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven day

 

[Godistruth1]

That Hadith seems to imply that plague and disease is a judgment for immorality

One of the punishments maybe

So only bad Muslims get plague?

Not necessarily. Maybe for the good muslim it was good at the same time. What matters is what happens after death. But the death for sure will be painful or easy depending on the person's deeds and beliefs.

The Quarantine principle is of course a sensible one and was stated in Leviticus 13 some 2000 years before the founding of Islam

Thats a good thing. We dont deny everything in bible