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Periodically, new epidemics sweep the world, governments begin informing people about the importance of hygiene and preventive measures.

With the contemporary coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic, questions and suspicions have arisen about Islam's perspective on hygiene and infection.

There are a large number of hadith of the Prophet (saw) regarding pandemics that are harmful - they may potentially apply to the current pandemic Covid-19 once its effects are more clearly known and understood:

1) Quarantine

“Run away from the leper as you would from a lion.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 608)

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ يُورِدُ الْمُمْرِضُ عَلَى الْمُصِحِّ ‏"‏ ‏

“A man with sick camels should not let them graze or drink alongside healthy ones.” (Ibn Majah 31:3670)

2) Distancing

“Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy.” (Sahih al-Bukhari (6771) and Muslim (2221))

3) Limiting Travel

عن سَعْدً أن النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِالطَّاعُونِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوهَا، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا "3

“Do not enter a land where the plague (contagious ailment) has broken out ; don’t leave from where it has broken out.” (Sahih al-Bukhari (5739) and Muslim (2219))

4) Not harming others

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَضَى أَنْ ‏ "‏لاَ ضَرَرَ وَلاَ ضِرَارَ

“Do not cause harm or return harm.” (Ibn Majah 2340)

5) Staying home

“Those who stay at home to protect themselves and others are under the protection of Allah.” (Ahmed)

6) The masjid can be anywhere

“The entire earth has been made a Masjid, except graveyards and washrooms.” (Tirmidhi 291)

7) There is a cure

َعَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ دَاءً إِلاَّ أَنْزَلَ لَهُ شِفَاءً

“There is no disease that Allah sent without sending for it a cure.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 582)

“Every disease has a cure. If a cure is applied to the disease, it is relieved by the permission of Allah.” (Sahih al-Muslim 2204)

9) Covering one's face

‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا عطس وضع يده أو ثوبه علي فيه، وخفض -أو غض- بها صوته‏.‏

The Prophet (saw) whilst sneezing would cover his face with his hand or with his garment.” (Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi 2969)

10) Washing and cleanliness

‏‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏الطهور شطر الإيمان، والحمد لله تملأ الميزان، وسبحان الله، والحمد لله تملآن -أو تملأ- ما بين السماوات والأرض

"Cleanliness is half of faith.” (Sahih al-Muslim 223)

11) Quarantine

“The plague (contagion) patient who remains in his home with patience and expectation of reward, knowing that nothing will befall him other than Allah’s decree will attain the reward or a martyr” (Ahmad, Bukhari (2829) and Muslim (1914))

12) God is the cause of all things

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَيُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ الصَّالِحُ وَالْفَأْلُ الصَّالِحُ الْكَلِمَةُ الْحَسَنَةُ ‏"‏ - سنن أبي داوود 30/13

"There is no contagion and no evil omen, and I like a good omen. Good omen means a good word." (Abu Dawud 30:13)


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