Bismihi Ta`ala
*THE MARTYRS OF COVID-19.*
*A pandemic is a test from Allah Ta`ala. A practical test. Not theoretical. A test to see if we make sabr during this mass fatalities. The sabr is to stay where you are and face the probability of martyrdom. Unfortunately, i have noticed some muslims running away from area that is stricken by death tolls. True example is Mowlana Ilyas r.a. who did not leave Nizamuddeen even during famine. M Yousuf r.a. did not leave Nizamuddeen even during Indian civil war in the 40`s. Mowlana In`amul Hassan r.a. did not leave the Markaz during the polio and small pox epidemic during the 70`s. But unfortunately such calibre are no more. Nowadays, during this epidemic, I am seeing muslims fleeing away from ‘’trouble spot’’ area to cowardly hide in ‘’non dangered’’ places. This is the sign of weakness of imaan. Imaan is not proven by 2 hour bayaan after Fajr. But rather by carefully acting upon the orders of deen during facilities and difficulties alike.**On the other hand, imaan does not mean to defy all laws of your country. Or to make assemblies during this epidemic. But rather you should stay at home with Sabr, and you will receive the sawaab of a martyr insha Allah.
*صحيح البخاري – (عن عبد الله بن بريدة عن يحيى بن يعمر أن عائشة رضي الله عنها أخبرته أنهاسألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الطاعون فقال كان عذابا يبعثه الله على من يشاء فجعله الله رحمة للمؤمنين ما من عبد يكون في بلد يكون فيه ويمكث فيه لا يخرج من البلد صابرا محتسبا يعلم أنه لا يصيبه إلا ما كتب الله له إلا كان له مثل أجر شهيد
*Reported in Bukhari that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’Epidemic disease is a punishment that Allah Ta`ala sends on whoever He wants. But Allah Ta`ala make it a mercy/rahmat for muslims. If an epidemic is declared and a muslim stay patiently in his home town in the hope of sawaab, having conviction that nothing will harm him except what is decreed by Allah Ta`ala, then he will attain the virtue of a MARTYR.’’(Bukhari)
*صحيح مسلم – ()عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا تَعُدُّونَ الشَّهِيدَ فِيكُمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ قَالَ إِنَّ شُهَدَاءَ أُمَّتِي إِذًا لَقَلِيلٌ قَالُوا فَمَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ قُتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الطَّاعُونِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْبَطْنِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ
*Reported in Muslim that whoever is killed or just die in fisabilillah is a Martyr, whoever die in an epidemic disease is a Martyr and whoever dies from sickness of the belly is a Martyr.’’(Muslim)*
مسند أحمد ط الرسالة – ()أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ، يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ فِي الطَّاعُونِ : ” الْفَارُّ مِنْهُ كَالْفَارِّ يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ ، وَمَنْ صَبَرَ فِيهِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُ شَهِيدٍ
*Reported in Ahmad that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam compared the one who ran away from an epidemic same as the treason of someone who ran away from the battle field.**To tell you what is true Imaan, Mowlana Yusuf r.a. brings the story of Mu`az bin Jabal r.a. in Hayatus Sahabah. Hazrat Mu`az r.a. was young, very intelligent, good looking and had a beautiful voice and Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam made him Mufti. The prophet SAW appreciated him so much that He told him: ‘’O Mu`az! By Allah, I really like you.’’(Abu Dawood*)
سنن أبى داود – ()حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ بْنُ شُرَيْحٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ مُسْلِمٍ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيُّ عَنْ الصُّنَابِحِيِّ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ وَقَالَ يَا مُعَاذُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ يَا مُعَاذُ لَا تَدَعَنَّ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam sent him to Yemen as governor. After Rasouloullah SAW, sahabahs used to turn to him for Fatwa. So when he was not in Madinah, a vacuum was felt. He was very well appreciated, had good character and scent nobleness. He wanted to join the conquest of Syria and Palestine. Some sahabahs objected due to his need in Madinah. But Hazrat Umar r.a. gave him permission because there is no action more beloved to Allah than ‘’Fisabilillah-The path of Allah’’. Well, after the conquest of Jerusalem, when they were camping in the border of Jordan-Imwaas or Amwaas-a severe epidemic had outbreak. So they told precious Mu`az r.a. to save himself from this epidemic and run away from there. He replied: ‘’No. This is a mercy from Allah and a purification and I ask du`a that I die in there and take my whole family in there!’’(Hayatus Sahabah) His duas got accepted and he died in that plague when he was only 38 years old. Him and his family lies in the qabrastaan of Amwaas where nearly 30000 sahabahs are buried. Hayatus Sahabah is not merely to be read theoretically. But should be practiced upon our daily life.
حياة الصحابة – الكاندهلوي – )وأخرج أحمد عن أبي قلابة أنا لطاعون وقع بالشام فقال عمرو بنالعاص رضي الله عنه: إنَّ هذا الرجز قد وقع فتفرقوا عنه في الشِّعاب والأودية، فبلغ ذلك معاذاً رضي الله عنه فلم يصدقه بالذي قال، قال فقال: بل هو شهادة ورحمة، ودعوة نبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم اللهمَّ إعطِ معاذاً وأهله نصيبهم من رحمتك، قال أبو قلابة: فعرفت الشهادة، وعرفت الرحمة، ولم أدر ما دعوة نبيكم حتى أُنبئت أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بينا هو ذات ليلة يصلِّي إذ قال في دعائه: «فحمَّى إذاً أو طاعوناً» ــــ ثلاث مرات
*You see, we are at a cross road of fighting between ourselves. One of the reasons that a pandemic comes is to save muslims from fighting each other. Reported in Ahmad that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam made 3 duas:* 1. That his ummah should not perish with a famine calamity.2. That his ummah should not have a non muslim enemy that destroy them3. That his Ummah should not be divided to fight each other. *The first two got accepted. But the third one was not accepted.So Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam pleaded Allah Ta`ala 3 times ‘’Then ,instead, send fever and epidemic.’’(Ahmad)*
مسند أحمد ط الرسالة – ()حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلَابَةَ، أَنَّ الطَّاعُونَ وَقَعَ بِالشَّامِ، فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ: إِنَّ هَذَا الرِّجْزَ قَدْ وَقَعَ فَفِرُّوا مِنْهُ فِي الشِّعَابِ وَالْأَوْدِيَةِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مُعَاذًا فَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُ بِالَّذِي قَالَ فَقَالَ: بَلْ هُوَ شَهَادَةٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَدَعْوَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُعَاذًا وَأَهْلَهُ نَصِيبَهُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ . قَالَ أَبُو قِلَابَةَ: فَعَرَفْتُ الشَّهَادَةَ وَعَرَفْتُ الرَّحْمَةَ وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا دَعْوَةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ حَتَّى أُنْبِئْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، بَيْنَمَا هُوَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ يُصَلِّي إِذْ قَالَ فِي دُعَائِهِ: ” فَحُمَّى إِذًا أَوْ طَاعُونٌ، فَحُمَّى إِذًا أَوْ طَاعُونٌ ” . ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ لَهُ إِنْسَانٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُكَ اللَّيْلَةَ تَدْعُو بِدُعَاءٍ . قَالَ: ” وَسَمِعْتَهُ ؟ ” قَالَ: نَعَمْ . قَالَ: ” إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِسَنَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَيَسْتَبِيحَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُلْبِسَهُمْ شِيَعًا، وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَهُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ فَأَبَى عَلَيَّ، أَوْ قَالَ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا، فَقُلْتُ:حُمَّى إِذًا أَوْ طَاعُونًا حُمَّى إِذًا أَوْ طَاعُونًا حُمَّى إِذًا أَوْ طَاعُونًا ” ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ
*Well, an epidemic disease is a mercy since it is the du`a of Rasouloullah Swalallahou Alaihi Wasallam. And in this hadith, it is the end result of inevitable event of muslims fighting muslims.**So we muslims should not fight each other. That was the wishful duas of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. And should we continue fighting each other, then wait for more purification of fever and pandemics. Wallahu `Alam. Because that was the duas of Rasouloullah Swalallahou for us to rather die in sicknesses than in killing each other. In aakhirah at least those died in pandemics will be considered as Martyrs. Those muslims who killed each other has severe reckoning on the day of qiyaamah.Note: Those who died in Covid-19 are Martyrs Insha Allah, but one should conduct the funeral rituals as normal mayyit if authorities allow. That is they should not be considered like those shaheed in the battle field that are buried without ghusl, with their cloths on, etc. Because this martyrdom is for aakhirah and hence rituals of ghusl and kafan should be normal. So advise the authorities for the normal rituals and pray Janazah salaah when the body is present in front of you. Else, if ghusl not possible, then at least do massah of wet hands or of a wet cloth all over the wrapped body. And if authorities does not allow anything, then only make duas for the mayyit and cooperate with them. If buried without salaah, then the family may read only one salaah by qabr in 1 or 2 days*.
Mufti Mackoojee+23057921333