ISLAMIC GUIDELINES ON PANDEMICS & EPIDEMICS
10 Islamic Guidelines on Pandemics and Epidemics by Mufti Faraz Adam
1. Quarantine
The Prophet encouraged quarantine:
“Do not put a sick one (animal) with a healthy one (animal)” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
“If you hear that a plague has hit a land, do not go to it; if it breaks out in a land where you are present, do not leave” (Bukhari)
“Do not put a sick one (animal) with a healthy one (animal)” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
“If you hear that a plague has hit a land, do not go to it; if it breaks out in a land where you are present, do not leave” (Bukhari)
2. Hygiene & Disinfecting
The Prophetic practice which Muslims are recommended to follow are full of hygienic practices:
a. Washing hands upon awakening
b. Performing ablution and washing five times a day for prayers.
c. Washing before/after eating
d. covering mouth when sneezing
a. Washing hands upon awakening
b. Performing ablution and washing five times a day for prayers.
c. Washing before/after eating
d. covering mouth when sneezing
3. Impermissibility to consume rodents, reptiles, insects and other potential carriers of disease
According to the Hanafi school, it is not permissible to consume rodents, reptiles, insects and other such creatures as they are from the Khaba’ith (filthy creatures)
4. Permissibility to cull infected creatures
It is permissible to cull infected creatures and animals to stop the spread of the outbreak.
5. Not sharing essential and hygiene items
Ibn Hajar advises against sharing items that are commonly used during an outbreak to prevent the spread of the outbreak. (Fath al-Bari)
6. Burying deceased immediately
Islam encourages immediate burial. One of the wisdoms of this is to contain any disease in the carrier from being passed on.
7. Researching for potential vaccines
The Prophet told us:
“There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.” (Sahih Muslim)
“There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.” (Sahih Muslim)
- Correct belief
We believe in what the Prophet told us:
“Diseases are not intrinsically contagious.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
“Diseases are not intrinsically contagious.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
One only becomes infected by the permission of Allah. However, all precaution is encouraged due to knowing that Allah permits transfer through contact and His practice is to transfer through contacting infected people generally.
9. Cure is from Allah
One’s belief and focus should solely be on Allah as the Prophet Ibrahim taught us:
“It is He has created me, and it is He Who guides me; And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. (Qur’an 26:78-82)
“It is He has created me, and it is He Who guides me; And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. (Qur’an 26:78-82)
