In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…
The following is yet another question posed to Shaykh Dr. Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah bless and preserve him) [1], on a topic which continues to confuse many innocent Muslims, due to the excessive amount of misinformation and conjecture spread on social media – the issue of Covid-19 and the correct stance the Muslims should take on it and the related precautions.
Once again, the reader will note that our senior scholars and their top students continue to offer sober and consistent advice about how Muslims are to return these important matters back to the scholars who are qualified to deal with matters of global safety and urgent concerns which affect the religion, health, and safety of millions of Muslims. May Allah allow this advice to reach receptive hearts.
The following is a transcript of the Arabic text of the question and its answer, along with an English translation:
حفظكم الله، يقول السائل: ما هو الموقف الصحيح من فيروس كورونا المستجد؟ يقال أنه ليس بأضر من الإنفلونزا الموسمية، وأن الإجراءات التي اتخذتها الدول مبالغ فيها، وأن التدابير الاحترازية من التباعد ولبس الكمامة لا تنفع. وبالتالي: فإن اللقاحات ضد هذا الفيروس في حقيقة الأمر، تضر الإنسان ويجب تجنبها. نود منكم الإفادة بارك الله فيكم.
QUESTION: May Allah preserve you. What is the correct stance on the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19)? It has been said that it is no more harmful than the [regular] seasonal flu, and that the procedures implemented by countries are beyond what is necessary, and that the safety protocols like distancing and wearing masks do not serve any benefit. Also [they say], vaccinations against this virus are actually harmful to people and must be avoided. We would like you to benefit us [on this topic], may Allah bless you.
الجواب: في الحقيقة ليت هؤلاء يسكتون ويتركون الأمور لولاة الأمر وللعلماء، فإن هؤلاء قد شوشوا، قد مرت سنة كاملة ومات مئات آلاف، وأصيب من أصيب، وتألم من تألم، وحصل ما حصل من الأمراض لأناس أمام أعيننا، ونراهم يمرضون ويموتون، ثم فهؤلاء يقولون هذه مبالغة وهذا كذا وكذا، فليت هؤلاء يسكتون، ويتركون الأمر لولاة الأمر وللعلماء الذين قد أفتوا. ما دام أن العلماء قد أفتوا، ولا يفتي العلماء إلا بعد أن يتصوروا المسألة ويقرأون فيها وينظرون فيها، وهذا هو ظننا بعلمائنا. فإن كان العلماء قد أفتوا فلا تتدخل فيما لا يعنيك وفيما لا تحسنه. اترك الأمر للعلماء.
ANSWER by Shaykh Dr. Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah bless and preserve him): In realty, we wish these people would be quiet and leave these affairs to the authorities and scholars, as they have caused [enough] confusion. A complete year has passed, and hundreds of thousands have died [2]. Some have been infected, others have suffered, and things connected to this illness have taken place right in front of our eyes. We see people getting ill and dying, and then these people say these [precautions] are excessive, etc., etc.! Would these people just be quiet and leave the matter to the authorities and the scholars who have given fatawa (verdicts) already?! Since the scholars have already issued verdicts [on these issues], and the scholars do not issue verdicts until after getting a clear picture of the issue, reading about it and researching it. This is what we know about our scholars. So since the scholars have issued verdicts, then do not interfere in matters that are not for you and in things that you are not proficient. Just leave the matter to the scholars.
والعلماء قد أفتوا بهذه التدابير وهذه الإحترازات، من التباعد، ومن لبس الكِمامة، فقولك أنها لا تنفع، فهذا خطأ، وفيه مبالغة منك، وفيه كذلك جرأة منك.
The scholars have issued verdicts in favor of these protocols and precautions, like social distancing and wearing masks. So your statement that they are not beneficial [steps] is wrong, and it includes an [unnecessary] act of excessiveness from you, as well as an act of audacious behavior.
وقولك أن اللقاح يضر، هذا أيضا غير صحيح، فقد أخذ اللقاح ملايين من الناس، وأنا أتكلم عن البلد التي أعيش فيها، ملايين من الناس أخذوا اللقاح، ولم يحصل لهم شيء ولم يضرهم، بل لعلهم انتفعوا بذلك.
As for your statement that the vaccine is harmful, this is also incorrect. Millions of people have already taken the vaccine. [3] I am only speaking about the country I live in. Millions of people have already taken the vaccine, and nothing happened to them. It did not harm them, but rather it is hoped that they benefitted from that.
فالكلام صار يتكرر حقيقة وصار يُلاك بالألسن من غير فائدة مع هؤلاء، فأنا أتمنى من الإخوة أن يعرضوا عن أمثال هؤلاء، ولا يلتفتوا إلى استشكالاتهم، لأنها ليست إشكالات، ولا يعرضون أسئلتهم مرة أخرى. إنما هي فقط ضياع الأوقات. نعم.
In reality, speech [on this topic] is repeated much and passed around from mouth to mouth [4] without any benefit with these people. So I wish that the brothers would turn away from the likes of these people and not pay any attention to their concerns, as they are not [true] concerns (i.e. problems that need solutions). Their questions should not be posed anymore. They are just a waste of time at this point.
SOURCE: Session #8 of the series, Silsilah al-Liqaa’aat al-Maftoohah. Original Arabic audio below:
Translation by: Moosaa Richardson
rev.ms.nas.sb
Version 1.01 (updated Dec.7, 2021 at 3:45 pm)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Shaykh Dr. Arafat bin Hassan al-Muhammadi (may Allah preserve him) is a student of some of today’s senior scholars who is active on Twitter (@Arafatbinhassan) and conducts many regular classes which are made available on his website (http://arafatbinhassan.com). During a recent communication with our brothers at Salafi Publications (UK) (may Allah bless them and give them success), Shaykh ‘Ubayd al-Jaabiree (may Allah preserve him) requested that people rely upon two scholars after him: Shaykh Arafat and Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhari.
[2] According to the most recent official statistics from the Saudi Health Ministry, 8,845 people have died from complications related to Covid-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while over five million have died around the world. [screenshot]
[3] According to the latest official Saudi Health Ministry statistics: More than 47 million doses of the vaccine have been administered. [screenshot]
[4] literally: “chewed up on the tongues”
FURTHER RESOURCES ON THE TOPIC OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS AND ISLAM:
The Return to Connected Rows (Without Gaps) at the Two Sacred Mosques in Makkah and al-Madeenah
PDF: Nine Advices As Relates the Novel Coronavirus by the Mufti Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh
PDF: Advice of Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhari About Coronavirus
Video: Healthy, Realistic, Practical Optimism During the Coronavirus Outbreak (Youtube)
PDF: Fleeing From the Decree to the Decree [Rahmaaniyyah, Abul-Hasan Maalik]
Video: Don’t Downplay the Seriousness of the Coronavirus! (Youtube)
MP3 Audio: Key Lessons About the Coronavirus [Hassan Somali]
PDF: The Issue of Contagion – An Islamic Perspective [Taqweem Aslam]
Article: What Blessings Could Come From the Closing of Masjids?!
Khutbah: Coronavirus – How Muslims Understand it & Other Epidemics
MP3 Audio: Q&A About Coronavirus Conspiracy Theorists [Hassan Somali]
…However, there is now a third position which the people hold that none of the Salaf held: “Mixing between the ASYMPTOMATIC (HEALTHY) and the healthy can cause them to become sick.” And the Muslims who hold this position often add an addendum: “With Allāh’s permission.”… [comment abridged by admin]
This claim is wrong, and it comes from unqualified people who do not understand the evidences nor the principles, nor have they been appointed to speak in such critical issues, nor do they care to give the scholars the benefit of the doubt that they understand the issue based on its evidences and principles. The hadeeth of the taa’oon (plague), whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, includes the scenario of asymptomatic people, apparently healthy (inside the city with a plague), not being allowed to mix with other apparently healthy people (outside the city), and that is because, as the scholars, like Shaykh al-Albaanee, have explained, that perhaps he may be ill and infectious but not show any symptoms yet. Maybe you cannot understand this, but you could ask someone who knows to explain it to you, and help you walk through the scenario of a taa’oon (plague). Instead of making unfounded claims publicly, and speaking the with the exact opposite of what the scholars say in a global pandemic that has taken the lives of over five million people (by Allah’s Permission), why not take this wonderful advice in the title: Be quiet and leave these issues for the scholars and authorities. “If speech is from silver, then SILENCE is GOLD!”
The prohibition relating to entering/leaving the land of plague is to prevent the people from believing that disease may spread on its own and is infectious in its nature; this is in order to preserve the creed of the Muslims who return these affairs back to Allah and do not superstitiously believe in hidden agents that are capable or causing disease.
How do you respond to this?
1. This is based on the weak and disproven opinion that ‘adwaa (contagion) does not exist at all.
2. Even with the difficult philosophy involved in this understanding, the end result is still the same: The hadeeth still restricts healthy people inside a city affected by plague from mixing with the healthy people outside that city. (no matter what you believe the reason behind this restriction is)
3. The logic behind this reasoning is flawed. If the goal of the restriction had been to reinforce the concept that there is no contagion at all, then the order would be to mix with them freely, and you will see that the plague does not go from person to person.
4. It is much more obvious and in line with basic wisdom to follow the majority of the scholars who say that ‘adwaa (contagion) exists by the Permission of Allah, and that Islam establishes quarantining to isolate those affected and not allow the spread of contagions to protect the lives of the people. This is why we avoid lepers, and this is why we do not mix sick camels with healthy ones, and this is why we quarantine a land of plague. This is very obvious and not in need of the difficult and burdensome explanation offered by proponents of the disproven opinion. And Allah knows best.
For those who are interested in this topic, please read: The Issue of Contagion: An Islamic Perspective
Please provide reference for the explaination of shaykh albani on hadeeth of plague which you mentioned in the answer… [question abridged by admin]
Silsilat al-Hudaa wan-Noor, recording #212
In many parts of the world today restrictions for travel have been officially uplifted and people are being allowed to travel to other places sometimes with certain conditions such as they test negative for Covid or be vaccinated.
However the pandemic although may have reduced in severity (due to which travel has been eased) it is still not over. So is it not still Islamically obligatory for us to avoid leaving/entering places that still have not officially announced or declared the ending of the pandemic ?
As our scholars have advised about these matters: We listen to the local health officials and the instructions they offer about our local and current situation. And may Allah protect us and keep away harm.
May Allah honour and reward you with goodness in this world and the hereafter.
What is the response of the following.
There were many plagues in the past 1400 years, even the great plague od Sham in the year 18 AH. The concept of praying in gaps was nonexistent until now (Covid 19). No narration from Abu Ubaydah, Muadh ibn Jabal and Yazeed ibn Abi Sufyan that they ever prayed by gaps when plague occurred in their time.
This would essentially be shutting the door of qiyaas and ijtihaad upon the scholars. There are situations that arise with new parameters, which do not match the previous situations (partially or fully), and in these matters we need those qualified in ijtihaad to extract the rulings. Claiming that the scholars did not follow the same exact protocols of some situations in the past is a very limited way to look at Fiqh in general, and it helps us understand why we do not turn to just any researcher or teacher for guidance in these kinds of serious matters. We have always asked people which scholars they return to, because we know that complicated situations arise and we will need to refer back to them. Anyone can research and pull things out of books, but which of the people are qualified (with sound knowledge and official authority) to lead the Ummah when millions of lives are on the line? This has always been our way. We have always recognized the importance of the scholars in the most crucial of matters. And Allah knows best.
And in general, those who feel passionately about this claim can do what we always do: Ask the scholars! Simply ask the scholars about this point. Instead of busying the common people with our claims against the scholars, we could actually return back to them and ask them about what bothers us about their verdicts and/or evidences and learn our Religion. May Allah give us success.
Assalamu Alaykom Wa rahmatullāh wa barakatuh.
There are people who doesn’t want to get vaccinated because they think the government wants to poison us. But when I show them proof from our noble Sheykh Saleh Al-Fawzaan ( May Allāh subhanahu wa ta’ala honor him with his mercy in this life and the other one Amin ) , where our noble Sheykh advised us to get the vaccine. Some of the Muslims says our Sheykh isn’t not a Doctor , so we should not follow his advice in this Covid matters. And I tell them we should ask to the people of knowledge like Allāh subhanahu wa ta’ala commands us to do. But they still not listen and keep spreading lies about the vaccines. What is your advice regarding this matter?
Jazak Allahu Khairam.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.
May Allah reward you for presenting this concern on behalf of others. Those are very poor thoughts about our scholars, as if they would speak about medical matters (which they are not themselves specialists in) affecting millions of people without consulting reliable and qualified specialists!? That is the case of the common people and the muta’aalimeen (pretenders to knowledge), not the people of knowledge, who are known for their precision and accuracy in matters. When you see them speaking about medical matters, know they have done their due diligence of research and investigation before speaking! As Shaykh Salim Bamehriz said recently, may Allah bless and preserve him:
“When the scholars speak about this issue, they speak with knowledge. How can you say they do not have knowledge [about this topic]? May Allah guide and correct you! This is an accusation against the people of knowledge. The people of knowledge do not speak except with sincere advice and with evidences. So they have looked at the issue and discussed it with its [relevant] people among the responsible authorities in the country and other Islamic countries. They presented the issue [for input and consultation] and found that these things are from the legislated asbaab (steps of protection). Then, after that, they took the vaccinations, and all praise is due to Allah, they are fine and in good health. They also clarified to the people how important that [vaccination] is, and that it is from the ways protection is gained from the illness that has infected many people. So a person must respect the scholars and not [falsely] accuse them.”
Source: Important Advice About the Covid-19 Vaccine
And Shaykh ‘Arafaat Muhammadi said, may Allah bless and preseve him:
“The scholars do not issue verdicts until after getting a clear picture of the issue, reading about it and researching it. This is what we know about our scholars. So since the scholars have issued verdicts, then do not interfere in matters that are not for you and in things that you are not proficient. Just leave the matter to the scholars… In reality, speech [on this topic] is repeated much and passed around from mouth to mouth without any benefit with these people. So I wish that the brothers would turn away from the likes of these people and not pay any attention to their concerns, as they are not [true] concerns (i.e. problems that need solutions). Their questions should not be posed anymore. They are just a waste of time at this point.”
Source: The article above.
Do we have a personal choice in this issue or are we now obliged to get vaccinated?
Yes, see this: https://twitter.com/BakkahPubs/status/1472172559437385735
In response to the question asking about having personal choice or being obligated to vaccinate, this was the answer (in Twitter) directed to :
”
Yes, each person chooses for himself. He may choose to follow cautious, deliberate scholars with a proven record of care for humanity & upright guidance, after they diligently consult their Muslim health dept with tens of thousands of physicians, researchers & top experts, or… or down the rabbit hole of the internet, ending up accusing the Muslim leaders, scholars, doctors & common folk of shirk, taqleed, & all types of nonsense, without any aaliyyah (tools/foundations to issue such rulings) or ahliyyah (position). -MR
”
How is this not implying that it is obligatory for every Muslim to choose to listen to scholars and therefore get vaccinated or else they would be sinful and be from those who accuse the rulers, scholars, doctors of evil if they choose not to vaccinate ?
It is a strong encouragement to get vaccinated. We want safety for the Muslims and good health, as our scholars do. Thus, I recommended them to get vaccinated, and our scholars have also recommended that, in words and by personal examples, leading the way. And I do not know of any scholar alive in this pandemic, witnessing its specific concerns and latest developments, who recommended otherwise. And Allah knows best.
shaykh fawzan held social distancing to be obligatory as he saw it to be from the taking of steps of safety.
However, he held that vaccinating oneself with the covid vaccines to be something only recommeded despite him seeing it to also be from the taking of steps of safety.
Why is this so ??
If this is important to you, then please find someone who can help you get this question to the shaykh.
It’s shameful that these people of knowledge are pushing for blind following in this… [message truncated by admin]
From the worst results of this pandemic is THIS, Muslims openly claiming our scholars are enforcing blind following on the people. O Shahid, be a witness that the Book of Allah is guidance and not misguidance! Be a witness that the guidance of Allah for nawaazil (global emergencies, pandemics, crises, etc.) has reached you, and you have chosen whatever you have chosen:
And Shaykh Salim Bamehriz spoke well (may Allah bless and preserve him), when he said:
“When the scholars speak about this issue, they speak with knowledge. How can you say they do not have knowledge [about this topic]? May Allah guide and correct you! This is an accusation against the people of knowledge. The people of knowledge do not speak except with sincere advice and with evidences. So they have looked at the issue and discussed it with its [relevant] people among the responsible authorities in the country and other Islamic countries. They presented the issue [for input and consultation] and found that these things are from the legislated asbaab (steps of protection). Then, after that, they took the vaccinations, and all praise is due to Allah, they are fine and in good health. They also clarified to the people how important that [vaccination] is, and that it is from the ways protection is gained from the illness that has infected many people. So a person must respect the scholars and not [falsely] accuse them.”
Source: Important Advice About the Covid-19 Vaccine and Tawakkul