THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19 FROM ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Humans have known pandemics from time immemorial. The first true pandemic recorded in history is the Black Plague of 1918. After a century the world witnessed another true pandemic in the form of COVID19, caused by a virus known as Coronavirus, which is just 80-120 nm in diameter. It is submicroscopic, and per scientific knowledge, is the smallest and least valuable known living thing. Five events which are universally predominant during this pandemic are: fear, hunger, loss of wealth, loss of life and loss of provisions. It is amazing that the Qur'an confirms these five events as a test for humanity (Al-Baqarah, 155). In the matter of social distancing, it is amazing that Qur’an states that, Musa AS cursed his deviant follower Samiri, that he will be telling people throughout his remaining life that not to touch him (Ta-Ha, 97). Definitely a similitude to the social distancing practiced worldwide during this pandemic. As far as quarantine is concerned, the Prophet SAW, encouraged the people to follow the universal law of not to approach a land where an epidemic is prevailing, and if an epidemic has broken out in a land where one is staying, then do not leave that place, and bear it patiently (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3473). Finally, there are good tidings from the Prophet SAW to his Ummah, in one of his sayings that Allah, Ta’ala has made plague, a source of mercy for the believers, for if one in the time of an epidemic plague stays in his country patiently hoping for Allah's reward and believing that nothing will befall him except what Allah Tala has written for him, he will get the reward of a martyr (Sahih Al-Bukhari 3474). In conclusion, fifteen centuries back Islam gave clear-cut solutions to the problems like pandemics.