The Prophet (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) declared, as only a true Prophet (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) could declare, that “death from epidemic is martyrdom for every Muslim” (Sahīh Bukhāri). A Muslim is here defined as anyone who has declared belief in the One God, i.e., the God of our father Abraham (‘alaihi al-Salām). That One God created both the male and the female, but is neither male nor female. Anyone who worships a man (or woman) or a God who appeared as a man (or woman), would be guilty of blasphemy and, unless he or she now repents, would pay a terrible price on Judgment Day for such blasphemy.

It was in consequence of that assurance of martyrdom for those who have faith in Allah Most High, that the Prophet (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) could give an order that would today evoke the envy of governments: “If you hear of an epidemic outbreak in a land, do not enter it; but if it breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place”(Sahīh Bukhāri). It should be clear that obedience of the Prophet’s (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) command would effectively quarantine the epidemic and eventually contain it and prevent its spread to other places.

Read the entire article by Imran Hosein