قال الله عز وجل: { ولَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ} سورة الأعراف، 96. ـ
God the Almighty says: { And if the people of the towns had believed and had piety, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied (the messengers), so We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (of sins)} (Surah 7, verse 96).
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وقال الله عز وجل: { ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ} سورة الروم، 31. ـ
God the Almighty also says: { Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of people have earned (by oppression and evil deeds), that may God make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting and seeking God’s forgiveness)} (Surah 30, verse 31).
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عنْ عَائشة رضي اللَّهُ عنها قالت: ( سألتُ رسولَ اللَّه صَلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّم عَنِ الطَّاعُونِ، فَأَخْبَرَنِي: « أَنَّهُ عَذَابٌ يَبْعَثُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ جَعَلَهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ، لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَقَعُ الطَّاعُونُ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي بَلَدِهِ صَابِرًا مُحْتَسِبًا، يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لاَ يُصِيبُهُ إِلاَّ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، إِلاَّ كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ شَهِيدٍ») . رواه البخاري بإسناد صحيح. ـ
Narrated Aishah -may God be pleased with her- said: “I asked the Messenger of God -prayer and peace be upon him- about the plague. He told me that it is a Punishment sent by God upon whomever he wills, but God has made it a blessing for the believers. Whoever at the time of an epidemic plague stays patiently in his town looking for his reward from God and knowing that only what God has decreed for him can happen to him, will have a reward like that of a martyr.’ ” Related by Al-Bukhari with authentic narration.
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As mentioned above, the real cause of epidemics and widespread outbreaks and death is in many cases the action of the humans. When injustice and corruption become widespread in a country, the natural and peaceful nature of earth flips and turns into disasters and calamities as a consequence. The purpose behind all of that is that theses phenomena serve as a Reminder, a Warning, and an Admonition for people to behave and return to justice and the Straight Path.
Indeed, for any social entity to function and operate smoothly, there must be a set of commandments that directs it and guides it. For any social group to live in harmony, there must be fair beliefs and standards that must be adhered to and followed. And for any society to survive and become prosperous, there must be a set of rights and obligations that must be observed for every member.
But when these commandments are broken; when these beliefs and standards are breached; and when these rights and obligations are violated, then the smooth functioning of society is broken, its harmonious existence is shattered, and its peace and security are lost.
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Islam and other Divine religions have set forth a set of Divine rules and ethics that when followed results in a peaceful and prosperous society. These commandments ensure the rights of every member of the community, and they also ensure the right of God upon the servant of God. As believers, we are reminded to worship One God and obey Him in all aspects of our daily life.
But when people deviate from these commandments, when they violate the code of ethics and morals defined by prophets and messengers, and when they set aside the fair beliefs and standards, the natural peace and prosperity they enjoy are lost and they start experiencing disasters and calamities as a consequence. Some of these disasters may include epidemics and widespread outbreaks and death.
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The purpose behind these disasters is that they serve as a Reminder to people to act according to the commandments of God. The epidemics serve as a Warning and are signs that forewarn people to avoid the evil way and return back to the Straight Path. And the calamities are an Admonition to people to worship One God and obey Him in all aspects of their daily life, as mentioned in the following verse:
قال الله عز وجل: { وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِالآيَاتِ إِلا تَخْوِيفًا} سورة الإسراء، 59. ـ
قال ابن كثير: ( قال قتادة: إن الله خوف الناس بما يشاء من آياته لعلهم يعتبرون ويذكرون ويرجعون، ذكر لنا أن الكوفة رجفت على عهد ابن مسعود فقال: يا أيها الناس إن ربكم يستعتبكم فأعتبوه). ـ
God -the Exalted- says: { And We sent not the signs except as a warning} (Surah 17, verse 59).
Ibn Katheer said: “Qatadah said: ‘God makes people afraid with whatever signs He wills, so that they may learn a lesson and remember and return to Him. It was related to us that the city of Al-Kufah was shaken at the time of Ibn Masood, so he said: ‘O people, your Lord is rebuking you, so pay heed!‘’ “
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When the believers are faced with these disasters and epidemics, the first thing they do is to turn back to God, repent of any sins or misdeeds they have committed and seek His forgiveness. When they do that, they are forgiven and if they die they get the reward of a martyr. Thus, the epidemics are a source or mercy for them.
The people of sins and misdeeds, on the other hand, try to find other reasons to explain the situation. They may lay the blame on this or that, they may try to find apparently valid physical explanation behind the disaster, and worse they may start blaming fate or nature for the evil they have caused. But they fail to see the real cause, and they refuse to desist their evil ways. Thus, these disasters strike them again and again, and these epidemics afflict them again as a Reminder, as a Warning, and as an admonition for them to stop what they are doing. These disasters affect them: {that may God make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting and seeking God’s forgiveness)} (Surah 30, verse 31).
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Another aspect of disasters and epidemics is the belief that they are controlled and under the power of God. These disasters and epidemics may be the result of the action of the humans, but they are under the full Command and control of the Lord of the Universe, the Almighty God.
Therefore, the believers turn back to God, repent of any sins and seek assistance from God. They believe that everything happens by the Will of God, so they beseech God to forgive them and help them in this situation. Thus, these disasters and epidemics serve to strengthen the faith of the believers and make them turn to God and seek His help.
The people of sins and misdeeds, on the other hand, lay the blame on nature and fate and fail to see the real mover of the universe. Therefore, these disasters and epidemics keep afflicting them time and again to urge them to admit their misdeed and repent of them. It is mentioned in Qur’an that Pharaoh and his people were afflicted with nine disasters as a Warning and admonition to desist and turn back to God. But time and again, they sought Prophet Moses’ help without repenting, until they were drowned in the end.
God the Al-Mighty says: { They said [to Moses]: “Whatever signs you may bring to us to work your sorcery on us, we shall never believe in you.”
So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs and the blood as (a succession of) manifest signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of those people who were criminals.
And when the punishment fell on them they said: “O Musa (Moses)! Invoke your Lord for us because of His Promise to you. If you will remove the punishment from us, we indeed shall believe in you, and we shall let the Children of Israel go with you.”
But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, then at once they broke their word} Surah 7, verse 131-134.
In these beautiful verses, the real cause of the disasters and epidemics that afflicted Pharaoh and his people are explained. The main reason given is that they refused to believe in Prophet Moses’ message and refused to obey God’s commandments. They accused Moses of sorcery and continued their misdeeds, so they were sent these disasters as a sign, as a Warning, and as an admonition.
And time and time again, they asked Moses to beseech his Lord to remove the disaster, Prophet Moses prayed and the disaster would be removed but they refused to repent so they would be afflicted again with another disaster or epidemic just as another Warning and admonition.
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Thus, when there is widespread evil and disregard of God’s commandments then there is a direct relationship between people’s action and natural disasters. There is a direct relationship between widespread injustice and sins and disasters and epidemics, as the following hadith shows:
عن صفية بنت أبي عبيد [زوج عبدالله ابن عمر] قالت: ( زلزلت الأرض على عهد عمر حتى اصطفقت السرر وابن عمر يصلي فلم يدرِ بها ولم يوافق أحداً يصلي فدرى بها، فخطب عمر الناس، فقال: أحدثتم لقد عجلتم، قالت: ولا أعلمه إلا قال: لئن عادت لأخرجن من بين ظهرانيكم). رواه ابن أبي شيبة والبيهقي وابن عبد البر ونعيم بن حماد. ـ
Narrated Safiyyah Bint Abi Obaid (wife of Abdullah Ibn Omar) said: “The ground of Al-Madinah was struck by an earthquakes at the time of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab until the beds shook. Omar gave a sermon and addressed people saying: ‘You have caused innovation in religion, you have changed so fast!’ He added: ‘By God, if such a quake were to strike again, I will abandon you and move somewhere else.’ ”
Then, consider how Omar attributed the earthquake to people’s actions, how he warned them, and how he admonished them to return to God and seek the Straight Path.
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Finally, it is not lawful for the believer to leave the land that has an epidemic or travel to a land that has an epidemic. The believer has firm belief in God’s will so he does not run away from it; therefore he is asked to stay in his land during the time of an epidemic. Running away is considered running away from fate, rather he should stay put and take precautions to avoid the disease. In case he gets the disease, he will have the reward of a martyr.
On the other hand, the believer does not expose himself to danger by traveling to a land that has an epidemic. Rather the believer avoids going to such a land as a measure of precaution and to avoid bringing harm to himself and to others, as the following hadith shows:
عنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بِسَرْغَ لَقِيَهُ أُمَرَاءُ الأَجْنَادِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ قَدْ وَقَعَ بِأَرْضِ الشَّأْمِ.
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: ادْعُ لِي الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الأَوَّلِينَ. فَدَعَاهُمْ فَاسْتَشَارَهُمْ وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ قَدْ وَقَعَ بِالشَّأْمِ فَاخْتَلَفُوا. فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: قَدْ خَرَجْتَ لأَمْرٍ، وَلاَ نَرَى أَنْ تَرْجِعَ عَنْهُ. وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: مَعَكَ بَقِيَّةُ النَّاسِ وَأَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ نَرَى أَنْ تُقْدِمَهُمْ عَلَى هَذَا الْوَبَاءِ. فَقَالَ ارْتَفِعُوا عَنِّي.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: ادْعُوا لِي الأَنْصَارَ. فَدَعَوْتُهُمْ فَاسْتَشَارَهُمْ، فَسَلَكُوا سَبِيلَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَاخْتَلَفُوا كَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ، فَقَالَ ارْتَفِعُوا عَنِّي. ـ
ثُمَّ قَالَ: ادْعُ لِي مَنْ كَانَ هَا هُنَا مِنْ مَشْيَخَةِ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ مُهَاجِرَةِ الْفَتْحِ. فَدَعَوْتُهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَخْتَلِفْ مِنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلاَنِ، فَقَالُوا: نَرَى أَنْ تَرْجِعَ بِالنَّاسِ، وَلاَ تُقْدِمَهُمْ عَلَى هَذَا الْوَبَاءِ، فَنَادَى عُمَرُ فِي النَّاسِ، إِنِّي مُصَبِّحٌ عَلَى ظَهْرٍ، فَأَصْبِحُوا عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ: أَفِرَارًا مِنْ قَدَرِ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: لَوْ غَيْرُكَ قَالَهَا يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، نَعَمْ نَفِرُّ مِنْ قَدَرِ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَدَرِ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ كَانَ لَكَ إِبِلٌ هَبَطَتْ وَادِيًا لَهُ عُدْوَتَانِ، إِحْدَاهُمَا خَصِبَةٌ، وَالأُخْرَى جَدْبَةٌ، أَلَيْسَ إِنْ رَعَيْتَ الْخَصْبَةَ رَعَيْتَهَا بِقَدَرِ اللَّهِ، وَإِنْ رَعَيْتَ الْجَدْبَةَ رَعَيْتَهَا بِقَدَرِ اللَّهِ. ـ
قَالَ فَجَاءَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، وَكَانَ مُتَغَيِّبًا فِي بَعْضِ حَاجَتِهِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ عِنْدِي فِي هَذَا عِلْمًا، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: « إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ». قَالَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ. متفق عليه. ـ
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas said: “Omar Ibn Al-Khattab set out for Syria. When he reached Sargh (a town near Tabuk), the commanders of the army, Abu ‘Ubaida Ibn Al-Jarrah and his companions met him and told him that an epidemic had broken out in Syria.
Omar said to me: ‘Call for me the early emigrants.’ So I called them, and Omar consulted them and informed them that an epidemic had broken out in Syria. Those people differed in their opinions. Some of them said: ‘You have set out for something, and we do not think that you should leave it.’ Others said: ‘You have the companions of the Prophet -prayer and peace be upon him, and the rest of the people with you, and we do not think that you should send them towards this epidemic.’ Omar said: ‘You can go now.’
Omar then said: ‘Call the Ansar for me.’ I called them and he consulted them and they followed the way of the emigrants and differed as they had done. He said to them: ‘You can go now.’
Omar then said: ‘Call for me the old people of Quraish who emigrated in the year of the Conquest of Mecca.’ I called them and they gave a unanimous opinion saying: ‘We advise that you should return with the people and do not take them to that (place) of epidemic.’
So Omar made an announcement: ‘I will ride back to Medina in the morning, so you should do the same.’ Abu ‘Ubaida Ibn Al-Jarrah said: ‘Are you running away from the decree of God?’ Omar said: ‘Would that someone else had said such a thing, O Abu ‘Ubaida! Yes, we are running from the decree of God to the decree of God. Do you not agree that if you had camels that went down a valley having two slopes, one fertile and the other barren, you would graze them on the fertile one only by the decree of God, and you would graze them on the barren one only by the decree of God?’
At that time Abdul-Rahman Ibn Awf, who had been absent because of some of his needs, came and said: ‘I have some knowledge about this. I have heard the Messenger of God -prayer and peace be upon him- say: ‘If you hear about it (an outbreak of plague) in a land, do not go to it; but if the plague breaks out in a country where you are staying, do not run away from it.’’ Omar praised God and returned to Medina.” Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
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On the other side, when the commandants of God are followed, when His rules and limits are respected, and when the rights of people are preserved, then God opens up the skies and they pour down rain, the earth opens up and gives out crops and produce, and the people are blessed in their wealth and progeny. Moreover, when God’s forgiveness is often sought then prosperity, abundance and peace spread in the country. As God the Almighty says:
قال الله عز وجل: {فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا * يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا * وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا * مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا} نوح 10-13.
God the Almighty says: { “I said (to them): Ask forgiveness of your Lord, verily, He is Oft‑Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance. And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers. What is the matter with you that you do not attribute to God due grandeur.”} (Surah 71, verses 10-13).
God -the Exalted- also says: { { Why would God punish you if you are grateful and believe? And God is ever Appreciative (of good) and All-Knowing} (Surah 4, verse 147).
It is related that Al-Awza’i said: “People went out to supplicate for rain, and Bilal Ibn Sa’d led them in prayer. He praised and glorified God, and then said: ‘O God, we heard You say: {For the doers of good, there is no cause to blame}, and we have admitted our misdeeds, and is not Your forgiveness except for people like us? O God, forgive us, show us mercy, and grant us rain.‘ He raised his hands in supplication, and people raised their hands, so it rained.”
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Thus, the believer should have firm belief and faith in the decree of God and in the recompense of deeds. The believers believe that everything in this universe occurs by the will of God and according to the rules set by God. When evil becomes widespread and the commandments of God are ignored, the earth complains of the evil being done over it so it is allowed to react and it does so through natural disaster; a destructive storm, an earthquake, a flood, or an epidemic.
Therefore, these natural disasters and epidemics serve as a Reminder, as a Warning, and as an Admonition to people to abandon their sins and misdeeds and to return to the Straight Path. But at the same time, the faithful believe that everything is under the command of God, so they always seek His help and assistance. In order to gain that, they first repent of any sins or misdeeds they are committing and they ask God for forgiveness. Then they pray and supplicate God to help them, keep them safe, and remove the calamity or epidemic. And therein lies the real causes of epidemics. And God and His Messenger know best.
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