Islam is the religion of all ages and people. It is the most adaptive religion of the world that provides its followers a clear blueprint to lead an ideal life. Islam guides its followers about every aspect of life, from cradle to coffin. Therefore, a true believer always looks towards Islam whenever he encounters with any issues or calamities. The global outbreak of corona also warrants moving towards Islamic teachings for coping with this pandemic.

Muslims are the followers of the Prophet ﷺ who taught that, “Run away from lepers like you run away from a lion” (Sahih Muslim) and that “do not mingle patients and the healthy.” (Sahihul Bukhari) The Prophet ﷺ said, “If you come to know that there is plague somewhere, you should not go there. If there is plague in your place, do not leave the place.” (Bukhai and Muslim)

This teaching of the Prophet ﷺ came fourteen centuries ago, when there had been no protocol for quarantine in the world. How could those who understand that one should compulsorily obey the instructions of the Prophet ﷺ turn a blind eye to the Quarantine instructions of the country? Those who sit inside home by heeding the law of the country should never be despaired but rather be hopeful of the reward of Allah for heeding his command.

If we read the Hadith, we can realise that Prophet’sﷺ instruction that one should keep away from people who have epidemic is not meant as a hatred against them, but as a safeguard for oneself. Those who read the Hadith reported by Abu Dawud, “those who died of plague is a martyr” and the Hadith reported by Bukhari that “If someone patiently remains in the place where plague spread and dies of it will have the same reward as that of a martyr,” will never hate a patient, but rather show love and compassion for him.

In the history of Islam, we can never see an act of isolation of hatred against the patients. In the affliction of plague at Emmaus in Palestine during the expeditions of Umar ◌ؓ, about 25,000 people died, including Muad Ibn Jabal ◌ؓ, Suhail Ibn Amr ◌ؓ, and Abu Ubaidat Ibn Jarrah ◌ؓ. Imam Ahmad reports in his Musnad the act of then Governor Amp Ibn As ◌ؓ instructing people to avoid communal living and to live alone in mountains, which Caliph Umar ◌ؓ acknowledged. They were carrying out the command of the Prophet ﷺ. Muslims of today should heed the religious instructions and commands transmitted by them. They should not feel disappointment about it, but should rather remain hopeful of His contentment and reward for heeding them.

A believer should view diseases, whether they are endemic or not, as a means determined by God for us to expiate our sins. “If a Muslim is suffering from an affliction, God will forgive his or her sin like leaves falling from a tree,” These are the words of the Prophet ﷺ who was suffering from fever to Abdullah ◌ؓ who came to visit him(Bukhari). “If a Muslim feels tiredness, illness, sadness or disease, God will forgive his sin through them, even if the affliction is a thorn which had stuck into his flesh.” This Hadith, narrated by Bukhari through more than one companions, gives so much relief and contentment for a believer. So much is the pleasure given by the Prophetic saying that “if there is an endemic like plague, and one does not go out so as not to harm others and dies in consequence, he will receive the reward of a martyr.” (Bukhari) It was this pleasure which motivated believers including Sahaba to remain in places where the plague spread fourteen centuries ago and accept martyrdom after death at a time when there was no scientific assessment of bacteria and virus and no quarantine protocol.

Believers have to understand that the reward of martyrdom has been offered not merely for those who die of plague. “Those who reside in a plague-affected region with the belief that nothing will happen to them except what is destined by Allah for us will get the reward of a martyr”, says the Prophet ﷺ as reported by Ayisha ◌ؓ and recorded by Bukhari. Imam Ahmad also reported a Hadith in his Musnad through a reliable chain, citing Ayisha ◌ؓ, who says, “When the plague is spreading, those who sit inside one’s house with the belief that nothing will happen to them except what is destined by Allah will be rewarded as a martyr.”

Most scholars have included all epidemics under the category of plague. What greater happiness has to be attained by those who learn from the Prophet ﷺ that staying in one’s house while the epidemics is spreading will get the reward of the martyr? If we participate in congregational prayers and Friday congregations for the satisfaction of Allah, it is Allah who demands us to stay at home seeking the same satisfaction; how could the believers feel disappointment, then? Those who have studied from Divine Revelations about the blessings which the martyrs will receive in heaven should have nothing but hope for an equal reward?!

Divine reward of a holy martyr is offered to the believers for merely staying at home during a pandemic outbreak. In other words, staying at home in quarantine is truly a way to Jannah as taught by holy prophet of Islam (pbuh).