ACJU/NGS/2021/019
2021.03.08
1442.07.23
It is essential for every Mu’min (Believer) to firmly believe that every aspect in this world happens according to Allah’s will.
Accordingly all diseases and respective cures are from Allah. The following verse in the Quran confirms this:
وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ (سورة الشعراء : 80)
“…and when I become sick, He heals me,” (Surah Asshu’ara: 80)
While Allah has generally provided cure for all ailments in this world, Prophet Muhammad PBUH has guided us to seek medical assistance for any sickness.
The following Hadith confirms this:
عن أسامة بن شريك رضي الله عنه قال : قَالَتْ الأَعْرَابُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، أَلا نَتَدَاوَى ؟ قَالَ : ( نَعَمْ ، يَا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ تَدَاوَوْا ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلا وَضَعَ لَهُ شِفَاءً ، إِلا دَاءً وَاحِدًا ، قَالُوا : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، وَمَا هُوَ ؟ قَالَ : الْهَرَمُ ) . (رواه الترمذي : 2038)
Usamah bin Sharik (Radiyallahu anhu) said: “Some Bedouins asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) shall we treat (our ill)?’ He said: ‘Yes, O worshipers of Allah! Use remedies. For indeed Allah did not make a disease but He made a cure for it’ – or – ‘a remedy. Except for one disease.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! What is it?’ He said: ‘Old age.” (Tirmidhi: 2038)
The Prophet (ﷺ) has endorsed certain medicines and medical practices for diseases, while advising precautionary measures from being afflicted from diseases.
Accordingly, even though a contagious disease occurs by the will of Allah, associating with persons afflicted may increase the spread of the disease and therefore Islam has cautioned against visiting localities where such diseases are prevalent, as a precautionary measure.
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ، يُحَدِّثُ سَعْدًا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِالطَّاعُونِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوهَا، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا . (صحيح البخاري : 5728)
Narrated by Sa’d (Radiyallahu anhu): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” (Saheeh Bukhari: 5728)
عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَهُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا عَدْوَى» وَيُحَدِّثُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا يُورِدُ مُمْرِضٌ عَلَى مُصِحٍّ. (صحيح مسلم : 2221)
Abu Salamah bin ‘Abd al-Rahman bin ‘Auf reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There is no transitive disease, but he is also reported to have said: “A sick person should not be taken to one who is healthy.” (Saheeh Muslim: 2221)
Hence, Islam has guided those who are afflicted by such diseases to take appropriate measures in order to protect themselves and the others from being afflicted.
عن أبي سعيدٍ الخدري رضي الله عنه: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا ضرر ولا ضرار. حديث حسن، (مستدرك الحاكم : 2345)
It was related on the authority of Abu Said Al-Khudri (Radiyallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Musthathrak al Hakim : 2345)
Although one is not afflicted by a disease, Islam has guided to protect oneself from the effects of diseases by being cautious from afflictions and by seeking relevant precautionary measures.
حَدَّثَنَا جُمْعَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ تَصَبَّحَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعَ تَمَرَاتٍ عَجْوَةً لَمْ يَضُرُّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ سُمٌّ وَلاَ سِحْرٌ ”. (صحيح البخاري : 5445)
Narrated by Sa`d (Radiyallahu anhu) : Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “He who eats seven ‘Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them.” (Saheeh Bukhari: 5445)
With regard to the field of medicine at present, there are various forms medical practices.
While it is permissible in Islam to obtain medical treatments from these medical practices in accordance to the religious guidelines, Islam has also guided to seek consultations from experts and experienced professionals on medical related matters.
Similar to the measures implemented by many countries against the global pandemic Coronavirus, our country too has issued several guidelines and has taken various measures in order to safeguard and relieve our people from the effects of this virus. Out of these preventive measures, the vaccine is one of the most prominent implementations.
Safeguarding oneself from such severe diseases and undergoing necessary treatments related to them are inevitable.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has provided some precautionary guidelines against the effects of the Coronavirus. While adhering to these guidelines, it is permissible to adopt the vaccine upon the consultation of experienced, reliable Doctors who are well versed in this subject.
May The Almighty Allah safeguard us from all forms of evil diseases.
Ash Sheikh A.J. Abdul Khaliq,
Acting President,
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama.
