{"id":153,"date":"2020-03-19T23:55:12","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T03:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/?p=153"},"modified":"2020-03-29T10:25:14","modified_gmt":"2020-03-29T14:25:14","slug":"darul-maarif","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/2020\/03\/19\/darul-maarif\/","title":{"rendered":"Darul Ma’arif: Is Concern of Contracting Coronavirus or Transmitting It a Valid Reason to Not Attend Jama`ah or Jumu`ah?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mufti Zameelur Rahman, Birmingham, UK<\/a><\/p>\n

Some people are asking if it is permissible for men to not attend the masjid for Jam\u0101\u2018ah or Jumu\u2018ah on account of fear of being infected by the coronavirus or transmitting it to someone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cSickness\u201d is a valid excuse to not attend Jam\u0101\u2018ah\/Jumu\u2018ah. Sickness in this context refers only to such sicknesses that make it intensely difficult to attend the masjid. Hence, \u2018All\u0101mah \u1e92afar A\u1e25mad al-\u2018Uthm\u0101n\u012b explains the sickness that excuses one from attending Jam\u0101\u2018ah as follows:<\/p>\n

\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u0627\u062f \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u0636 \u0645\u0627 \u064a\u062a\u0639\u0630\u0631 \u0628\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0636\u0648\u0631 \u0625\u0644\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0645\u0627\u0639\u0629<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is meant by sickness is that which makes it intensely difficult to attend the Jam\u0101\u2018ah.\u201d (I\u2018l\u0101\u2019 Sunan<\/i>, Id\u0101rat al-Qur\u2019\u0101n, 4:204)<\/p>\n

Similarly, \u2018All\u0101mah Ibn \u2018\u0100bid\u012bn describes sickness as falling under such excuses that make it near-impossible to attend, as opposed to excuses that do not. (Radd al-Mu<\/i>\u1e25<\/i>t\u0101r<\/i>, D\u0101r al-Thaq\u0101fah, 3:511)<\/p>\n

Likewise, an old man who finds it difficult to walk and is thus not able to attend the Jam\u0101\u2018ah without intense difficulty is excused from attending Jam\u0101\u2018ah and Jumu\u2018ah. (\u1e24<\/i>\u0101shiyat al-<\/i>\u1e6c<\/i>a<\/i>\u1e25\u1e6d<\/i>\u0101w\u012b \u2018al\u0101 Mar\u0101q\u012b al-Fal\u0101<\/i>\u1e25<\/i>, D\u0101r al-Kutub al-\u2018Ilmiyyah, p298; Radd al-Mu<\/i>\u1e25<\/i>t\u0101r<\/i>, 3:514; \u1e24<\/i>albat al-Mujall\u012b<\/i>, 2:513-4)<\/p>\n

If someone has a minor cough or minor fever, or has no symptoms at all but is merely concerned he may be infected by, or transmit a virus to, someone else, this is not a valid excuse for missing Jam\u0101\u2018ah\/Jumu\u2018ah. (Radd al-Mu\u1e25t\u0101r<\/em>, 9:587) Yes, if the circumstances are such that the people at the masjid will very likely be offended and take issue with one coughing\/showing signs of being infected by a virus, then it will be permissible to not attend. (Radd al-Mu<\/i>\u1e25<\/i>t\u0101r<\/i>, 4:216-7)<\/p>\n

The reality is it is always<\/i> possible to be infected by or transmit an illness when in close proximity with others, hence the argument that this would open the door to fatalities is merely an emotional argument as this is always<\/i> a<\/i> possibility<\/i>. <\/i>If the chances are increased somewhat, this does not change the ruling of Shar\u012b\u2018ah. Yes, one can take more precautions within permissible means, but it is not a valid reason to dispense with something that is a known obligation.<\/p>\n

Even if contracting the virus was valid grounds to not attend Jam\u0101\u2018ah or Jumu\u2018ah, it would only be when one is almost certain or very sure that this would happen, and almost certain or very sure that contracting it will be debilitating or fatal, and not just a minor illness. (Radd al-Mu\u1e25t\u0101r<\/em>, 9:588) In this case, the probability that an individual will contract the virus by attending the masjid is low and, even if contracted, the probability that it will be debilitating or fatal is also low (less than 50%). [1]<\/p>\n

The author of al-Hid\u0101yah<\/i> says:<\/p>\n

\u0644\u0627 \u064a\u062c\u0648\u0632 \u062a\u0623\u062e\u064a\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0627\u062c\u0628 \u0644\u0623\u0645\u0631 \u0645\u0648\u0647\u0648\u0645<\/span><\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not permissible to postpone an obligation for something speculative.\u201d (al-Hid\u0101yah<\/i>, Id\u0101rat al-Qur\u2019\u0101n, 4:331)<\/p>\n

\u2018All\u0101mah Ibn Nujaym explains, with reference to the rulings of Fiqh, that the feeling or judgement that is given consideration in Shar\u012b\u2018ah is a dominant judgement or feeling (ghalabat al-<\/i>\u1e93<\/i>ann<\/i>), not merely any judgement (\u1e93<\/i>ann<\/i>), let alone a mere speculation (wahm<\/i>). (\u2018Umdat Dhawi \u2018l-Ba<\/i>\u1e63<\/i>\u0101\u2019ir<\/i>, al-Irsh\u0101d, 1:199-200)<\/p>\n

The solution to the current situation is not less d\u012bn but more. It is a very telling sign of our failings as an ummah that people are fleeing from the masjids, the most beloved of places to All\u0101h, but rushing to the markets, the most detested of places to All\u0101h. The Prophet (\u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wasallam) foretold that our downfall as an ummah will be on account of \u201clove for [worldly] life and hatred of death.\u201d (Musnad A<\/i>\u1e25<\/i>mad<\/i>, Mu\u2019assasat al-Ris\u0101lah, 37:82)<\/p>\n

A Muslim should have full and complete conviction that no illness or calamity will befall him if All\u0101h does not wish it. And by turning to Him and gaining closeness to Him, All\u0101h will avert calamities and trials and, even if All\u0101h decrees that he suffers a trial, All\u0101h will make it a cause of blessing and mercy, and make it bearable and even pleasurable.<\/p>\n

All\u0101h says: \u201cWhoever adopts taqw\u0101 of All\u0101h, He will make a way out for him.\u201d (Qur\u2019\u0101n, 65:2) It is reported that the Prophet (\u1e63allall\u0101hu \u2018alayhi wasallam) said: \u201cBe mindful of [the commands of] All\u0101h, All\u0101h will be mindful of you. Be mindful of [the commands of] All\u0101h, you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask All\u0101h, and when you seek help, seek help of All\u0101h\u2026Become acquainted with All\u0101h in ease, He will recognise you in difficulty. Realise that what missed you was never to befall you and what befell you was never to miss you. Realise that [divine] aid comes with patience and relief comes with distress and that with hardship comes ease.\u201d (al-Arba\u2018\u016bn al-Nawawiyyah<\/i>, no. 19) It has thus been reported from \u2018Al\u012b (ra\u1e0diyAll\u0101hu \u2018anhu) that: \u201cA slave should have hope in nothing but his Master and fear nothing but his sins.<\/b>\u201d (Mu<\/i>\u1e63<\/i>annaf Ibn Ab\u012b Shaybah<\/i>, D\u0101r al-Qiblah, 19:157)<\/p>\n

This is not a time for panic, but a time for introspection and rebuilding our broken connection with All\u0101h and preparing for the \u0101khirah, by making tawbah & turning away from all sin, observing taqw\u0101 & increasing our efforts in obedience to All\u0101h, giving in \u1e63adaqah, observing \u1e63abr, being punctual on obligatory and optional \u1e63al\u0101h and increasing in til\u0101wah, dhikr and optional worship. May All\u0101h give us the correct understanding and enable us to follow the correct path and protect us from incorrect understandings and enable us to stay away from incorrect paths, \u0101m\u012bn.<\/p>\n

[1] It should also be noted, there is no certainty that holding congregations will cause the virus to spread. Such things are entirely in the hands of All\u0101h. It may be because of maintaining congregational \u1e63al\u0101h that All\u0101h halts or reduces the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

\n

Addendum<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people have proposed that the fear of being infected by the coronavirus is comparable to the excuse of heavy rain, which the Fuqah\u0101\u2019 have listed amongst the excuses that permit one to not attend Jam\u0101\u2018ah\/Jumu\u2018ah.<\/p>\n

Heavy rain is a real and obvious inconvenience for a person making their way to the masjid, and may even act as a barrier. (Radd al-Mu<\/em>\u1e25<\/em>t\u0101r<\/em>, 3:514-5) Fear of being infected by the coronavirus is in no way comparable. It does not cause any real and obvious inconvenience (only an imagined and speculative one) and in no way functions as a barrier to making one\u2019s way to the masjid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mufti Zameelur Rahman, Birmingham, UK Some people are asking if it is permissible for men to not attend the masjid for Jam\u0101\u2018ah or Jumu\u2018ah on account of fear of being infected by the coronavirus or transmitting it to someone else. \u201cSickness\u201d is a valid excuse to not attend Jam\u0101\u2018ah\/Jumu\u2018ah. Sickness in this context refers only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1764,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[524999,32713],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1764"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153\/revisions\/154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/coronaguidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}