Fatwa #471451 February 2021South Africa
Virus and the Qadr of Allah
Question
Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Baraakattu Mufti Ebrahim,
Respected Muftisap, in todays world of technology we need to verify everything please make me maaf for the trouble i cause you to have a look at the attachment.
Furthermore, I do have some questions after seeing this video that I would appreciate some assistance in understanding.
1. I do not believe that because of my Imaan I will not get affected by the virus.
My belief is that I will not get infected by the virus unless my Allah has commanded that I am to be infected with the virus, and that the virus cannot kill me unless the order of my death is there and the virus is the means of that command to happen. Is my belief wrong according to Islam?
Is this weakness of mine causing me to compare my Imaan With Hazrat Umar (R.A.)?
I learnt in school and Madressah
i. Death is predestined
ii. Wealth is predestined
Was I taught wrong?
Who is the right Ulema to listen to and who are the wrong Ulema?
We have learnt in Jamaat that everything is by the command of my Allah. Every rain drop is by the command of my Allah and accompanied by an angel.
I am not saying go into where a place is suffering a plague from where there is not a plague. I am asking that we are affected here in S.A. by the plague. So does this mean I am to stay in my house and not go perform Salaah with Jamaat standing shoulder to shoulder with my brothers?
Muftisap please make me maaf if I have offended you. My Allah is my witness that I do not have intention to, neither to question what Muftisap has ruled. But just trying to understand my deen because in today's world a great fitnaa has erupted where we do not know who is a trustworthy Ulema anymore. So if I could just receive guidance on how I should live. please remember me in Muftisaps duas of health, wealth, piety, a life with Imaan, a death with Imaan and resurrection and protection on the day of Qiyaamah with Imaan Aameen Thumma Aameen.
May my Allah grant Muftisap a long life with complete success in this world, qabr, and Aakhira Aameen Thumma Aameen.
Jazaakallah hu Khairan Muftisap,
A concerned slave and sinner.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Respected Brother,
We take note of the contents of your email. We value your sincerity in presenting these questions:
1] Virus and the Qadr of Allah
It is important to note that predestination known as Taqdeer refers to the absolute knowledge of Allah. That however, does not deprive us of our free will and mind in following the Shariah or disobeying the Shariah.
Taqdeer in terms of Imaan and Laws mean Allah has absolute knowledge what a person will do with his own choice. Taqdeer is not an imposition of the will of Allah against the elective choice of an individual. Allah in His Perfect and Absolute knowledge knows whether one will not be inflected by taking precaution or infected by taking precaution or otherwise. We should do what Shariah advises us to do and leave the rest to Allah.
Your understanding about the virus and the Qadr of Allah is correct.
2] Salah in Masjid with or without Social Distancing
We have previously presented the fatwa of Darul Uloom Deoband on many issues of Covid-19. Darul Uloom Deoband is our mother institute. The fatwa of Darul Uloom Deoband is signed by 6 prominent Muftis. You may see the fatwa of Deoband here.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.