THE QUACKERY AND GUILE OF THOSE USING MUBARAK AHAADITH TO SUBSTANTIATE THE RUBBISH OF ‘SOCIAL DISTANCING’ AND CONTAINMENT IN THE HOMES

THE MUBARAK AHAADITH CANNOT BE USED TO ‘JUSTIFY’ OPPRESSION (1)

Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Islam began in a forlorn state and will
soon return to a forlorn state. Glad tidings to the forlorn.”
We are witnessing such times where the depravity of this Ummah is being made
manifest for all to see. The era prophesied by Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
where Muslims will be huge in numbers but they will be (useless and
insignificant) as the trash and muck of floodwaters, is certainly before us. Love
for the world and fear of death is the common trait amongst Muslims and nonMuslims alike. Compounding this pitiful state, the current terror that a simple
virus has unleashed upon the masses, has seen the Ummah being further
filtered into those with Imaan and those with merely a façade of it. Right before
our eyes, Islam is being returned to its initial forlorn state! May Allah Ta`ala
include us amongst those fortunate forlorn ones.
Social media has been ablaze with messages and texts (one such corrupt
message originates from the Jamiat so-called ‘ulama’ South Africa) which
purportedly ‘justify’ (from the Mubarak Ahaadith) people skulking in their
homes. The disbelieving governments may believe they are doing good, but as
Muslims we recognise the injustice in preventing Muslims from openly
practicing on their Deen. Islam teaches that we should abide to the laws of a
country. However, the act of ‘justifying’ un-Islamic practices and ‘justifying’ the
Musaajid being left desolate, is pure satanism! Being forced not to go to the
Musjid by non-Muslims is one thing, but for ‘Muslims’ to justify this heinous
decree is totally something else. Those who justify such acts, using Qur`aan and
Sunnah, have proven that they have no Imaan left. The Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) clearly states that the weakest form of Imaan is to recognise an
injustice to the Deen and to detest it in the heart. Hence, those who feel nothing
about the Musaajid being shut down, are devoid of Imaan. As for those who
condone this oppression and even go one step further of ‘justifying’ it using our
Qur`aan and Ahaadith, have stooped to a level that even puts shaitaan to shame.

                                                       THE MINI-DAJJAALS

“SITTING IN YOUR HOME DURING AN EPIDEMIC – YOU GET THE REWARD OF A
MARTYR
Prophetic guidance during epidemic Disease: Social Distancing, Quarantine,
Containment.”

An article with this title is currently doing its rounds on social media. This article
is not only misleading, it is extremely deceptive.
The Hadith reproduced in this article is as follows:
ً ليس من رجل يقع الطاعون فيمكث يف بيته ، يعلم أنه ال يصيبه إال ماكتب هللا له، إالكان له مثل أجر شهيد
ً حمتسبا
صابرا
FIRSTLY: The Hadith is incorrectly and deviously translated. The translation they
deceptively put is: “….if a person in the time of an epidemic plague stays in their
home, patiently hoping for God’s reward and believing that nothing will afflict
them except what God has written for them, they will get the reward of a
martyr.”
The actual translation should be: “There is no man afflicted with the plague,
who remains in his home patiently, hoping for reward from Allah, knowing
that nothing will afflict him except what Allah has destined for him, except that
he will receive the reward similar to a martyr.”
SECONDLY: The reference given at the bottom of this Hadith cites Musnad
Ahmed AND Saheeh Bukhaari, trying to give the impression that the same Hadith
appears in both these Kitaabs, whereas the wording of this same Hadith in
Saheeh Bukhaari does not have the words رجل من or بيته يف rather it has the words,
.يف بدله and من احد
So, if they wish to restrict the import of the words “in his house” to be literal –
that one should remain indoors only, as is being done at these lockdowns – then
they should also extend that literality to the word “man” (which appears in this
narration in Musnad Ahmed), and infer that women are not included here. This,
we all know, is not the case. The word “man” is used in the Hadith to refer to
both men and women, and the word, “home” infers
locality/hometown/country, and not literally one’s “house”.
Other Kitaabs have the words عبد من meaning “slave”. The words vary but the
import is exactly the same.
The Hadith can never be taken to refer to the “house” only because it is neither
possible nor practical for every person to remain indoors as long as a plague is
present. Society and life would terminate if this were the case.
Also, when there are such cases in Ahaadith where there appears to be a
contradiction, then we interpret it by finding a rational explanation. The
Ahaadith are NEVER contradictory. The Mufassireen and Fuqaha have clarified
any ambiguity that we may perceive. Since the Hadith in Bukhaari mentions “his
locality” this is the obvious meaning that is also extended to the Hadith in
Musnad Ahmed. The word, “home” in Arabic, and also in English (and possibly
most, if not all, languages) is a general term that refers to one’s locality. The
word “home” could refer to one’s hometown, locality, province and even
country. To deceptively translate and infer that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
meant remaining indoors is treasonous because it implies the abandoning of
Jamaat Salaat and other beneficial Deeni congregations.
THIRDLY: The Hadith uses the word يقع which refers to a person already afflicted
with the plague. In that case, the person who is already afflicted, can be advised
to remain indoors for various reasons, mostly relating to his recovery. However,
even if a person is afflicted, the Shariah still does NOT advocate the dajjaali
concept of ‘social distancing’. Islam does not teach us to avoid afflicted people,
unless it adversely affects one’s tawakkul. The Hadith teaches us that there is
NO contagion, except with the permission of Allah Rabbul Izzat.
FOURTHLY: The bogus article gives a small excerpt from Fat-hul Baari (which is
a commentary of Saheeh Bukhaari), thereby perpetuating its deception. The
only sentence they deemed appropriate to add from Fat-hul Baari is: “the
wording (of the hadith) indicates that whoever fulfils the descriptions mentioned
has the reward of a martyr (shahid), even if they didn’t die.” They give the false
impression that whoever sits and skulks in their home during a plague, whether
afflicted or not, will also be rewarded by Allah Ta`ala. They fail to expand on this
discussion.
Let us study what exactly appears in Fat-hul Baari, with regard to these specific
Ahaadith:
“Nabi’s (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)statement, ‘There is no slave’, that is Muslim,
‘who is afflicted with plague’, that is, in the place where he is, ‘and he remains in
his hometown,’ in the narration of Ahmed (the words are), ‘in his home,’ and this
(whether the word is ‘locality’ or ‘home’) refers to whichever place he is in but he
remains therein, and he does not go away from there, that is, he does not leave
the place wherein the plague occurred. [Note here is also explained that the
words ‘بيته and بلده ‘both mean the place where the plague occurs, hence it does
NOT mean a literal home or house].
The word ‘patiently’, means that he is not irritated, troubled or vexed and neither
is he anxious, apprehensive nor restless, rather he is at ease and accepts the
Decree of Allah Ta`ala and pleased with his fate. This is the condition for
acquiring the reward of a martyr for that person who dies of the plague. That he
remains in the place where the plague occurs and he does not flee from there as
the prohibition clearly appeared earlier (in another Hadith).”
[Let us look at this in our present context – the government has ordered a
lockdown. People are anxious. Many are frustrated because their daily
movements have been curtailed. All businesspeople, besides those in the
“essential services” industry, are suffering huge losses during this time. Nobody
is really sitting at home happily or content. Also, the majority are terrified of
moving outside and mixing with others for fear of contracting this virus. How far
– very, very far – is this condition (prevalent today) to that described in the Hadith
of being patient and hoping for Divine Pleasure. Based on the comments of the
Muhadditheen, we can safely declare that this virus is not a mercy to our
Muslims but also a calamity and punishment just like it is for the disbelievers.
Far from displaying patience, Muslims are anxious, apprehensive, restless,
irritated, troubled and vexed. And this is the condition of those not even afflicted
by the virus!!!
The Muhadditheen have explained that the prevalence of plagues is a
punishment for both – the disbelievers and transgressing Muslims. After all,
does Allah Ta`ala not warn us in His Kalaam, “Do those who commit sins think
that We will treat them like those who have Imaan and who do good deeds,
making their lives and deaths equal? (They are wrong!) Evil indeed is the
decision they take.” The fact that we have been barred from our own Musaajid
can never be deemed a favourable circumstance. How sad that even ‘muslims’
feel Musaajid should be closed. As long as there is life, the time for reformation
exists. May Allah Ta`ala have mercy on us all.]
“The statement, “Knowing that most certainly nothing will overcome him except
what Allah Ta`ala has decreed for him,” is the other condition. This is a
conditional sentence which relates to his remaining (in his hometown/country).
However, if he remains whilst he is anxious, apprehensive, restless and regretful
of not having went out (of his locality), thinking that had he went away then he
would not have been afflicted in the first place and also that he was afflicted
because he stayed behind. This (attitude and state of mind) will deprive him of
the reward of a martyr, even if he dies of plague.” [Fat-hul Baari, vol. 10, page
193]
This excerpt from Fat-hul Baari, proves that the little excerpt which appeared in
the deceptive article, is not only misleading but gives a totally incorrect
interpretation of the Hadith.
The above commentary also proves, inter alia, that this Hadith refers more
specifically to the person who is afflicted with the plague and not necessarily to
those who are healthy and fit. The reward of martyrdom is applicable only to
those who are afflicted with the plague and either die or survive. Those who are
not afflicted by the plague/virus, need to continue their lives normally, whilst
also remaining in their hometown/country. There is another Hadith that states
everyone who resides in a place which is overcome with a plague should remain
therein.
Salaat in congregation is not and never was excused for those who are not
afflicted by the disease/virus. ‘Social distancing’ is not and never was an Islamic
teaching. ‘Muslims’ who wish to practice this should never ever believe that
Islam or the Hadith teaches this. ‘Muslim’ men who wish to perform their Salaat
at home, should never ever think this to be permitted by the Shariah due to the
existence of a plague or virus.
This advice of ours should not be misinterpreted as an advocation of civil
disobedience. We merely wish to highlight the point that Muslims should never
trivialise the Deen and they should never misinterpret the Ahaadith of Nabi
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to give sanction to any disobedience to Divine
Injunctions. True Muslims should never believe that the Ahaadith of Nabi
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ever condoned such a state upon Muslim men where
they are not allowed to attend the Musaajid for the Fardh Salaat. The Ahaadith
never condoned the concept of ‘social distancing’ merely out of fear of
contracting a virus. The Ahaadith never encouraged Muslim men to remain
skulking in their homes, thereby abandoning congregational Salaat. If the
government imposes this on its citizens, that is one thing. The Shariah should
not be misinterpreted to give an impression of approval. If Muslims are forced
to remain indoors and threatened with legal repercussions for ignoring this law,
they should exercise caution and not challenge the authorities, however at the
same time, they should not and cannot condone this injustice from an Islamic
perspective.
May Allah Ta`ala have mercy on this Ummah!
5th Shabaan 1441 [30th March 2020]

“Clear propagation is our ONLY responsibility”

Issued by:
JAMIATUL ULAMA (Johannesburg)
P. O. Box 961195, Brixton, 2019, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
admin@jamiat.joburg http://www.jamiat.joburg