This Is What Muslims Should Do in a Country Plague

Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani advised Muslims not to come out of a country that was plagued to escape from the plague. This suggestion is based on the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad who forbade those in the country to go out and vice versa.

Al-Asqalani advised Muslims to stay in it while being patient, hoping for the rewards of Allah, and believing that everything will not happen to him except what Allah SWT wants.

تقدم في الأبواب الماضية الأمر بمنع الخروج الذي وقع به فرارا من الطاعون والترغيب في الإقامة صابرا محتسبا عالما بأنه لا يصيبه إلا ما كتب الله تعالى

means, "prohibition to leave the country were stricken with plague and advice to survive in the country as a patient expects a reward God and believes that it will not happen to him except what is indeed outlined by God, "(Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, Badzlul Ma'un fi Fadhlit Tha'un, [Riyadh, Darul Ashimah: without years], page 315).

Someone is encouraged to immediately worship God, restore the rights of those who are wronged, free themselves from all rights in the form of property or honor relating to human children, repent so as not to repeat any disobedience, regret any past bad deeds, and will without having to commit persecution, injustice, and deviate from the Shari'a. All of that is highly recommended when a general outbreak of disease strikes, even more so about himself personally. (Al-Asqalani: 315). Except that, they are encouraged to pray to God to lift the plague because the plague is an illness, not death. Prayer as an endeavor and effort is a prescribed suggestion. (Al-Asqalani: 315-317). People who have not been exposed to the plague are also encouraged to pray for their families and especially themselves so as not to be exposed to the plague that is plaguing their country as recommended by As-Subki. (Al-Asqalani: 324). These recommendations are quite acceptable. Al-Asqalani based this suggestion on the wisdom behind the prohibition of hadith to get out of a country affected by the plague. A person who is in a country affected by an outbreak — generally a year long — will not find the benefit of escaping death because his death is predetermined, whether he chooses to survive or leaves the country.

Tasharuf a healthy person in the country who is suffering from a disease outbreak is equated with tasharuf a very sick person, a sick death. (Al-Asqalani: 302). Thus, those who are being tested with a plague attacking the inhabitants of their country really need to do acts of repentance related to God and the rights of others because death seems to come to fetch him in the near future even though they appear healthy without symptoms.

In addition, they are also required to prove their taqarrub to God through caring and empathy for others related to social and economic impacts. Because the disease outbreak also requires the government to issue policies related to epidemic crises that have social and economic implications. They can prove this through donations to neighbors who need and do not exclude residents who are exposed to the plague, including the rejection of the funeral of a plague patient's body. Allah knows best. (Alhafiz Kurniawan)

Source: https://islam.nu.or.id/