Contagiousness in diseases

Question:-

1. What is your view in regards to social distancing in Salaah?

2. Some scholars state that illness is transferred by coming in contact with an ill person. Can the narration pertaining to contagiousness in diseases be explained in detail for our understanding!

Answer:-

1. Our Darul Ifta is not in favour of social distancing, rather we encourage standing shoulder to shoulder.

2. According to their view, contracting the disease due to coming into contact with the infected person is the outward cause (Sabab-e-Zaahiri),  but they also accept that the actual illness is from Allah alone. This brings us to the conclusion that in essence the illness is from Allah alone (even according to their view).

Now, when the illness is from Allah Ta’ala alone, then a person will fall ill if Allah Ta’ala has destined the illness for him, whether he stands shoulder to shoulder in the Saff, or he practices social distancing. Therefore, implementing social distancing due to the fear of contracting the illness from fellow Musallis is not a valid reason (to distance the Musallis from each other.)

Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam mentioned there is no contagiousness in diseases,   “لا عدوى”

In another narration, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam shared a meal with a leper whilst reciting the following words,

ثقة بالله وتوكلا عليه  (فتح البارى  ص159 ج10 )

“Placing my trust and reliance on Allah ( I consume this meal with a leper ).”

These narrations of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam prove there is no contagiousness in diseases. However, in other narrations of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, we are commanded to keep away from people with diseases. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Do not bring the ill in the company of the healthy.”

“لا توردوا المرضى على المصح”  (بخارى 859  ج2 )

In another narration Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Flee from a leper just as you flee from a lion”.

“فر من المجذوم كالفرار من الاسد” (بخارى ص850 ج2)

In a narration of Tabrani, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said,“ Do not look at a leper continuously”.

“لا تديموا النظر الى المجذومين” (مجمع الزوائد ص101 ج5 )

These narrations appear to be contradictory, thus the scholars had to reconcile between these narrations. Hafiz ibn Hajar Rahmatullahi Alaihi reconciles between the Ahadith in the following manner; that in reality there is no contagiousness in diseases. However, people are weak in their beliefs (Aqeeda) nowadays. Due to this weakness in belief, we have been commanded not to go close to a leper because if one contracts the same disease (with the Will of Allah) after some contact with a leper, he will attribute his disease to the leper which is an incorrect belief. (All sicknesses and diseases are from Allah Ta’ala alone). This is the reason due to which Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam has prohibited us from remaining in the company of people that are afflicted with diseases that people generally consider to be contagious.

 

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 02 Jumadal Ukhra 1443 / 05 January 2022