Entering a plague-stricken area

Question:-

I want to attend a wedding that is taking place in another province. However, the Covid 19 pandemic is widely spread in that particular area. Am I permitted to travel to the said area?

Answer:-

Since this is a countrywide pandemic with infected patients in every region of our country, there is no harm in travelling from one province to another province of the country. The Hadith prohibits one from travelling from a plague-free area to a plague-stricken area, whereas this is not the case with us here in South Africa. The reasoning for the prohibition is, that if a person enters the plague-stricken area and is infected with the illness, then he will attribute it to himself having entered the area and associating with the inhabitants of that area, whereas illness in whichever form, is from Allah alone. Holding such beliefs will thus corrupt the Aqeedah of a person.

Based on the above, if you happen to contract the illness after travelling to a ‘hot spot area’, and there is a fear of you attributing the illness to associating with the people of that area, then we advise you against undertaking the said journey (and thereby exercise caution) until the plague has subsided. However, if you happen to contract the illness (after undertaking the journey), but will attribute it to the decision of Allah Ta’ala and be happy with His decision, then there is no harm in undertaking the journey, since the entire country is struck by the plague at this point in time.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 28 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1434 / 03 December 2021