March 25, 2020

Just a few months ago, everything moved on at a normal pace — streets filled with pedestrians; parks and beaches crowded with families; public transit full of travelers; buildings overrun by workers; people congregating in houses of worship for prayers.

Today, everything is different. Streets are empty, spots of entertainment silent, public transport still and unmoving, buildings locked up, and the halls of our houses of worship vacant. It’s eerie, like a ghost town that has taken over the world.

Entire countries have been placed on lockdown. People are prevented from leaving their homes at all. They do not have contact with anyone outside. Food and medication is delivered to the front step. They don’t see or talk to anyone beyond the boundary of that closed door.

Some places have placed a curfew instead. You have to be inside your home by a certain hour of the evening. If not, you may face fines or jail time, or both. It brings to mind the times of the middle ages for some. For me, it reminds me of where my country was in the 1960s. We truly did have a curfew. The city gates would be closed on you if you had not returned home by sundown. You were either locked in or out. Its like going back in time, but its not being done for control — this is for the protection of the people and the community.

The empty streets and vacant buildings are a sad sight to see; but the most heartbreaking of all is the breakup of our congregational prayers and the locking up of the houses of worship. The Muslim world has been in an uproar since they began closing up the masâjid. From all corners of the world, people put forth their cries of protest.

Some have claimed it was a conspiracy against the ummah. Others said we are supposed to trust in Allâh and not run in fear. I have seen the most ridiculous and ignorant comments on the issue on social media the past few weeks.

Most are not true and incite rebellion, panic, and fear.

1. This is not a conspiracy.

The closing of the masâjid and the prohibition of congregating for prayers is not a conspiracy against Muslims. They have similarly closed up all other places of worship.

2. The closing of the masâjid was approved by the scholars.

Even though every ’Abdullâh, Ahmad, and ’Alî cries out online about conspiracies or lack of tawwakul in people, the board of scholars has approved the temporary closing up of the masâjid. You, the common, average Muslim, do not have the knowledge of a renowned scholar who studied Islâm for most of his life.

هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ

Are those who know (have knowledge) equal to those who do not know?

[Az-Zumar — 39:9]

3. The closing of the masâjid means you don’t trust in Allâh.

This doesn’t even make logical sense. Tawwakul does not mean sitting back and expecting everything will turn out as it should. In a well-known hadeeth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) emphasizes that tawwakul also includes action.

Anas ibn Mâlik said:

A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie up [my camel] and rely on Allah, or should I leave it loose and rely on Him?” He said, “Tie it up and rely [on Allah].”

[AtTirmithî, 2517; classed as hasan by AlAlbânî in Sahîh Sunan AtTirmithî, 2/610.]

The closing of the masâjid is to protect us, the people under the government’s protection. It is not to take away our right to worship; and worship is not restricted to the masâjid.

The reality is that this virus is extremely contagious. Reportedly, it is less deadly than the SARS epidemic — I was 12 then and I still remember reading about it — but far more contagious. Recall my mention of the quarantined individual who went to Friday prayer and thus exposed a large congregation of people. The virus is spreading faster than it can be cured by the medical communities of the world. The healthcare systems of our countries were not set up for epidemics, especially not of this degree.

Islâm puts the community and its safety first. If one is sick, he should not attend the congregational prayer.

Abû Hurayrah (may Allâh be pleased with him) narrated:

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said, “No sick one should be put with a healthy one.”

[AlBukhârî, 6771; Muslim, 2221.]

In the case of  Carona, you may carry it without having any symptoms for around 2 weeks. It is safer for yourself, other people, and the world as a whole to stay home during this time. Do you really desire to risk spreading this deadly disease to your Muslim brother or sister, a friend, or neighbor?  Do you wish to catch it and then spread it to the loved ones you live with, some of whom may be at high risk and never recover?

True, it is sad and makes our hearts cry to see our masâjid closed up. But a closed masjid does not mean you cannot pray. The doors of mercy are still open. The gates of du’â are ajar. Pray. Pray more than you ever have before. Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for the world.

There is hope. One day, the masâjid will open their doors again. One day, the people will step out of their doors, breathe the fresh air, and live on.

أَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ أَن تَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأۡتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۖ مَّسَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلۡزِلُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصۡرُ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصۡرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٞ

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,“When is the help of Allah ?” Indeed, the help of Allah is near.

[Al-Baqarah — 2:214]