What is the Reward for Patience during Plagues?
Question:
Assalamu ‘alaykum.
Does the following hadith relate to Covid 19?
Aisha asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about plagues and he said, “It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whomever he wills, but Allah has made it mercy for the believers. Any servant who resides in a land afflicted by plague, remaining patient and hoping for a reward from Allah, knowing that nothing will befall him but what Allah has decreed, will be given the reward of a martyr.” (Bukhari)
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Hadiths on Plagues
Yes, this hadith, and others like it, do apply to Covid 19. The commentators on this hadith defined the ‘plague’ mentioned in the hadith as any widespread illness which affects people on a large scale. It can also mean lethal illnesses of that nature. (Ibn Hajar, Fath al Bari)
This is good news for the believer. By the grace of Allah, we benefit from everything. We should feel happy for those who die due to it. Death, for the believer, is just the door to a permanent, perfect home. Someone who is blessed with shahada has the coming stages facilitated, their sins forgiven, and a high rank where they will enjoy the hospitality of the Most Generous.
Take all precautions. That is the way of the Sunnah. At the same time, look forward to meeting Allah – whenever it is to be and work to be the best servant to Him that you can be. If it is tomorrow or in 90 years, we ask Allah to make the day we meet him the best of our days until that point.
Study the final juz‘ of the Qur’an, and reflect on the Akhira. It will help process everything. May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
