Resolution No. (293)(13/2020) By the Board of Iftaa’, Research and Islamic Studies: ’’Ruling on Knowing about being Infected with COVID-19 as well a Cause of Transmitting It to Others’’
Date (16/Rabea’ Al-Aowal, 1442 AH) corresponding to (2/11/2020 AD)
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
On its twelfth session held on Monday 16/ Rabea’ Al-Aowal/1442 AH, corresponding to 2/11/2020AD, the Board of Iftaa’, Research and Islamic Studies Reviewed the ruling on a person who knows that he is infected with COVID-19 and a cause of transmitting it to others. After deliberations, the Board decided the following:
Allah, The Exalted said (What means):’’ My Lord! Make this a region of security and bestow upon its people fruits’’ [Al-Baqara/126].
Whosoever infected with COVID-19 or might be is not permitted to mix with other people in order not to be a reason of transmitting the infection to them or being a cause of harm, damaging the security of the country economically and healthily and finally leading to a state of recession to the country itself and the population as well.
In this regard, the Prophet (PBUH) ordered us to be in quarantine at the occurrence of plague which is an infectious disease, where he said (What means):’’ If you hear that it (plague) has broken out in a land, do not go to it; but if it breaks out in a land where you are present, do not go out escaping from it." [Agreed upon]. Besides, according to scholars, the forbid in the above narration is of the same level of prohibition .i.e. the prohibition of going out a country if the plague breaks out in it and the prohibition of fleeing away from a country in which the plague has broken out in it. Besides, when Al-Imam As-Shihab Ar-Ramli was asked about that and replied:’’ Fleeing away from a country in which the plague breaks out in it and going to a country in which the plague has broken out in it is impermissible.’’.
Accordingly, the same procedures apply on every infectious disease such as COVID-19; thus, the infected person is not permitted to mix with others especially their gatherings such as markets, clubs, places of worship and social occasions, and the one who do otherwise is considered sinful because he will inflict harm upon them, for the Prophet (PBUH) said (What means):” There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.". [Al-Moataa’], [Related by Malik]. In Sahih Al-Buhkary & Moslim, the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the person who ate from anything with a bad odor such as garlic and onion to avoid obligatory congregational prayer in the Mosque and to stay away from it, and ordered him to pray at Al-Baqee’ (The main graveyard for Al-Madina people) as narrated in Sahih Moslim, so how will be the case with an infectious deadly disease! Allah, The Exalted said (What means):’’ whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.’’ [Al-Maidah/32].
Therefore, the infected person must abide by quarantine and all precautionary procedures issued by specialists, as well all people should abide by wearing face mask, maintain safe social distancing, using sterilizations in addition to other safety procedures and the one who doesn't abide by those procedures is considered sinful according to the ruling of Sharia and is one of those, who strive with might and main for mischief through the land, since Allah, The Exalted said (What means):” and Allah loveth not mischief.” [Al-Baqarah/205]. Thus, whoever doesn’t abide by the aforementioned procedures has earned punishment in this life and the Hereafter because he violated what been enjoined by Allah, The Exalted, His messenger (PBUH) and accordingly, the ruler who banned the infected person to mix with others, imposed curfew to ward off harm upon people and to achieve their benefit at the same time, because he acts in accordance to the good of all citizens and the punishment in the worldly life regarding violations during this pandemic is determined by him based on Sharia’s maxims.
Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,
Grand Mufti of Jordan,
Dr. Abdulkareem al-Khasawneh
Dr. Muhammad Al-Khlaylah, Member
Dr. Mahmoud al-Sartawi, Member
Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member
Dr. Majed al-Darawsheh, Member
Dr. Ahmad al-Hasanat, Member
Judge Khalid Woraikat, Member
Prof. Adam Nooh Al-Qhodaat/Member
Dr. Amjad Rasheed/Member
Dr. Jamil Khatatbeh/Member
Dr. Mohammad Younis Al-Zou`bi/ Member