Covid-19: Role of a Muslim

The second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged India in an unimaginable way. With almost 400k cases per day, India has been caught off-guard amidst the second wave, resulting in almost 1 death from Covid-19 in every 4 minutes.

Amidst the crisis, what is the role of Islam and of Muslims in a situation like this? Let’s study:

1. Stay inside and isolated

The most important protocol amidst a plague is isolation. It is essential to avoid going outside until necessary with no alternatives available. Hence the Prophet ﷺ instructed that if a person hears about an outbreak, they must not enter that place, but if it breaks out in their own area, they must not leave that place.

2. Help others financially

Charity is another way of helping others during a pandemic. In the context of a pandemic, a calamity could be the death of a person.

Hence, if one can donate money to provide an oxygen cylinder, or a bed, or even medicines, that charity would stand between the death and the person him or herself.

3. Provide helpful information regarding resources

One of the sins we’ve witnessed during the Covid-19 wave is in the scams caused in the name of oxygen cylinders. There have been reports of people selling the cylinders at a much higher price than the actual cost in order to capitalize on the emergency.

This is not only prohibited but also punishable in Islam. Hence we must be careful in providing help as well as lookout of suspicious people who intend to steal people’s money.

4. Do not spread news without verification

One of the most common practice we are witnessing amidst the Covid-19 pandemic is the spread of false information. This information may create panic amongst the masses, and on the other hand, may advice them to take the pandemic lightly, letting their guards down, depending upon the type of information or news.

The Qur’an prohibits us from seeking or pursuing information of which we have no knowledge. This means that we must not forward or spread news until we have verified it. This includes mutation in the virus, newly found symptoms, information regarding oxygen cylinders and beds, so on and so forth.

In conclusion, we can say that it is our moral duty as Muslims to not only abide by the laws of social distancing, lockdowns, etc. amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, but also to help those in need by providing monetary as well as informatory help however we can. Apart from this, we must lookout for our family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc. and check up on them regularly to let them know that they’re not alone in these tough times.