Commentary

Q:

1. What is the correct Islamic belief regarding sicknesses, diseases, epidemics, etc.?  Are they contagious or not?

2. Please provide a detailed explanation of the following two Ahaadith narrated in regard to sicknesses,  لا عدوى ولا طيرة  - (there are no contagious sicknesses nor any bad omens) and فر من المجذوم كما تفر من الاسد-  (flee from a leper as you will flee from a lion).

It apparently seems as though the meanings of both these Ahaadith contradict each other.  What is the correct understanding and reconciliation of both these Ahaadith?

3. At the time of an epidemic, what is the Islamic teaching in dealing with people who are afflicted?

4. During the time of an epidemic, did the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) who were not afflicted attend the Musjid for salaah?

Q: Can you advise me as to whether diseases can be contagious according to Islamic belief. Please provide a detailed explanation of the Ahaadith narrated in this regard especially:

لا عدوى ولا طيرة

فر من المجذوم كما تفر من الاسد

Q: Abu Umamah (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "There are three whose salaah would not rise up beyond their ears: The runaway slave until he returns, a woman who spends a night while her husband is angry with her, and a people's Imaam whom they dislike."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ وَاقِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو غَالِبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ تُجَاوِزُ صَلاَتُهُمْ آذَانَهُمُ الْعَبْدُ الآبِقُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ وَامْرَأَةٌ بَاتَتْ وَزَوْجُهَا عَلَيْهَا سَاخِطٌ وَإِمَامُ قَوْمٍ وَهُمْ لَهُ كَارِهُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ ‏.‏ وَأَبُو غَالِبٍ اسْمُهُ حَزَوَّرٌ ‏.

Classification: Hasan (Good) Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book of Salaah, Hadith 360

Can you please explain the 3rd point.

Q: Please explain this Hadith:

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Be quick in increasing your good deeds, before such trials arrive, in which a person who was a believer in the morning will become a kaafir (non believer) by the evening, or he who was a believer in the evening would become a non believer by the morning; because of him selling his deen (religion) in exchange of the acquisitions of the world.’ (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 309)

Q: Does this hadith give the right to a man to marry himself to a woman, just them two, without nikaah because it says (المسلمون على شروطهم)

Q: How should we understand and apply this narration, what is the correct method to practice it?

عن أبي قلابة، أن أبا الدرداء مر على رجل قد أصاب ذنبا، فكانوا يسبونه، فقال: أرأيتم لو وجدتموه في قليب ألم تكونوا مستخرجيه؟ قالوا: بلى، قال: فلا تسبوا أخاكم واحمدوا الله الذي عافاكم ، قالوا: أفلا تبغضه؟ قال: إنما أبغض عمله، فإذا تركه فهو أخي

Abu Qilabah (rahimahullah) narrates that Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once passed by a man who had committed a sin and the people were cursing him. So he said: “Tell me, if you were you to find him in a deep well wouldn’t you bring him out?” When they replied in the affirmative, he said: ‘Then do not curse your brother and praise Allah who protected you.’ They asked, ‘Don’t you hate him?’ He replied: ‘I only hate his wrong doing, but when he abandons it then he is my brother.'”

This statement of Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) is recorded in Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq and Shu’abul Iman. (Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq: 20267, Shu’abul Iman: 6264) The narrators are reliable.

Q:

1. What is the meaning of: "Iman has not entered their hearts".

2. What is the meaning of: "Allah Ta’ala will search for his faults and the one who Allah takes to task, Allah will disgrace him even if he is in his home."

عن ابن عمر قال: صعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المنبر فنادى بصوت رفيع، فقال: يا معشر من أسلم بلسانه ولم يفض الإيمان إلى قلبه، لا تؤذوا المسلمين ولا تعيروهم ولا تتبعوا عوراتهم، فإنه من تتبع عورة أخيه المسلم تتبع الله عورته، ومن تتبع الله عورته يفضحه ولو في جوف رحله 

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports: “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once ascended the pulpit and called out in a loud voice, ‘O those who have accepted Islam with their tongues while Iman has not entered their hearts! Do not cause harm to the Muslims, do not rebuke them and do not search for their faults, for verily the one who searches for his Muslim brother’s faults, Allah Ta’ala will search for his faults and the one who Allah takes to task, Allah will disgrace him even if he is in his home.'” (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2032 and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5763)

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith sound (hasanun gharib) and Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic (sahih).

Q: What is the meaning of this narration: Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Do not let the prayer of a man deceive you nor his fasting. Rather look at the truthfulness of his speech, his trustworthiness whenever he is entrusted, and how he acts whenever he is given wealth/power.”

Imams Musaddad, Bayhaqi (rahimahumallah) and other Muhaddithun have recorded this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al ‘Asqalani (rahimahullah) has declared the narration authentic. (Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 4898 and Al Matalibul ‘Aliyah, Hadith: 2631)

Q: Is it correct that if a person passes away due to a stomach illness, he becomes a shaheed.

Q: According to the Hadith regarding 72 sects which will go to hell, is there any more explanation available that in which form these peoples will go in hell either believers (with sins) or non-believers?