(By Br. Yassir Butt… Ml Muhammed Shoayb has not been the contributor of this article. His name above merely indicates that he has allowed for its hosting under his Q and A section)

Dying from H1N1 Flu Blessing or …… you decide?

Q:What is ??????? in Arabic does it encompass modern day pandemics or epidemics like H1N1 Virus?

???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? “???????????: ?????? ????? ????????”

Ibn Mandhoor the expert in Arabic Lexicon says it is “any contagious sickness”  like we have the Common and uncommon flu, pandemics, epidemics etc.  Hence the contemporary scholars agree that epidemics/pandemics fit this definition.

Q: If a Muslim passed away with possible H1N1 Flu, Some people may attend the Janazaa while others may have reservations?

According to the Scholars of Islam a individual who passes away with pandemics or epidemics is insha Allah a Martyr if he had Sabr and Tawakul on Allah the following hadith in Sahih Bukhari sheds light on thi issue

?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????: «???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????

?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 680: Narrated ‘Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) I asked Allah’s Apostle about the plague. He told me that it was a Punishment sent by Allah on whom he wished, and Allah made it a source of mercy for the believers, for if one in the time of an epidemic plague stays in his country patiently hoping for Allah’s Reward and believing that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him, he will get the reward of a martyr.”

Also,

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Volume 7, Book 71, Number 628: Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “(Death from) plague is martyrdom for every Muslim.”

The Sahaba (companions of Rasool SAW) asked Allah to be afflicted by the Epidemics!!!!!

Imam al-Dhahabi naarates in the biography of Muadh bin Jabal the Great companion of the Rasool, in his famous

Book “Siyar Alaam al Nubalaa”

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“When the Epidemic of the Plague afflicted the people of Damascus Omar bin Al-Aas gave a khutbah saying this is a curse from Allah so run away to the valleys and mountains, Shurahbeel bin Hassana came angrily with his garments dragging and his shoes in his hand and said I have been the companion of the Prophet (SAW) this plague epidemic is a Mercy from Allah, it is the Dua of your Prophet Mohammed, and it is the method by which pious people before us used to die, upon hearing this Muadh bin Jabal agreed nad said ” O Allah give the Family of Muadh the lion’s share of this epidemic!!!”  his dua was accepted soon his two daughters died from the epidemic and he burried them in a single grave, then his son AbdurRahman got the sickness and he died, Finally when the signs of the Disease appeared on Muadh’s hand (boils and discoloration) he started kissing that boil and said this is more beloved to me than the world,  And when he was on his death bed and he would go into a stuporof death he said in Arabic

?????: ?????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????.

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In English “O Allah strangle me one time for good because I am sure you know I Love you and my Love is so strong and eager that I cannot wait to meet you O Allah!!!”

May Allah help us All

And May Allah give Br.Zack’s Family Sabr and Give him Janaa

Ameen