Mufti Menk – Coronavirus

			My beloved brothers and sisters, we need to be more conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala we need to
develop a better relationship with Allah subhanho wa Taala. For indeed as the days and the years of
passing, we are getting closer and closer to the day we are going to return to Allah subhanho wa
Taala. So a winner is the one who looks at age and the years passing. As time that is making us
become closer to the day we're going to return to Allah. So therefore develop a better relationship
with Allah as the days passed, and don't turn away from Allah subhanho wa Taala. My brothers and
sisters, today is the 13th of March 2020. So you and I know that across the globe, there is a scan,
		

			the scan of something that cannot be seen by the naked eye, the scan of a germ of virus that is
actually contaminating so much, and it is spreading faster than a wild fire. My brothers and sisters
the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us years ago, centuries ago about everything Metallica
say, in our den Lana and add one last shot from ILA.
		

			No goodness, except the Prophet Muhammad taught us about it.
		

			No Evil, no harm, except that he mentioned it, he taught us about it. Number one, he taught us about
cleanliness and about making sure that we are always clean. If you look at the ablution, or the glue
that we are supposed to be engaging in before we pray, it entails washing your hands thoroughly five
times a day, in such a way that the middle of your fingers and the bottom of your nails supposed to
be washed. It teaches us about the toes and how to wash the middle of your toes, how to wash your
face, your hands and so on. Keep yourself extremely clean. He has taught us about how to wash up
after using the bathroom. And this is something that we should not be ashamed of it is actually such
		

			a beautiful teaching, if only we knew and if only we understood. So cleanliness is something that is
very, very important in Islam, to the degree that the prophets of Salaam says up to who show up man,
your cleanliness is half of your faith, so much of importance given to it. And obviously when we
speak of cleanliness, the first thing that comes to the mind is the cleanliness that is physical to
do with your water to do with your bathing to do with, you know cleaning yourself ensuring you're
presentable, looking neat, etc. But it also includes cleaning your thoughts, cleaning your dealings,
and cleaning everything else, your social living and so on. All of that is included. But there is
		

			another thing that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us. He said that if you hear of a
play in a certain land, don't go there. And if you are in a place where the plague is, there is an
outbreak, then don't exit from it. In fact, in adoration a prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
speaks about how a person who knows that his suffering has been affected by a play and decides to
leave it running away from it. He is like a person who ran away from a war zone when he was supposed
to defend his own nation. So he says you don't run away. The reason is you won't be able to tell if
you are affected or contaminated. And if you don't know chances are there is a possibility that you
		

			are and if you were you would be carrying it to other places. So this whole concept of quarantine is
actually from the sooner at the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him more than 1400
years back when he says if you're affected, you don't leave and you don't let anyone come in
amazing. My brothers, my sisters, we know that the world has become a global village. We know that
because of communication and transport at a very advanced stage. This virus has flown from the east
to the west from the north to the south. There were people at the beginning saying that perhaps
		

			Since a hoax, maybe it is nothing serious. Perhaps it is something that people don't need to worry
about. It's just an ordinary flu, all that in its place. The reality is it is spreading. People are
dying. It's looking at what's happening on the ground. Huge nations have decided no more flights
coming in or out from many countries of the globe. People are in quarantine. Not just ordinary
people on the streets. But no matter who you are, my brothers and sisters, it's your duty to take it
seriously. Thank Allah that today we are seated here in this Masjid
		

			for Salatu Juma thank Allah Al Hamdulillah.
		

			Do you know that there are places that have stopped the Salah in the masjid simply because of
contamination from the massages and contamination from places of worship? Now one might say, I'm a
Muslim, I'm taught to read the drought Bismillah
		

			Al Rahman asked me
		

			what is
		

			the meaning of witches? I am taking the name of Allah in the name of Allah, with whose name nothing
in the skies, waters can harm at all, nothing's going to harm me. He is indeed the old hearing the
ongoing. So they see once I say this prayer three times, which by the way, is a pseudonym, you must
say a prayer, it is important to say that too and many other to us. But that does not mean that you
don't do what is known by as being a spell, you need to make sure you have taken heed the means that
you have to avoid contamination and to avoid being affected and to avoid this from spreading, you
need to make sure that you have taken every precaution. So some Muslims say if I have said that,
		

			it's okay. I can go for Juma I can go for jamara I can go for anything else because that is a
sweetener or that is a teaching of Islam etc. Not realizing if you are unwell. It is hard
		

			to go at a time like this when you know you could be affected by the by the virus and affects so
many others totally forbidden. How could I ever knowingly go to a public place? And I know there is
a plague around and I know that the symptoms are XYZ or I know I've been to a zone when it was a red
zone and they were there are so many cases there and I think our country Allah and going
		

			you cannot do that my brothers and sisters take it seriously. If the health inspectors or whichever
department is responsible decides that you know what, they will be no more public gatherings for any
reason. Because of this virus, they are justified. Did you hear what I said? We have to say from the
pulpit, they are justified because they are trying to contain the outbreak. They are trying to
contain it from getting worse. You have to understand if there is no job and next week, we will do
salata over at home, and we will think that at least we're okay. So it's not like you have to come
even if you're sick or ill I know a brother very sick and he says no, that is tomorrow I have to go
		

			It's my duty as a Muslim, my brother, when you are sick, you don't even need to fast when you are
sick and Ill you don't even need to go for Hajj when you know you're unwell you it's not like Allah
Subhana Allah wants you to do certain things knowing that you're unwell. So let's not fool
ourselves. Let's not fool ourselves. If you're unwell
		

			participate in what is known as self quarantine, which means you make sure you don't mix with others
you make sure you have your mask you make sure you clean it make sure you let your you know those
around you know that look because I'm not well, I would like to keep a bit of a distance and
thereafter make sure you get yourself tested and now comes The Big One may or may not protect all of
us.
		

			If you are tested positive, you may suffer financial loss. You may suffer various other loss. All
those losses are okay. Don't worry. The financial loss is never ever bigger than the protection of
humanity. Remember that. Many of us have planned the holidays. We've planned meetings. We've planned
		

			travels, we plan journeys that may not happen. Some of us in our businesses, our companies, we will
lose a lot of money. It's okay to ride the wave for now is the time to take this seriously. very
seriously. Make sure you know when we greet each other, the sooner is to greet As salam aleikum wa
Alaykum wa sallam, we don't have to shake hands, especially when it comes to some a time of the
source where you know, there could be contamination. And as clean as you think you are, it just
requires a small contamination for you to be affected before you're, you know, your entire family to
be affected, and so many others to be affected just because you thought I must shake hands because I
		

			really want to fulfill I must have hug is the hug for is it compulsory? The answer is no. So at the
time like this, even if I just greeted you or you reach each other with with the greeting of a hand,
from a distance, it is fine. There's nothing wrong with that get used to it for a while to put on a
mask or to put something on is not wrong. So panela In fact, you would have to at a certain point,
we are fortunate in this particular city, it's not that bad, but who knows how bad it is, it takes a
few days before you can actually figure out what has happened. So I've chosen to speak about this
today. Because from the pulpit of the Friday, it's important that we educate our people, there may
		

			come a day when authorities decide we will not be able to gather in large gatherings for whatever
purpose it is that they might come very soon it has already happened in other countries, people
started asking, Is it permissible for them to say you cannot gather for jumaane I promise you my
brothers and sisters, if there is a plague of this nature, and there is a power, there is a need. It
is definitely permissible for them to impose on us that we're not allowed to gather. The idea is to
save humanity. Remember, this is not a personal thing. And your Eman does not meet date, the fact
that you have to stay away and you have to protect yourself. Like I say, some people think I'm a
		

			Muslim I need for every day I make my two are every day nothing will affect me, my brothers and
sisters. Don't fool yourself. Don't fool yourself. There are people who read for fun and salah and
they make them they have still been affected and some have even died of diseases be this one or
another one. So don't fool yourself. Don't think you know what, I'm a pious man. I have not missed
my Salah in the first sub. So how can I miss it? Now? I haven't missed, you know something all my
life? How can I miss it now, I promise you the reward for protecting humanity is greater than the
reward for your individual acts of worship. Remember that the reward for protecting humanity is
		

			greater than the reward of your individual acts. So May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us all
goodness and ease. And remember, everything is in the hands of Allah. Let's pray that Allah protect
us. Let's pray for those who are affected that Allah grant and cure. It is a serious matter. Don't
be excited when you hear that country is affected, this country is affected. Don't ever be excited
because it's a matter of time before it comes to you and I.
		

			Similarly, my brothers and sisters, sleep well Sleep well. Do you know why? If you would like your
immune system to be strengthened, put your phone away and go to bed. Those who have a sound sleep at
night have a better immune system than those who have not had proper sleep. So sleep well eat
healthy, make sure that you're having your vitamins and minerals, make sure that you're fit, make
sure that you have boosted your immune system somehow. Because together with making dua to Allah and
praying to Him, you and I need to make sure that we have done something within our capacity to save
ourselves similarly, never ever become people who do what is known as panic by what is panic by
		

			which means Oh, there might be a lockdown in two weeks. So let me go and buy two tons of baked beans
because I love baked beans. So everyone goes instead of buying one or two tins, they buy 10 cases
and they want to bring it back. And before you know it there is nothing left for anyone. So don't do
panic buy things will be okay by the will of Allah. Things will be okay by the will of Allah also.
Let us never ever discriminate based
		

			So the race simply because we heard that this outbreak could have started, maybe in China, people
look at anyone who looks like a Chinese and melon, treat them literally, unexpectedly. Treat them in
a way that is tantamount to a crime against humanity. That's unfair. That is an Islamic it is
uncalled for it is wrong. It doesn't mean that anyone who looks this way suddenly has the virus.
That's not true. The person doing this type of
		

			discrimination couldn't be the one who's the carrier, who knows and he's laughing at others. That's
why we see lack of polish.
		

			Way of attorneys Don't ever show excitement when someone else is inflicted or affected with
negativity, because perhaps Allah might have mercy on them, cure them, give them goodness, and you
know what he might test you with the same. So my brothers and sisters, let's learn to be caring for
one another. At this juncture.
		

			Humanity is struggling.
		

			This virus knows no face, no race, no nationality, it is traveling the globe. Just like that. Anyone
can be affected at any time, no matter how pious you are, no matter how distant you are, from Allah,
all of that. To a certain extent you and I know that Allah subhanho wa Taala has tested us. Let's
learn to pass this test. I asked Allah subhanho wa Taala to protect us. I asked Allah subhanho wa
Taala to have mercy on us. And I asked Allah subhana wa Taala to open our doors and to make us from
those who can reach out to the rest of humanity. But I can
		

			only assume that when I find a way
		

			to innovate