Mufti Menk – Restrictions due to Coronavirus from an Islamic Perspective

			We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam, his household, his companions, we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, to bless them and
every one of us to protect us from all forms of evil and harm, sickness, difficulty and calamity, I
mean,
		

			and to grant goodness to offspring, those to come up to the end, to keep them steadfast on the dean
in a way that they can carry it to the generations that will follow right to the end. I mean,
		

			my brothers and sisters,
		

			we all know that nothing happens except by the decree of Allah.
		

			We all know that life and death is in the hands of Allah. We all know that sickness and health is in
the hands of Allah. We all have full conviction in Allah, we believe in him. We have seen so many
passes away without being sick or ill. And we've seen those who have passed away with sickness and
illness, some pass away when they're very young and others when they're very old. My brothers and
sisters, we have conviction we are meaning we believe you and I know that at the moment, the whole
world is going through a nightmare.
		

			Something we cannot see with the naked eye something that cannot be diagnosed almost instantly.
Something that
		

			does not show up in symptom form, except after so many days. It is the sickness or the virus known
as the COVID-19, or the Coronavirus.
		

			And it's important for us not to panic. We are fortunate in Zimbabwe, sitting in this particular
machine, I can tell you that we have not had confirmed cases yet, although they've been suspected
cases. And people have said things here and there. Not everyone with the flu is a carrier of the
virus. That having been said we're watching the globe,
		

			from a single case, to a few 100 to a few 1000. In the matter of days. We cannot be fools to just
sit and watch. And it does not negate our immersion in Allah. If anything, conviction in Allah and
laying full trust in Allah would only be true if we took every possible precaution. If you did not
take the precaution you do not have trust in Allah. And I present evidence for that. The Hadith the
Prophet sallallahu Sallam tells us about tying the camel and then laying the trust in Allah. True
trust in Allah is never by leaving your doors open at night and saying don't go to Allah. That is a
false sense of trust. It is known as tawakkol and not.
		

			The Hadith says no uncontactable calluna Allah Allah Hakata wakulla hayleigh satakam cameyo zu Wk
masamoto be Barnum, if you were to lay the truth, trust in Allah, he would sustain you and provide
for you in the same way that he provides for the bird. And it doesn't stop there. It doesn't mean I
say I lay my trust in Allah. And then you sit at home and do nothing about it and say my Eman is
strong. I'm reading whatever portion of the Quran I'm doing so many adkar I'm reading 100,000 times
this and then all of that said, all you needed to do was go out and look for a job. So panela and
then alone, open your doors. You can't say I want to get married and you hiding in the house. No one
		

			knows you even exist. So the Hadith continues to say the bird comes out of its nest in the morning
and struggles all day and comes back with a full belly. Which means it went out and made the effort
all day. That's when Allah wrote in sustenance somewhere and it went and it got it Subhana Allah
Allah inspires you to go to a place where your sustenance is written, you know when death is written
for you, you will work towards it. But if you did not take the precautions you are responsible in
the eyes of Allah remember this. So my brothers and sisters, we have a huge disaster because on one
hand, we have people who are relatively pious, who are not marrying the medical information with the
		

			religious information,
		

			the religious knowledge that they have needs to be translated in the light of what is happening on
the ground based on what the medical experts are telling you. So if the experts are letting you know
that you know what, there is a massive looming crisis, you better take a country like this, where
and I'm not proud to say this where the health sector is probably suffering the most one of the
weakest in the world. Although we may have some of the best doctors amongst us sitting right here in
front of me. Still that health sector and what it offers us
		

			no one would like to get sick in a country like this. May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. May
Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us an understanding so
		

			What do we do we have people who are telling us on one hand, lay your trust in Allah completely.
Don't worry, don't do anything about it. If death is written for you, it will come for you. We ask
them, why don't you leave your doors open at night? Why don't you leave your cars open and then say
we are meaning we believe in Allah. If anything is gonna happen, let it happen. Why don't you do
that? They will say because you're taught to tie the camel while the same camel applies here. Don't
Don't be a person of double and triple and quadruple standards. Care for everyone, not just for
yourself. So it is a crisis. People are blackmailing us by telling us that it negates your Eman to
		

			be worried about something and concerned.
		

			It does not negate your Eman to be concerned and take precautions Not at all. If we were to say my
brothers and sisters, bring your own masala Giada when you are coming to the masjid so that there is
no contamination voila, here we are not giving you the wrong advice. If we were to tell you wash up
at home, use the toilet at home, make sure you come in. Don't shake hands, we are not giving you the
wrong advice. We are scholars we are people who have studied the deen. These are unprecedented times
not known in living memory. So how the law unprecedented times we have never ever come across this
type of scenario. If we don't rise to the occasion, we will be failing humanity. And we should not
		

			be bothered about what those who don't see the light we've seen are saying we need to still go on
and present our opinions, I can let you know something very interesting a few weeks ago, I was from
one of those who was thinking perhaps this is a big hoax. Perhaps this is just you know something,
and it's over exaggerated. I promise you it took me just a little bit of travel, a little bit of
research, a little bit of concern for the oma to quickly change my mind to say you know what, as a
leader, you should never say those words. Luckily, I never said them in public. So Panama.
		

			And those who are saying today that don't ever do anything about it. Two weeks from now, or a few
weeks from now, they will cry tears of blood, if they truly have the concern for humanity. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala grant us understanding, if we were to tell you, my brothers and sisters, keep a
little bit of a distance between each other when you're talking. Even if people were to say put on
your mask, whether it helps or not, from a medical perspective is something else, they would not be
wrong. This is good advice for you. Remember, it is mainly the weak and the vulnerable, whom we are
concerned about the older people, the young ones might ride the wave and come out of it because the
		

			percentage of death they may argue is very small. But who knows, if you have an underlying
condition, the chances are that you will be from among those who don't make it. And trust me, if you
have 12 ICU beds in an entire country, you don't want to even begin to think of where you're going
to go.
		

			If they tell you in modern countries, first world countries that you know what? We have to choose
who we serve, because Have you been of service to humanity? Are you a person we need in the
community? If yes, this is the bed for you. If not go and die will not forgive us. We don't want to
ever see those days. So all I am saying today, and this address is extremely important is brothers
and sisters. Yes. They may be a conspiracy theory, it might have started by this person and that
person, it might have been started for political or financial reasons, whatever it may be, that's
not my field, I have to look at what is on the ground today, no matter who started it. When the
		

			bushfires started in Australia, they could blame anyone. But it became a catastrophe for humanity
not just for Australia.
		

			Who started in and who didn't is a topic for those who who enjoy that or who want to look into it.
But as for you and I what's of importance for us is to save lives to ensure we don't give the wrong
advice. And we don't blackmail people using religion. How can you? So if authorities were to tell
you listen, you have to adopt the following than my brothers and sisters. No matter what type of a
conspiracy may be, wherever it might have come from. You have to take heed. People are not foolish.
I sit and I look at those who worshiped money all their lives. In some countries. They have had to
shut down their economies for a moment. Do you think they would really do that? If it wasn't such a
		

			serious matter? for them? That was their God.
		

			For us, we believe in Allah. Nobody is saying stop your Salah, increase your Salah, increase your
tilava seek the forgiveness of Allah. Allah wants us to cry to him at a time like this. Allow us to
turn to him. Allah wants us to be at pain.
		

			It is not a joke when maca and
		

			Medina have had to take such stringent measures. So Han Allah, I've been reading very, very deeply
because it's a matter that concerns us and our congregations and the Muslim oma and humanity at
large. We don't want to see our loved ones struggling simply because we were foolish in the manner
we gave advice. We thought we were very pious, I want to take you to an incident that occurred with
me in 1996. I was in Egypt, and the fire was raging in minutes. And you know what, I heard the
authorities, some of the policemen and the firemen sitting on there,
		

			you know, internal walkie talkie system and whatever they had, they were speaking to each other
saying, we have to evacuate the whole of Mena within two hours. Because the fire is actually raging.
The gas canisters are exploding, the wind is blowing very, very hard, in the wrong direction from
meaning it's meant to cause damage. And so these people started with their loud hailers telling
people to vacate, I recall, vividly something I'll never forget in my life.
		

			A certain senior scholar from this part of the world, was telling the brothers and sisters in the
tents my brothers, my sisters, reads your Surya sin and nothing will happen to you while law he you
don't need to move the fire can never reach out to you because meaning can never reach you. Because
you are a judge. You're making dua to Allah you crying to Allah and you read in your scene, how can
the fire get to you? Subhana Allah.
		

			If you look at it, from a religious perspective, that person did not really think what he was
saying. Although he was a scholar, he didn't know with all the knowledge he had, how to translate
that knowledge, bearing in mind the reality on the ground when if a person were to be dying in
hunger, the chances for manual
		

			massaging
		

			and even if a person is really dying, and they need to engage in or consume something totally
prohibited, then they will not be to blame. Wow Subhanallah why because the prohibition of the death
is far worse than the prohibition of the prohibition of wasting a human life when you could have
saved it is far worse than the prohibition of the pork or the Swain May Allah never let us see those
days. But trust me there will be scholars from us who will tell you die and don't eat it because
they will find it too heavy in their hearts to ever let a day come when you have to consume that
swine I don't blame them on one hand, but on the other hand, if it were to come, they cannot issue
		

			their own feelings when there is a clear cut evidence in the Quran and the sooner that you are
allowed to do this to save your life. And you should So on one hand it's painful to see Makkah and
Medina turn away those who are coming for hombre possibly even for Hajj. May Allah let this matter
resolved before Hodgson amin
		

			so my brothers and sisters it is absolutely important for us to no it pains the heart, but we have
to make crucial Decisions, decisions that people will not like us for they will hate us they will
think What are you doing? Aren't you worshipping Allah but we are worshipping Allah more, perhaps
not exactly in the same place because of how this virus is spreading and what the experts have told
us that same brother, I got up immediately after him and I took the loud hail and I said my brothers
and I was a young boy. My brothers my sisters, they are people in the other teens who have read your
scene. They are also for judge they were crying to Allah and they died and they were burned to death
		

			after having read they are seen. It does not mean that you're going to read it so automatically
Allah is going to save you Allah is going to tell you didn't die give you two legs for you to walk
towards Makkah with while the fire was raging on. Many people understood it, they started packing
the things and working towards Makkah, you won't believe it. I remember helping some of the elder
folks. And when I came out I saw the same alum who was talking in the tent, he was way ahead all of
us with a flag saying brothers, let's go to my car. Let's go to Makkah and I'm thinking and like I
said I'll never forget it. It was only because of his love for Hajj and his love for Allah that He
		

			gave totally wrong advice. The next day when we came back, all the tents were burnt down.
		

			A few days later, in fact, we went to Allah for the next day, the following day, when we came back
we were in ashes basically with makeshift facilities in minutes. Some of you who were there might
remember this. The same is happening now people are telling us No need Let's gather in bigger
numbers. Let's go to the machines. Let's pack it you know if Allah has written mod for you, it's
going to come and so on. Well, to be honest with you, why don't you give the children knives to play
with them and tell them if it was within them for them to slice themselves they will do and kill
themselves they will do and it is not needed won't happen because you know that it's your duty to
		

			keep the knives away the same way this virus is a knife. Don't let it spread to everyone and give
		

			Because they will be sliced and they will slice others. I am more worried as I walked in today, I
met a few brothers, I said, Brother, I'm not going to shake your hand. And I'm going to keep a
little bit of a distance, who knows I might be carrying it, you might be carrying it and I don't
want you to curse me tomorrow or vice versa. What was wrong in Islam, I don't have to shake your
hand but I have to save your life. I can wave at you from afar. We don't believe in the elbow shake
or the leg shake, only shake those shakes will shake us as in shaking. But when it comes to the
greeting, you say a Salaam Aleykum bite your tongue by your mouth and that's it. The shaking of the
		

			hand is another sooner you may do it under normal circumstances. But you can just wait from a
distance if you'd like. And even if you don't want to waive the fact that you said a salaam aleikum
aloud, your duty has been fulfilled. So remember this, we have to say we have to speak similarly, in
our country. The government has issued a directive the President spoke whether we like it or not, he
is in charge of the nation at the moment. So Han Allah, He says You shall not gather more than 100
people. He knows what he's talking about. He definitely knows what he's talking about. Take a look
at the other countries go and study. I studied South Korean patient number 31. That's what they say
		

			go and study what happened to that patient.
		

			They spread it from a church service. Do you really want people say that the Muslim spreading from
the masjid Imagine if Makkah and Medina had spread that virus throughout the globe, the world would
not want to touch a Muslim they would say these Muslims have spread the virus from their sacred
places. Just as well at hindsight, it was closed, although at the time that they did all the
shutdowns. We were very, very pained hurt and we to this day we are weeping.
		

			I personally had a trip planned with everything paid for and I've had to cancel it so it's not like
we didn't suffer financial loss but at the same time, financial loss is nothing when it comes to
saving life. My brothers, my sisters, this is a very very important message. Many people are
thinking one way or another Some are excited to say the masjid will be closed. Nobody's excited.
Today we are seated here. We probably how many of us I was counting after salah and I said Subhana
Allah we probably about 3040 maximum. And we were told not together more than 100 for this reason in
this Masjid, and I'm speaking here but must Allah in Harare, Zimbabwe for the benefit of those who
		

			might listen to this later in other countries.
		

			We have decided that this machine will remain open you and I know that the numbers in this
particular part don't get to the numbers of restriction except on Juma and the Friday. So for every
other Salah the masjid will remain open. You are encouraged to make Voodoo at home and to come to
the machine. If you have symptoms of a flu or if you are unwell or if your immune system you know it
is weak, compromised, etc. Please reach Allah at home there's no problem the prophets of Salaam has
given us that leeway, and so has Allah subhanho wa Taala in fact it would be prohibited knowing
prohibited knowing that you are unwell somehow or knowing that you're throwing yourself into
		

			destruction to actually come to a Masjid when not to be a de Camila De Luca. Allah says never ever
throw your own self into destruction. That's the same evidence that prohibit suicide. Why not up to
enforce a criminal law cannabic rahima don't ever kill yourselves. Because Allah is so merciful. If
you can't be in one way, do it another way. So my brothers and sisters remember this.
		

			These are beautiful rules and regulations. If you're not well don't come. If you're if you're afraid
of perhaps you might catch it or you might not if you travel overseas, and you've come back,
practice self quarantine, perhaps to stay at home for at least five to six days. If there are any
symptoms then don't come into the public and if you don't have symptoms, you may want to reintroduce
yourself in a certain way. In some countries, they will they've already gone into the lockdown
phase, no one's allowed to move. In some countries, the places of worship are all closed. Here in
this country. Like I said at the beginning we don't yet have a single confirmed case but I promise
		

			you the minute there is one in a few days there will be hundreds
		

			May Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us
		

			So, like I said Salah, the daily Salah the masjid will remain open inshallah this particular Masjid
because the regulations mentioned 100 people we will be less than 100 and inshallah all the areas
will be regularly sanitized and the Muslim is encouraged to observe who at home I want to add. If
you have your own masala and you want to bring it bring it in case you or anyone else has
contamination you will have gone down into breeding that place of solitude where when you are there
with your own salah and such other so if you want to bring it bring
		

			Insha Allah you will be perhaps doing yourself a favor. Similarly, I am adding to this, that the
shaking of hands and so on, it's not necessary, you can talk to each other from a little bit of a
distance. And even when we are packing the support, we will pack them by the will of Allah. But it
doesn't need to be so squashy, as we usually do keep a small, a small little, you know, a
comfortable space for now we're okay, this rule might change and if it does change, and if we do
have to shut down, trust me, I'll be the first one to announce it if need be, because we have to
take the lead.
		

			But inshallah we don't get to that by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			so what about Salatu Jamaat, in this ministry, as you know, there is more than one section, we have
this section, we have the other section on that side, then we have the classrooms, and we have
another section next door, but we will use these as you know, this particular rule does not take
more than 100 perhaps 100 maybe a little bit more, we will restrict it to 100 they will not be more
than 100 year as per the directive. So they will be ashes at the doors inshallah, they will assure
the people in Windows 100 people a little bit less than 100, they will tell you separate entry
separate entrance, separate door, everything is separate for the other section, they will enter from
		

			there and the next 100 will be there. If we do have more than that they will be in the classroom or
in the madrasa it's in the madrasa, which is the next door building. So it's a totally separate
building that I will go ahead in this machine, there will only be one one Juma and there will also
be one Salah, as for the ladies, the facility is exactly the same, it will be open, and they will be
less than 100 by the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala they will be ashes, if not, meaning if it
overflows, I don't think it will overflow, we've actually been monitoring it quite closely as of
late, and inshallah they won't have more than 100 on that side. So these are just some of the
		

			restrictions that have to be put in place. And inshallah I pray that Allah grant us cure, like I
say, I hope that we don't have to make other announcements that other scholars have had to make in
other countries and we have splits in the oma based on whether I should save your life or not.
That's the split. How on earth can I allow that to happen? scholars of note, senior scholars are
actually making a huge mistake by not reading and marrying the knowledge that they have. And they do
have the knowledge but they're not marrying it with the medical expertise on the ground and what's
going on. I believe Britain and these other big countries are taking stringent measures. Some of the
		

			most advanced countries in the world have already gone on lockdown, may Allah subhanho wa Taala
protect us. Don't ever think that just because you worship Allah, you're not going to get sick.
Don't ever think just because you worship Allah, you're okay, your disease won't spread. That is
actually foolish. If that was the case, none of us would ever need to move from our beds. Because if
we were proper Muslims allow would have carried us to the machine. That's what people would have
believed. We have to take these precautions, and we have to make sure we take them seriously. May
Allah subhanho wa Taala protect all of us. Like I say, I'm not telling you this, to be frightened of
		

			it. If I was frightened, I wouldn't have been here tonight. But what I'm saying is, it's our duty as
leaders to guide the people who look up to us to tell them listen, from a religious perspective, you
must take every necessary step and even a little bit more to make sure that the Mussolini's and the
muslimeen and the human and human beings humanity at large, are not affected. Just like that. And I
want to repeat one last thing before I actually close my brothers and sisters.
		

			In this country, you and I know what is the condition of the health sector, you know that I know
that make sure we don't get sick. You know, it is the last thing you would like. mela protect us
all. take things seriously go home and speak about it. Spread it as far and wide as you can. And
don't be shy. Not to shake hands get used to it. It took me getting used to not to shake hands.
People look at you they want to come and say no, no, wait, hold on. Teach them say something. It's
not necessary. I had I had a scholar Tell me No. Do you also believe in all this rubbish? I said
sure. It's not a rubbish. If we don't lead by example. What do you expect of the rest of the oma?
		

			May Allah protect us all and grant us really prediction from this disease and all other sickness
metallography cure to those who are sick and ill and the mathema to the motorhoming aku kolyada was
Allahu wa salam ala nabina Muhammad Subhan Allah Subhana Allah will be handing a shadow Allah Allah
Allah