Salamun alaykum,
Be informed:
By now you are all aware of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and its impact on communities and nations around the world. Life, sickness and death are a reality. However, we are accountable to Allah SWT, our Creator, for taking care of our health and doing our part to prevent the diseases from spreading. For our noble faith Islam desires ihsaan the good, wellbeing of all and desists one to cause any harm, injury or loss to another. Therefore, it is essential to be informed about the COVID-19 virus and taking needful actions for ourselves, family and our communities.
The offices of Public Health England and the Department for Education have provided advice regarding the novel corona virus COVID-19, how COVID-19 is spread and preventing spread of infection.
Health, tahara (purity), hygiene and nidhaafa (cleanliness) are common practices we always observe daily at all times. Caring for one’s hygiene occupies a great part of our devotional practices. The ritual of tahara and nidhaafa constitutes part of the eiman- faith- as narrated from the Noble Prophet that, “Tahara / Nidhaafa is half /part of eiman.”
The current NHS advice is that as individuals, we should follow good hygiene practices, including:
- Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- Put used tissues in the bin immediately
- Wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- If you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school.
Observing good hygiene practices can help to reduce the transmission of the virus. This will support to protect yourself, family and the community
Social distancing:
Alhamdulillah our community enjoys greeting each other with handshake, a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Certainly, this is a good, respectful and rewarding practice. It is part of the sunnah- traditions- of the Ahlul Bayt a.s. However due to the current circumstances this will need to be modified. It may be worth avoiding the tradition and switch to a hand on the heart, a respectful nod and a warm smile. So too other practices including communal gatherings will need to be adjusted. In light of this, Wessex Jamaat has suspended all programmes at the centre. Various sister jamaats in the UK and other countries too have done likewise.
Mental wellbeing:
Undoubtedly with constant updates through the various media and social network platforms on the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its effects globally, this does have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
As Muslims we are Divinely urged in the Noble Qur’an to commit to patience:
“And We will surely test you with a measure of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient ones.” (Sura al Baqara 2:155).
It is essential that one does neither get affected by unnecessary stress nor panic due to the situation. During these moments, in addition to heeding to the various health advices, let us make dua-supplications-; for dua is a weapon for the believer, said the Noble Prophet
Use these powerful weapons:
We are fortunate and abundantly blessed to be from the Shia of Ahlul Bayt a.s. This Divinely purified house has handed us huge treasures of supplications. I would like to share with you the following recommendations of dua received from various ulama and Maraji:
- Prayer of Amiral Muminin Imam Ali a.s. at virus outbreaks. (Reference: Biharul Anwar). To recite and print the attached Quran t’awidh -amulet- and hang the paper on the front door of your house from the inside.
- Recite attached dua from 8th Imam Ali ar Ridha a.s. during epidemic. (Reference: Tibb al Aimma). To listen to dua visit: https://youtu.be/hv_UhavqoWE
- Seyyid Ali Khamenei has recently advised Muminin to recite the Dua number 7 in Sahifa Sajjadiya: Dua in the time of distress.
https://www.al-islam.org/sahifa-al-kamilah-al-sajjadiyya-imam-ali-zaynul-abidin/7-his-supplication-worrisome-tasks - For protection, Dr Seyyid Mostafa Qazwini informs to print the two lines of attached dua (Dua Qazvini 2) and hang the paper on the front door of your house from the inside.
https://twitter.com/SMQazwini/status/1231996837277495296 - Recite Ziyarat Ashura and Hadith al Kisa in your homes. (Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi).
- Among the five important advice issued to Muminin by Marja Taqleed Ayatullah al Udhama Seyyid Ali Seestani (may Allah protect him) includes being patient, taking refuge in the Divine Grace and tawassul -resort- to the Ahul Bayt.
https://en.shafaqna.com/136350/grand-ayatollah-sistanis-five-important-advices-to-believers-about-corona-outbreak/
We are in the month of Rajab which has its Divine blessings and special recommended deeds such as duas, fasting, istighfar, salawat, tasbih, sadaqa and other devotions. The months of Rajab, Sha’baan and Shahru Ramadhan are filled with many religious occasions related to the Ahlul Bayt a.s. Take advantage of these moments of gift of life. As we observe the various devotions for revival of our nafs- self- during these sacred months kindly make special prayers to Allah SWT, with the wasīla of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt, invoking the name of Imam al Asr Sahibaz Zaman (a.f.), for protection of all people against the epidemic due to the COVID-19 virus, to give comfort to those who are struggling due to the epidemic and for the cure of all who are unwell.
O Allah, the One whose name is remedy (for all ills), and whose remembrance is cure (for all ailments). O Allah, by the wasila of Noble Prophet Muhammad SAWW and his Ahlul Bayt, we pray to you for safety from plague and epidemics. Grant us good health.”
Request for recital of Sura al fatiha for shifa -cure- of the ill.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat