Corona and Islam ... How can Muslims cope with the epidemic?

In his article on Middle East Eye, which is titled "Corona Virus and Islam ... How can Muslims live with the epidemic?" Prof. Fadel, a professor at the University of Toronto Law School, believes that as the new Corona virus continues to spread, policymakers in Muslim countries should act in accordance with Islam.

Responding to the question: Is the epidemic a test from God? Fadel says that such questions have been met with controversy in some regions of the Muslim world, where people have reduced the public health risk posed by the virus or have been immersed in conspiracy theories regarding the nature of the epidemic.

On the other hand, many groups and individuals accept the reality of the epidemic, but refuse to comply with the restrictions imposed on public worship and large religious gatherings for religious reasons, arguing that the epidemic is just another test God imposes on believers, or that Muslims should express their trust in God to protect them from the effects of the epidemic By continuing their public practice of Islam.

There is much less debate in the Islamic world about the obligations of solidarity that Muslims owe to themselves and to humanity in times of emergency such as epidemics.

The author comments that the keys to containing the harmful public health effects of the virus are strictly applying social spacing, conducting large-scale virus tests, following up on contacts with positive results, and continuing monitoring of the population for any new return of the virus.

This requires a developed public health infrastructure and educated population able to implement public health directives voluntarily, two elements that the countries of the southern world lack, and thus some countries may be forced to accept that "herd immunity" is their only way to deal with the epidemic.

On the economic meltdown, the writer says that this matter can have severe consequences for all countries that lack the means to implement "best practices".

As the world prepares for mass deprivation on a global scale next year due to the Corona pandemic, Fadel believes that Islamic principles should play an important role in guiding policy makers in Muslim-majority countries, despite the misleading calls by some to give up the duties of solidarity in the face of these the crisis.

He pointed out that Muslim jurists have set certain rules in emergency situations aimed at protecting lives and reducing economic losses, and stressed the need for Islamic countries to take upon themselves the promotion of bonds of mutual solidarity in this difficult period, by exchanging experiences, staff, equipment and financial assistance in the area of ​​public health .

His article concluded that this epidemic will not end soon, and that the global Islamic community and its political leaders should follow policies that give priority to saving lives over profit, while emphasizing the value of a common economic sacrifice, and, God willing, the Islamic world can reduce the inevitable losses that will result from this epidemic.

With regard to the Muslim public and its internal differences regarding the seriousness of the epidemic and whether or not it constitutes a special test from God, it is important that all responsible religious bodies join public officials in emphasizing the need to comply with public health measures.