Did you know? (Inspirational Islamic Stories)

Attain the reward of a martyr during an epidemic

*Reward of staying indoor during the outbreak of pandemic*.

It has been reported from the Prophet that whosoever remains in his house during the outbreak of an epidemic, will have the reward of a martyr even if he doesn't die (from the outbreak).

Meanwhile, the narration was reported authentically from Aaishah, the Mother of the Believers (May Allaah be pleased with her) that she said:

I asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) about an epidemic. Then the Messenger of Allaah informed me that an epidemic is a punishment which Allaah descends upon whom He likes but rather a mercy upon the Believers.

And there is no one whom a epidemic strikes in his land but remains patiently in his house expecting Allaah's reward upon his self-restraint while knowing that nothing will afflict him except what Allaah had predestined except that he will have for himself the similitude of the reward of a martyr.

The chain of transmission is authentic according to the stipulations of Al-Bukhaari.

It was reported by Al-Bukhaari (3437), An-Nasaai (7527) in As-Sunnan Al-Kubraa and Ahmad (26139) while the wording of this particular narration is that of Ahmad.

Ibn Hajar (May Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The text of the narration stipulates that whosoever attains the attributes mentioned (in the hadeeth) will have the reward of a martyr even if he doesn't die from the epidemic.

[Fathul Baariy (10/194)]

*So, staying aloof from assemblies and gatherings whether religious or social during this pandemic period is itself a means of attaining a lofty status before Allaah.*

May Allaah reward our patience with good.

©️ Faarooq Aleem Al-Egbaawiy

A person of knowledge mentioned that pandemics like this are rare, and that a person may only experience a pandemic like this (i.e. on this huge scale) once in their life. He mentioned that this is a gold mine that we have been blessed with. He mentioned that some of us will come out having built palaces in Jannah for themselves, whilst others will have not benefited at all. He mentioned the following hadith:

A'isha RA reported: She asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about plagues and he said,

"It is a punishment that Allah sends upon whoever he wills, but Allah has made it a mercy for the believers. *Any servant who resides in a land afflicted by plague, remaining patient and hoping for reward from Allah, knowing that nothing will befall him but what Allah has decreed, he will be given the reward of a martyr.*"

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5402

There are four conditions mentioned in the hadith for which, if a person fulfils them, he/she will attain the reward of a martyr. As we know, the reward of the martyr is one of the biggest rewards anyone can be blessed with in Islam. Their status is a lofty one. The four conditions mentioned are:

*1)* You stay in the land and do not leave, unless you have a reason to i.e. you do not flee out of fear of the disease.

*2)* You remain patient. This is perhaps the hardest one as we are all now isolated at home, and may have to abandon our usual socials lives and any plans we may have had. Remaining patient despite this is key to attaining the reward mentioned.

*3)* That you hope for the reward of Allah. This means that you seek the reward of a martyr, as the Hadith shows. You are remaining in the land, and are patient in hope of Allah's reward you. Whilst in isolation you seek the reward of Allah.

*4)* That you know that nothing will befall you but what Allah has decreed. You do not question the decree of our Lord Most High. You accept the decree of Allah and (linking to condition 2) you remain patient.

Perhaps we may have enjoyed going to work (for some), or university or school, but they are now cancelled. Perhaps our hearts were attached to the Masaajid and the circles of knowledge and remembrance, but they have been closed/cancelled. Perhaps we enjoyed spending time outside with friends and relatives, but now everyone is in isolation . These are all from the decree of Allah. And we do not question Allah's decree. Rather we are patient and submit to whatever Allah wills.

If we strive to fulfil these four conditions, we hope that Allah allows us to achieve such a great reward, for which an opportunity to attain reward like this is not easy to come by.

By following these guidelines you could attain the reward of a martyr with the permission of Allah, whichever of the three following groups you may fall into:

*1)* Person who gets infected and dies.
*2)* Person who gets infected but recovers.
*3)* Person who doesn't get it at all.

Rasulullah SAW told our Mother A'isha RA that "Allah has made it a mercy for the believers."

Only a fool would miss out on taking advantage of such a goldmine of an opportunity which he may never see again.