Responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic Test

Introduction

First Sermon

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has bestowed upon us His guidance and mercy so that today we are gathered in this mosque to carry out His command — the Friday prayer and its rites. May blessings and peace be upon our role model, Prophet Muhammad SAW, who delivered the message of this religion.

O congregation blessed by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala,

Allah has sworn to test humanity with five kinds of trials: fear, hunger, loss of wealth, death, and scarcity of fruits. As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 155:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

Meaning: “And surely We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. And give glad tidings to those who are patient.”

This verse shows us that calamity is an inevitability every human being must face. Disasters, in whatever form, are in truth a manifestation of Allah’s mercy toward humanity. The various events that befall people are, in essence, tests of faith and behavior.

Currently, humanity is being tested with the Covid-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China. What should our attitude as Muslims be in facing this pandemic? There are several attitudes a Muslim should adopt:

First: Trust in Allah (tawakkul). Every Muslim must firmly believe that everything that happens in this world is by His power and decree. We should surrender and place our trust in Allah. In Surah At-Taghabun, verse 11, Allah says:

مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Meaning: “No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission. And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of everything.”

Second: Guard the commands of Allah. If we uphold Allah’s rules — carrying out His commands and avoiding His prohibitions — Allah will surely protect us. The Prophet SAW advised Ibn ‘Abbas:

احْفَظِ اللهَ يَحْفَظْكَ

Meaning: “Guard Allah, and Allah will guard you.” (HR. Tirmidhi)

Third: Remember the state of a believer between gratitude and patience. The Prophet SAW said:

عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ

Meaning: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer! All of his affairs are good. If he experiences ease, he is grateful — and that is good for him. If he experiences hardship, he is patient — and that too is good for him.” (HR. Muslim)

Fourth: Undertake effort and means (ikhtiar). Seeking treatment does not contradict trust in Allah. To face an epidemic, the Prophet SAW taught:

إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الطَّاعُونَ بِأَرْضٍ، فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوهَا، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأرْضٍ، وَأَنْتُمْ فِيهَا، فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا

Meaning: “If you hear of a plague in a land, do not enter it. And if it breaks out in a land where you are, do not leave it.” (Muttafaqun ‘alaih)

Fifth: Strengthen yourself with remembrance of Allah (dhikr). The Prophet SAW said that whoever recites every morning and evening:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ

three times — nothing will harm him. (HR. Abu Daud and Tirmidhi)

Sixth: Do not believe hoaxes. A Muslim must verify news carefully. Allah says in Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 6:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟

Meaning: “O you who believe, if a wicked person comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm a people in ignorance and become regretful over what you have done.”

Seventh: Be patient. Return to the verse from Al-Baqarah: “And give glad tidings to those who are patient.”

O congregation,

Let us continuously strive and pray that this Covid-19 pandemic ends soon, that Allah lifts this virus from us so that we may work and worship without anxiety. Aamiin.

Second Sermon

All praise is due to Allah who has guided us to this, and we would not have been guided had Allah not guided us. May blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

O Allah, forgive the believing men and women, the living among them and the deceased. Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. So remember Allah; He will remember you. Be grateful to Him for His favors, and He will increase you. And the remembrance of Allah is greater.