Terrorists: travel warning due to Corona

The Islamic State has issued a travel warning to its fighters to avoid countries affected by coronaviruses, according to an analyst of the Syrian civil war. "Healthy individuals should refrain from entering virus-affected countries, and infected individuals should not leave them," is a sensible tip that was published in the IS magazine al-Naba.

The further list titled "Guidelines for Dealing with the Epidemic" also includes tips such as covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing, and regular handwashing - all naturally supported by the example of the Prophet. As usual, the terrorists have not invented anything in this regard. These are standard Sharia regulations against epidemics.

IS fighters should also remember that “diseases do not strike on their own, but are sent by the decree of God,” as stated in one of the guidelines. Worldwide, the coronavirus has infected more than 145,000 people. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global pandemic on Wednesday.

This is a rough translation of the original texts (Arabic is not quite our strength, so sorry for the sometimes confusing formulations, even though the majority is based on the original):

"The obligation of faith that diseases do not strike on their own, but through the command and decree of God

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him): He said: the Messenger of God (SAWS) said: 'No infection, no bad omens, no owl, and no Saffar [i.e., the month of Saffar]' - (reported by al-Bukhari) - [NB: this Hadith refutes certain ideas and superstitions at the time of the Prophet].

The advice to trust in God and seek refuge in Him from diseases

On the authority of Anas (may God be pleased with him), who used to say that the Prophet (SAWS) said: 'O God, I seek refuge in You from leprosy [in Arabic: burs], madness, leprosy [in Arabic: jadham, a synonym for burrs], and from the discomfort of diseases' - (reported by Ahmad).

The obligation to address the causes for protection from diseases and avoid them

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him): the Messenger of God (SAWS) said: 'And flee from the leper as you would flee from a lion' - (reported by al-Bukhari).

The advice that the healthy individuals should not enter the land of the epidemic and the sick [/infected] individuals should not leave it

On the authority of A'isha (may God be pleased with her): she said: I asked the Messenger of God (SAWS) about the plague, and he informed me that it is 'a torment sent by God upon whomever He wills, and God has made it a mercy for the believers.' Whoever resides in his land patiently awaits the fall of the plague, knowing that it only affects those for whom God has destined it, for that person is like the reward of a martyr' - (reported by al-Bukhari).

The advice to cover the mouth when yawning and sneezing

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him): he said: 'The Messenger of God (SAWS) used to cover his hand or his garment over his mouth when he sneezed, thus reducing or modulating his voice' - (reported by Abu Dawud).

The advice to cover vessels and tie water skins

On the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah (may God be pleased with him): he heard the Messenger of God (SAWS) say: 'Cover the vessels and tie the water skins, for there is a night in the year when an illness descends, and some of that illness will descend on the vessel that is uncovered or on the water skin that is not tied' - (reported by Muslim).

The advice to wash hands before dipping them into vessels

The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: 'When one of you wakes up from sleep, let him not dip his hand into the vessels until he has washed it three times, for he does not know where his hand spent the night' (muttafiq alayhi).

al-Naba' infographic
Rajab 1441 AH"