Q:) Can Muslims residing in areas
affected by SARS leave to avoid the
disease? Does it make a difference if they
are living in a non-Muslim country?
A:) The Prophet
(peace be upon him) also said: "If you
hear that plague has struck a land, then
do not enter it. If it strikes a land
while you are in it, then do not leave
that land. [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih
Muslim]
He also said: "Fleeing
from a plague is like fleeing from
battle." [It is an authentic (sahih)
hadeeth related by Ahmad in his Musnad.]
He also said: "A
servant who finds himself in a
plague-stricken area and remains patiently
in his land, knowing that nothing will
befall him except what Allah decrees will
have the reward of a martyr."
A plague is defined as
any disease that spreads widely through
the general public in a certain region.
SARS is in fact a plague and fleeing from
it is forbidden. It does not matter
whether the plague-stricken area is a
Muslim country or a non-Muslim country.
Answered by Sheikh
Hasan Al-Jubayr
