Question
We have read the hadith about not leaving an infected area with a plague and not entering an area with a plague. Words to the effect. According to the situation would it be permissible for me to go from Lusaka to Chipata. Stay they for two weeks and come back?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The hadith you refer to is as follows:
سَمِعْتُ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ، يُحَدِّثُ سَعْدًا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِالطَّاعُونِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوهَا، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا
Translation: “Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, if you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” (Bukhari-5728)
The above hadith prohibits one from entering or exiting a city which has been afflicted by the plague. It is worth noting that this hadith is specific to the plague, not every other illness/pandemic.
The fuqaha have stated that even in the event of an actual plague, if one has to enter or exit the city due to a need or some work-related matter, it is permissible to do so. This is because the hadith prohibiting us from exiting a plague infested city is with regards to those who flee, fearing for their lives, in an attempt to escape the plague.[1] The purpose behind the prohibition is to protect the Imaan and Yaqeen of the people.
As for those who are content with Taqdeer, knowing full well that they cannot outrun what has been decreed, it is permissible to travel in and out of the city due to a need.
Accordingly, given that the current pandemic does not even qualify to fall under the ambit of the above mentioned hadith, nor is one attempting to flee from Taqdeer, it will be permissible to travel to Chipata and return.
The above is based on the assumption the government has allowed travel within the country.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 757) [1]
(وإذا خرج من بلدة بها الطاعون فإن علم أن كل شيء بقدر الله تعالى فلا بأس بأن يخرج ويدخل وإن كان عنده أنه لو خرج نجا ولو دخل ابتلي به كره له ذلك) فلا يدخل ولا يخرج صيانة لاعتقاده وعليه حمل النهي في الحديث الشريف مجمع الفتاوى
[رد المحتار]
(قوله وإذا خرج من بلدة بها الطاعون) المناسب زيادة أو دخل ليناسب ما بعده ط