Question: Asalamu alaykum. I wonder, if a person intentionally breaks the lockdown rules and ends up passing on the virus, unintentionally, to someone vulnerable and they pass away, would that person be held accountable for their actions and breaking of the rules on the day of judgment?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Usually, there are legal consequences for being a direct, but accidental cause for the death of another. [Marghinani, al-Hidaya] From this, we can assume that there will be some form of questioning on the Day of Judgement. However, the matter lies in Allah’s hands.
There are many factors at play, and it may be that the precise cause of someone contracting the illness is unknown to us. There is also the matter of negligence and what it entails. We can be confident that Allah is absolutely just – which means someone who deserves to be questioned for His actions will be asked.
All matters will be taken care of perfectly on that day. Be sure of that, and be confident that no wrong will go unnoticed. Try not to focus on that matter. Focus on keeping yourself and others safe, and trust that everyone dies at the time they were meant to and that Allah uses such illnesses to manifest His mercy on believers.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani