Q: If there is a disease in a particular country or region that spreads very wild and it is noted that you can get it through body or hand contact. If there is such a dangerous disease especially like this (Ebola) disease that has become a panic to most nations. Are we to stop shaking hands with our fellow Muslim brothers, although it is a great Sunnah of Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)? or should we hope in Allah have faith in Allah and fulfil the sunnah?
A: If you know that a certain person has contracted this sickness and it is contagious, there is no harm if you do not shake his hands.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
عن جابر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أخذ بيد مجذوم فوضعها معه فى القصعة وقال كل ثقة بالله وتوكلا عليه (سنن أبي داود #3927)
عن عمرو بن الشريد عن أبيه قال كان في وفد ثقيف رجل مجذوم فأرسل إليه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إنا قد بايعناك فارجع (صحيح مسلم #2231)
عن أبي هريرة قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول فر من المجذوم فرارك من الأسد (مسند أحمد #9722)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)