Question
Taking into consideration that we are in the middle of a pandemic, will it be advisable to travel from our town (Ladysmith) to Johannesburg (which is currently a Hotspot) to attend a wedding/Walimah?
The Mubarak Hadith mentions something to the effect that “If the plague breaks out in a region do not go there, but if you are already there, do not come out of it.”, so keeping in mind this Hadith but considering the fact that this disease is not limited to one area, what should we do?
Answer
Since this is a countrywide pandemic with infected patients in every region of our country, there is no harm in travelling from one province to another province of the country. The Hadith prohibits one from travelling from a plague-free area to a plague-stricken area (whereas this is not the case with us here in South Africa). The reasoning for the prohibition is that if a person enters the plague area and is infected with the illness then he will attribute it to his entering the area and associating with the inhabitants of that area, whereas illness in whichever form is from Allah alone. Holding such beliefs will thus corrupt the Aqeedah of a person.
Based on the above, if you happen to contract the illness after travelling to a ‘hot spot area’ and there is a fear of you attributing the illness to associating with the people of the area, then we advise you not to undertake the said journey (and thereby exercise caution) until the plague has subsided. However, if you happen to contract the illness (after undertaking the journey), but will attribute it to the Decree of Allah Ta’aala alone and be happy with His Decision, then there is no harm is undertaking the journey, since the entire country is struck by the plague and virus at this point of time.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.