رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا

Prophet's Guidance on preventing Contagious Diseases and enforcing Quarantine

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي التَّحَرُّزِ مِنَ الْأَدْوَاءِ الْمُعْدِيَةِ بِطَبْعِهَا وَإِرْشَادِهِ الْأَصِحَّاءَ إِلَى مُجَانَبَةِ أَهْلِهَا

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم regarding precautions against contagious diseases by their nature and his advice for healthy individuals to avoid close contact with those afflicted.

ثبت فى "صحيح مسلم" من حديث جابر بن عبد الله، أنه كان فى وَفْد ثَقِيف رجلٌ مجذومٌ، فأرسل إليه النبىُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ارْجِعْ فَقَدْ بايَعْنَاكَ

Ibn al-Qayyam wrote : It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, in a narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah, that when a man with leprosy was among the delegation from Thaqif, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم sent a message to him saying, “Return, for we have accepted your pledge (of allegiance).”

وروى البخارى فى "صحيحه" تعليقاً مِن حديث أبى هريرة، عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "فِرَّ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأسَدِ

Bukhari narrates in his Sahih, from Abu Hurairah Radi Allaho Anh, that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Flee from the leper as you would flee from a lion.”

وفى "سنن ابن ماجه" من حديث ابن عباس، أنَّ النبىَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "لا تُدِيمُوا النَّظَرَ إلى الْمَجْذُومِين

In Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated from Ibn Abbas that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Do not gaze continuously at those afflicted with leprosy.”

وفى "الصحيحين" من حديث أبى هُريرة، قال: قال رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا يُورِدَنَّ مُمْرِضٌ عَلَى مُصِح

In both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah Radi Allaho Anh that the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The sick should not be brought into contact with the healthy.”

وَيُذْكَرُ عَنْهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:  كَلِّمِ الْمَجْذُومَ، وَبَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ قَيْدُ رُمْحٍ أَوْ رُمْحَيْنِ (أخرجه عبد الله بن الإمام أحمد، وأخرجه ابن السني وأبو نعيم في الطب وصنعّفه)

It is also reported that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم advised, “Speak with a leper while keeping a distance of one or two spear-lengths.”

Leprosy (Judhaam) is a severe illness caused by the spread of black bile throughout the body, which distorts the body’s structure and appearance. In advanced cases, it may even cause body parts to decay and fall off, hence why it is sometimes referred to as the lion’s disease. There are three explanations for this name among physicians:

(1) Some say it’s because lions frequently suffer from similar symptoms. (2) Others explain that the illness distorts the face, making the person’s expression resemble that of a lion. (3) Another explanation is that Leprosy "attacks" others, as the lion does, by spreading to those who come near or close to the afflicted person.

According to physicians, leprosy is a contagious and hereditary disease, and being in close contact with lepers or tuberculosis patients can lead to illness due to their odor. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, out of his compassion and care for his Ummah, advised them to avoid anything that might expose them to disease and harm.

There is no doubt that the body may be predisposed to accept certain diseases, especially if the body’s temperament is easily influenced by proximity to an afflicted person. Fear and anxiety about catching the disease may even increase susceptibility, as the mind’s power is strong and can affect the body’s response. Odors can also be a vector for transmitting illness, as observed in certain diseases, with foul smell being one cause of contagion. However, there must still be an underlying bodily predisposition for the disease to take hold.

Some people believe that these Ahadith on avoiding those with contagious diseases contradict other Ahadith that seem to invalidate or oppose them. For example, Tirmidhi narrates from Jabir :

رَوَاهُ الترمذي، مِنْ حَدِيثِ جابر ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم آخذ بِيَدِ رَجُلٍ مَجْذُومٍ، فَأَدْخَلَهَا مَعَهُ فِي الْقَصْعَةِ، وَقَالَ: «كُلْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثِقَةً بِاللَّهِ، وَتَوَكُّلًا عَلَيْهِ ، وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ

The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم once took the hand of a man with leprosy and placed it with his own in a dish, saying, “Eat in the name of Allah, with trust in Allah and reliance upon Him.” Ibn Majah also narrates this Hadith.

We say that, by Allah’s grace, there is no actual contradiction between the authentic Aadith of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. When an apparent contradiction arises, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

1. One of the Hadith might not actually be from the words of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, as a narrator, though trustworthy, might have made an error. Even reliable narrators can make mistakes.
2. One of the Hadiths may abrogate the other if it concerns a topic that permits abrogation.
3. The contradiction might lie in the listener's understanding rather than in the words of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم themselves.

Abu Muhammad (Ibn Qutaybah) explained that there is no true contradiction, as each Hadith applies to different situations. When understood in context, any seeming contradiction disappears.

He explains that contagion falls into two categories:

Physical Contagion: For example, leprosy can produce a strong odor that affects others in prolonged close contact, as when a wife regularly shares a bed with a leprous husband. This may lead to her capturing the disease or passing it to children. Similarly, someone with tuberculosis or other contagious diseases should avoid close contact with healthy individuals to prevent possible spread through odors or particles. This is why Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Do not allow a diseased animal near a healthy one,” discouraging such contact to prevent harm.

Psychological or Superstitious Contagion: This refers to the belief that misfortune or negative influence can be “transmitted” by association, such as avoiding a town affected by plague out of fear of Allah’s decree. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “If plague occurs in a town and you are there, do not leave it; and if it occurs elsewhere, do not enter it.” This was to prevent people from fleeing as though Allah’s decree could be avoided, and to keep people in safe areas from unnecessary anxiety.

A group of scholars interprets the avoidance of lepers as a matter of preference and recommendation, not an obligation, while dining with them is allowed to demonstrate permissibility, showing that it is not prohibited.

Through these distinctions, Ibn Qutaybah resolves the apparent contradictions, noting that the Prophet’s teachings address different contexts and should be understood accordingly.

Another group explained that the guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم about avoiding those with contagious diseases applies individually rather than universally. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed each person according to their unique situation: some individuals have strong faith and trust in Allah, which can counter the power of contagion just as a healthy constitution can counter illness and overcome it. Other people do not have this level of faith or trust, so he advised them to take precautionary measures. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم himself acted both ways, providing an example for the Muslim community: those with strong faith can rely on trust in Allah, while those who are weaker in faith can choose precaution. Both approaches are valid, one for the strong believer and the other for the weaker believer, giving everyone a guideline that suits their situation.

Another group explained that the instruction of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to avoid contagion was due to the natural means of transmission through close contact, touch, or odor, which becomes a risk with repeated exposure. However, eating a small amount with an infected person for a short time for a greater benefit carries minimal risk, as contagion does not typically occur from a single, brief contact. Therefore, he prohibited it as a preventive measure but allowed limited interaction when necessary, showing there is no real conflict between the instructions.

Another opinion suggests that the leper with whom Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ate may have had a mild form of leprosy that was not highly contagious. Not all leprosy cases are the same, and some do not pose a risk of transmission, especially when the disease is mild and stable. Thus, the risk varies, and in some cases, close contact may not be harmful.

Another explanation is that, in pre-Islamic times, people believed that contagious diseases transmitted by their own nature, without Allah’s decree. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم nullified this belief by eating with the leper, demonstrating that Allah alone causes illness and grants healing. By avoiding close contact, he acknowledged that some things can be a cause (or “means”) that Allah has made to lead to certain outcomes. Thus, by prohibiting contact, he affirmed the role of causes, while by his actions, he showed that these causes do not act independently. Allah can neutralize their effects if He wills or allow them to operate if He wills, making their effectiveness subject to His will alone.

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