The Prophet a said, “When shamelessness
becomes so deeply entrenched that it is
exhibited in the open by a nation, then they will
be struck with epidemic diseases and ailments
the like of which their predecessors had never
seen” (Ibn Maja).
The lockdown of cities after the Coronavirus outbreak is often described as ‘postapocalyptic;’
malls, transit stations and other public places eerily empty and cities
resembling ghost towns. ‘The like of which their predecessors had never seen’
accurately highlights the word ‘novel’ in novel Coronavirus.
The hadith indicates that an outbreak has underlying and apparent causes, both
with very distinct roles. While the apparent cause explains the science behind the
outbreak itself, it is the underlying cause that activates the apparent cause.
Empty tables in
Times Square during
lockdown in NYC.
20 May - June 2020 | AL-MADINAH
