Can you enter a plague infected country due to an emergency?
Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 29th Rajab 1441( 24th March 2020):
The Questioner says : A man that lives in Britain with his mother traveled to Ethiopia a month ago. During this time the corona virus spread throughout Britain – especially in the area his mother lives in.
He would now like to return to Britain in order to help his mother. Is it permissible for him to go back because the virus is less severe in Ethiopia than Britain?
Answer:
We advise him to remain in his country because the Prophet ﷺ forbade entry into a plague infected land. So if a person is inside it he cannot leave it and if he is outside of the country that contains the plague; he cannot enter it.
If it spreads to an extent that necessitates refraining from entry; then do not enter.
Rather, he is to remain in his home and she in her home and he must not depart to the country which he mentioned the virus has spread throughout, especially in the area which his mother is in. He should supplicate for her and Allah will make for her an opening and a way out.
Having said that; if it is only something mild in only a few cases and he needs to enter; then there would be nothing wrong were he to enter in order to aid his mother.
We advise the mother not to leave and (potentially) bring harm to the people by passing on this illness; for indeed it is a harmful illness. She is to remain within her country.
[لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَقَعُ الطَّاعُونُ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي بَلَدِهِ صَابِرًا مُحْتَسِبًا، يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يُصِيبُهُ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ شَهِيدٍ.]
There is not a single person, during the outbreak of a epidemic that remains in his land patiently hoping for Allah’s reward and believing that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him, except he will get the reward of a martyr.” [1]
Even if one does not die (from it) he has the reward of a martyr, as has been mentioned by some scholars.
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[1] Narrated by A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) in AlBukhari (3474)
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Translated by: Abu Sufyaan Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani