Q&A: Is there any recommended sunna prayer to perform during a plague or at a time of widespread disease?

Question: Is there any recommended sunna prayer to perform during a plague or at a time of widespread disease?

Answer: Bismillah.

Whenever there is an outbreak of an infectious disease in a land or a plague of some kind, it is from the sunna to pray two or four cycles (rak‘as) with the intention of lifting the tribulation (salat raf‘ al-ta‘un). This can and should be prayed regularly until the plague is lifted. These cycles are to be prayed just like any other supererogatory prayer (nafila), but one does so alone and not in congregation as congregations are only sought in particular contexts. 

Resorting to prayer in such circumstances falls under the general sunna of prayer at times of awesome natural occurrences such as earthquakes, eclipses and fierce winds. This is understood from the numerous instances in the sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) where he turned to Allah Most High in prayer at the sight of the abnormal. The jurists include encompassing illnesses or plagues as a reason for this kind of prayer too. 

Furthermore, some jurists also recommend that the supplication of tribulations (qunut al-nazila) should be performed in the dawn (fajr) prayer. The manner of performing it is to supplicate with any supplication, but particularly one that relates to the lifting of calamities and hardships, after rising from the bowing position. Others said that it is similar to the witr prayer’s qunut in that one is to say the takbir and then supplicate before the bowing. Both methods are acceptable. 

It is also generally recommended in calamitous times to renew one’s repentance, to give in charity, to pray for well-being and protection, to send blessings on the Beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), to remembrance Allah Most High much, and to avoid sin in all of its manifestations.

And Allah knows best.

Tabraze Azam
Amman, Jordan.
12/03/2020

قال ابن نجيم في الأشباه ما نصّه ناقلا عن السّراج: «(فإن قلت هل له صلاة؟ قلت هو كالخسوف لما في منية المفتي قبيل الزكاة: في الخسوف والظلمة، في النهار واشتداد الريح والمطر والثلج والأفزاع وعموم المرض يصلي وحدانا اهـ. ولا شك أن الطاعون من قبيل عموم المرض فتسن له ركعتان فرادى» ‫اهـ.‬ وقال الإمام الزيلعي في التبيين: «وكذا في الظلمة الهائلة بالنهار والريح الشديدة والزلازل والصواعق وانتثار الكواكب والضوء الهائل بالليل والثلج والأمطار الدائمة، وعموم الأمراض والخوف الغالب من العدو، ونحو ذلك من الأفزاع والأهوال؛ لأن ذلك كله من الآيات المخوفة، والله أعلم.» اهـ. وقال ابن عابدين في ردّ المحتار: «(ومنه الدعاء برفع الطاعون) أي من عموم الأمراض وأراد بالدعاء الصلاة لأجل الدعاء قال في النهر: فإذا اجتمعوا صلى كل واحد ركعتين ينوي بهما رفعه، وهذه المسألة من حوادث الفتوى». اهـ  وبعده قال: «(قوله وكل طاعون وباء إلخ) لأن الوباء اسم لكل مرض عام نهر، والطاعون والمرض العام بسبب وخز الجن ح، وهذا بيان لدخول الطاعون في عموم الأمراض المنصوص عليه عندنا، وإن لم ينصوا على الطاعون بخصوص» اهـ.ـ

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