Coronavirus is a respiratory disease known as COVID-19. It originated in China in December 2019, and ever since, its dread and the virus itself have spread far and wide. Eight out of ten cases are found to be mild, while more critical ones can lead to lung damage.
What are the symptoms for coronavirus?
A fever, cough, and shortness of breath are some of its leading symptoms.
How does coronavirus spread?
The virus mostly spreads through close contact. An infected patient coughs or sneezes, and within a range of six feet, someone breathes in the infected droplets. It can also spread hand-to-hand from the surfaces of objects. Anyone who holds an object that has the virus on it and then touches his mouth, nose, or eyes can easily contract the virus. How long the virus can remain on surfaces is still under study.
Total death rate from coronavirus
A study shows that of every thousand infected cases, 14 will result in death. The mortality rate is, therefore, 1.4% of every 1,000 patients. The elderly with other ailments are most susceptible to the virus.
Preventive safety measures
- Get the flu vaccine: The flu can mimic Coronavirus and give the impression that one has the COVID-19 virus.
- Typical motherly advice: Wash your hands, including the tips of your fingers, for 20 seconds and keep your hands away from your face. Cough into the crook of your arm, not into your hand or worst of all, into the air.
- Stay at home if unwell: You’re not doing anyone a favor by coming to school or work and making everyone else sick.
- Keep yourself updated: It’s especially helpful for information and advice about travel.
How effective are the surgical masks so many people are wearing?
They may give partial protection from coronavirus by catching droplets containing the virus, but the virus is so minute, it can penetrate the mask, or go around it. If one is sick, a mask might help protect others, but it is not recommended for routine use.
Duas (supplications) and Dhikr for coronavirus protection
The following protective Duas and Dhikr are derived from sound and authentic Prophetic Ahadith.
Dua #1
Allahumma inni a ‘oodhu bika min al-barasi wa’l-junooni wa’l-judhaami wa min sayyi’ il-asqaam
This dua involves seeking refuge with Allah from leprosy, madness, paralysis and bad diseases.
Dua #2
Bismillah illadhi la yadurru ma‘a ismihi shay’un fi’l-ard wa la fi’l-sama’ wa huwa al-samee‘ ul-‘aleem
Here, we invoke the name of Allah. His name can’t be harmed by anything. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. One who recites this dua three times will not suffer a sudden illness until the morning. Saying it in the morning, similarly serves as protection until the evening.
Dua #3
Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas and al-Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times, in the morning and the evening. This serves as adequate protection.
Dua #4
Allahumma inni as’aluka al-‘aafiyata fi’d-dunya wa’l-aakhirah. Allahumma inni as’aluka al-‘afwa wa’l-‘aafiyata fi deeni wa dunyaaya wa ahli wa maali Allahumma astur ‘awraati wa aamin raw‘aati. Allahumm ihfazni min bayni yadayya wa min khalfi wa ‘an yameeni wa ‘an shimaali, wa min fawqi, wa a‘oodhu bi ‘azamatika an ughtaala min tahti
We should say this dua in the morning and the evening. In the dua, we ask Allah to grant us well-being on earth and in the Afterlife. We ask Allah for forgiveness and goodness in our faith, worldly matters, family and possessions. And, we also ask Allah to hide our sins and protect us from anxiety. We seek Allah’s protection from all sides.
Dua #5
Allahumma inni a‘oodhu bika min zawaali ni‘amatika wa tahawwul ‘aafiyatika wa fujaa’ati niqmatika wa jamee‘i sakhatika
In this dua, we seek Allah’s protection from losing His blessing and the health he bestowed upon us. We also seek refuge from the sudden wrath of Allah and angering Him.
Click here for more information regarding duas for protection.
Some hadith on Epidemics, Viruses, and Plagues
There is a Hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari where the Prophet (PBUH) said that one who learns of a plague in a place he should not go there. However, if there is a plague in one’s own land, he should not escape it by fleeing to another land.
In another Hadith, from At-Tirmidhi, the Prophet (PBUH) said there are five martyrs. One of them is the one who dies of the plague, while the others are those who die of stomach sickness, drowning, getting crushed, and getting martyred in the path of Allah.
May Allah SWT protect all humankind from the Coronavirus. Aameen.
Conclusion
Muslims must take the coronavirus pandemic seriously. In the beginning, many just viewed it as something far away that wouldn’t affect them. Then as the infection spread, people began to realize its severity. However, attitudes have relaxed once again, which isn’t good. The pandemic remains a major threat to the lives and well-being of humans. Hence, we must take all the safety measures and follow the required SOPs given by the government. Additionally, we should recite the various duas for protection from the coronavirus pandemic. With Allah’s protection, we will be able to survive the pandemic, however long it lasts.
