Epidemics in the History of İslam and Prophetıc Method in Combatıng Epidemics
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Date
2021
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PENGAJIAN ISLAM DAN CABARAN PANDEMIK COVID 19
Abstract
According to some linguists, the word taʻûn ( ),طاعونwhich derives from the root taʻn
( ),طعنwhich means to injure, condemn, is the name given to all diseases with contagious
features. Taun (Plague) disease, which has a common feature, is also called plague because it
spreads to the air and therefore weakens the body by spreading to people (İbn Manzûr, 1414).
There is also the use of plague instead of taʻûn. According to this view, taʻûn is a type of plague.
Ibn Sînâ (d. 428/1037) said that the plague emerged due to the deterioration of the substance in
the air, which is the substance of the spirit. According to Ibn Qayyim al-Cevziyya (d. 751/1350),
if taun multiplies and spreads, it is expressed as plague. According to him, there is a general
relationship between plague and taun. Accordingly, every plague is a plague, but not every plague
is a plague. Tumors, wounds and swellings seen in the body are the effect of taun (el-Javziyyah,
1990). Ibn Hajar (d. 852/1449) explains the reason for separating taun from the plague as the
attack of the demon who is in taun but is not in the plague (İbn Hajer, 1379). Those who
distinguish between the plague and the plague are probably based on the narration of Abu Musa
al-Ashari (d. 42/662-63) from Prophet Muhammed (Pbuh). According to this narration, the
Prophet said: "The destruction of my ummah will be with ta'n and taun!" Some of them asked,
"We understood what taʻn (injury) is. But what do you call taun, O Messenger of Allah?" the
Prophet replied their question: "Your enemies are a disease caused by the prodding of demons
and earning you the reward of martyrdom." (alHanbal, 32/293). In another narration quoted by
al-Bukhari, James said that taun could not enter al-Madina. (al-Bukhârî, 5/2165). Many epidemics
like al-ʻAmavâs epidemic (18/693), al-Jârif epidemic (69/688), al-Fatayât (al-Ashrâf) epidemic
(87/705), Müslim b. Qutayba epidemic (131/748) and various epidemics in the Abbasid and
Mamlûk period have been seen throughout the history of Islam. The article will examine these
prominent epidemics and will refer to the methods used in them. Thus, the prophetic methods
used in epidemics will be explained.
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Keywords
Hadith, Epidemics, History, İslam