COVID-19 AND THE OBLIGATION OF OBEDIENCE TO THE AUTHORITIES IN ISLAM
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
All praise is for Allah, the One Who responds to the distressed one when he invokes Him, alleviates the troubled one when he calls Him, removes evil and dispels grief. Hearts do not come to life except by His Remembrance. There is nothing that occurs except by His Permission. There is no escaping adversity except by His Mercy, and nothing is safe from harm except by His Protection. That which is hoped for is not attained except by His facilitation. And happiness is not obtained except through His obedience.
I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, Lord of all that exists and the Sustainer of the heavens and the earths. And I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, sent with the Clear Book and the Straight Path. May Allah send His Peace and Blessings upon him, his family and all of his companions.
Dear brothers and sisters, know that, being patience with and obedience to our leaders, especially in this trying time of struggling to fight the Covid-19 has been an important principle of Islamic creed (aqidah) since the time of our pious righteous predecessors (Salafus-Salih). But it is one that today some people do not understand well, either exploiting it for some political agenda or rejecting it altogether.
The Sunnah and the way of our righteous predecessors strikes a balance between civil obligations to the government, civil obligations to the common citizenry, and our moral obligations as Muslims. Islam does not advocate violent rebellion according to the whims of the citizenry, nor does it approve of every action taken by a leader.