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Ibn Ḥazm al-Andalūsī (d. 456H) on Contagion
https://abuiyaad.com/a/ibn-hazm-contagion

Posted by Abu Iyaad
Written February 2022
Filed under Tawḥīd


Ibn Ḥazm al-Andalūsī (d. 456H) (رحمه الله) explains the categories and reasons for which there is an excuse for not praying in congregation in the mosque. After mentioning these categories, he goes on to clarify that that the ḥadīth of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): “Flee from the leper as you would from a lion” does not enter into these categories because that [fear of the leprosy and keeping away from the leper] is not the meaning of the ḥadīth.

He (رحمه الله) says:

And if anyone should mention the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah from the Prophet (رحمه الله): “There is no contagion, no omen [in the flight of birds] and flee from the leper as you would flee from the lion.” Then its meaning is like the saying of Allāh the Exalted: “Do whatever you will[1], meaning, [go ahead], flee from the leper as you would flee from a lion, (for its meaning) is that there is no contagion, he will not pass [his leprosy] to you, and your fleeing from what has been decreed for you will not benefit you. And had this not been its meaning, then the last part of the ḥadīth would contradict the first part of it, and this is impossible.

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Ibn Ḥazm al-Andalūsī (d. 456H) on Contagion
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Footnotes
1. Sūrah Fuṣṣilat (41:40)


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