BIRD FLU VIRUS
Some useful reminders for Muslims
Overview:
Bird flu (avian influenza) is a very contagious disease caused by a virus named H5N1. The H5N1 virus is a new type of influenza, a virus that originated in birds. The H5N1 virus mainly reproduces in lung tissues. The H represents a type of protein found on the virus that helps it to enter cells. The N represents a type of protein that helps the virus escape the host cell.
Initially, the H5N1 influenza virus only infected birds (often with 100% mortality for domestic poultry). Later, as the H5N1 virus evolved, mammals such as pigs, tigers, cats and humans became infected by eating infected birds and by poor hygiene procedures when handling infected birds. The H5N1 virus is steadily evolving to become even easier to be infected by birds and infected humans might now be infecting other humans but with inefficient transmission.
Why should we worry?
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 100 million people (numbers differ from source to source, what matters is that the virus killed millions). It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. Known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" the influenza of 1918-1919 was a global disaster.
Earlier in October 2005, scientists reported after a decade of work on frozen tissue samples of the lungs of three people who died in 1918 that the influenza virus that caused such massive death was, in fact, a bird flu that jumped directly to humans.
On July 23, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the world could at any time be faced with a massive flu outbreak like those of 1918 or 1968 that killed tens of millions of people
The 1918 Spanish Flu virus did not combine with a human influenza virus. It simply evolved to become more efficient at human to human transmission, similar to what the H5N1 virus is doing now. The Spanish Flu had a worldwide infection rate of 50% and a mortality rate of 5%.
Nowadays, even with a 5% mortality rate at least 160 -300 million people could die directly from the pandemic. The question is: how much is the Muslim Ummah prepared to deal with any pandemic situation….???
What can you do?
Although we all hope and pray that this pandemic will never happen, one should not underestimate the risks involved and should be ready to deal with any disease. The Muslim Ummah should be prepared to face this pandemic and not rely onto vaccines that most scientists say are not available yet (and the virus started to show some restistance to the Tamiflu antivirus vaccine). World laboratories are also warning that it would require several months before any vaccine could be found should a bird flu pandemic start.
Muslim ummah already has the “first aid” medicine. Often neglected, the remedies cited in the Quran and the Sunnah might be the only way (and the most affordable way to millions of people) to combat any pandemic virus. At least, this is the minimum people could take to boost their immune systems. The following are just reminders on some remedies and du’aa’s that are prescribed in sharee’ah.
Remedies include the following:
1 – Honey. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you).” There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think” [al-Nahl 16:69]
Honey contains several therapeutic properties. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. It also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings.
2 – Black seed
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In the black seed is healing for every disease except death.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5364; Muslim, 2215
Whatever the Prophet said or did was valid and must be followed because he never uttered any untruth even when joking.
For those who do not know the Black Seed:
Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alaiyhi Wassallam) said: “black seed is the cure for all diseases except death." (Narrated by Al Bukhari)
The black seed (Nigella sativa) is an example of a prophetic remedy that has been studied extensively. The name Nigella comes from the Latin word nigellus, meaning black. Black seed is known in Arabic and mentioned in the hadeeth as "Al Habbatus Sawda". Also known as the Habbatul Barakah -"Seed of Blessing," Commonly referred to in Urdu as "Kulunji". Black seed is also included in the list of natural drugs of Al-Tibb an-Nabawi, and, according to the Hadeeth, "Hold onto the use of the black seed for it has a remedy for every illness except death."
Again, whatever the Prophet said or did was valid and must be followed because he never uttered any untruth even when joking.
Black seed has also been in use worldwide for over 3000 years. However, many Muslims do not realize that black seed is not only a prophetic herb, but it also holds a unique place in the medicine of the Prophet. It is unique in that it was not used profusely before the Prophet Mohammad [SAW] made its use popular. Because of the way Islam has spread, the usage and popularity of black seed is widely known as a "remedy of the Prophet".
Black seed could be found as grains, or as oil extracted. Small amounts are sufficients for results. Advice is to take few black seed grains, crush them, then mix them with pure honey and take a teaspoon of the mix twice a day.
3 – Dua’a
With regards to the du’aa’s, here are some du’aa’s from the saheeh Sunnah:
1 – It was narrated from ‘Uthmaan ibn Abi’l-‘Aas that he complained to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about a pain in his body that he had suffered from the time he became Muslim. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Put your hand on the part of the body that hurts and say Bismillaah (in the name of Allaah) three times. And say seven times: A’oodhu Billaahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhaadhir (I seek refuge in Allaah and His power from the evil of what I feel and worry about).”
Narrated by Muslim, 2202.
2 – It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to a sick person or a sick person was brought to him, he would say: “Adhhib al-ba’s Rabb an-naas, wa’shfi anta al-Shaafi, laa shifaa’a illa shifaa’uka shifaa’an laa yughaadir saqaman (Take away the pain, O Lord of mankind, and grant healing, for You are the Healer, and there is no healing but Your healing that leaves no trace of sickness).”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5351, Muslim, 2191.
One should also recite al-Faatihah and al-Mu’awwidhaat, and in the whole Qur’aan there is healing, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We send down of the Qur’aan that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) nothing but loss” [al-Isra’ 17:82]
Action Plan:
It is recommended that Muslims should help each other in the good and piety. Millions of Muslim lives could be at stake and here are some actions that you could help the Muslim Ummah with:
1- Keep making duas to Allah in order to keep the Muslim Ummah safe from any harm.
2- Maintain regular intake of Honey and Black seed, in order to boost the immune system of your body so that it will have better resistance to any virus, insha Allah.
3- Send this reminder to as many people as you can, as “reminder benefits the Muslims”, starting with your parents and your close relatives.
4- Feel free to translate this document into any other language you may know and mail it to as many other Muslim people as you can.
5- Do not underestimate the danger that this pandemic might represent. The threat is real. One must know that the virus of 1918 suddenly appeared and suddenly disappeared after one year. No other strains from the 1918 virus exists nowadays, which emphasize on the Power of Allah in this matter.
6- Viruses are a creation of Allah, and never forget that Allah has created a remedy for every disease. As Muslims, we should not forget also that whatever Allah has written to reach us will never miss us, and whatever Allah has written to miss us will never reach us…let us hold onto Allah and seek remedy in Quran and Sunnah, but still without neglecting any other available medicine available (for any medicine/remedy has been created by Allah as well).
7- Interesting to note the remarks made by a nurse during the 1918 pandemic, she quoted that patient with influenza who kept still at bed did much better than the ones who got up…something to keep in mind….. (related pdf document could be downloaded here: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/hsl/resources/guides/flu45.pdf )
PARTIAL ARABIC TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT
. وصايا لبعض العلاجات والأدعية الصحيحة ، أما العلاجات ، فمنها :
-1العسل ، قال الله تعالى : ( ثُمَّ كُلِي مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلاً يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ) النحل/69 .
-2. الحبة السوداء :
عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : إن في الحبة السوداء شفاء من كل داء إلا السام ، والسام الموت . رواه البخاري ( 5364 ) ومسلم ( 2215 ) .
.
أما بالنسبة للأدعية التي نوصيك بها ، فنذكر بعض ما يتيسر من صحيح السنة :
-1 عن عثمان بن أبي العاص الثقفي أنه شكا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعاً يجده في جسده منذ أسلم ، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ضع يدك على الذي تألم من جسدك ، وقل : باسم الله ، ثلاثاً ، وقل : سبع مرات : أعوذ بالله وقدرته من شر ما أجد وأحاذر . رواه مسلم ( 2202( .
2- عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أتى مريضاً أو أُتي به قال : أَذهب الباس رب الناس اشف وأنت الشافي لا شفاء إلا شفاؤك شفاء لا يغادر سقماً . رواه البخاري ( 5351 ) ومسلم ( 2191 ) .
وكذلك عليك بقراءة الفاتحة والمعوذات ، والقرآن كله فيه شفاء كما قال تعالى : ( وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلا خَسَاراً ) الاسراء/82
والله أعلم .
|
