By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Bestower of Mercy.
Dear brothers and sisters! Fear Allah as He ought to be feared, for the fear of Allah is a shield against distress, and obedience to Him is the path to salvation.
Respected brothers and sisters! The Federal Government of Nigeria confirmed an imported case of Ebola virus disease in Abuja, FCT, involving a female traveler returning from Uganda. Health authorities have isolated the patient and identified 44 close contacts—including healthcare workers, caregivers, and fellow passengers—for active monitoring.
Fellow Nigerians! Today, our hearts turn toward the trials of the world, specifically the silent tribulation of disease that knocks on our borders. With the current outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus expanding across the Democratic Republic of Congo, moving through Kenya, and recently marking an imported case in Abuja, Nigeria, we are reminded of our absolute vulnerability and our absolute duty.
My beloved people! Know that, Islam does not view public health and spiritual devotion as two separate paths; they are woven into the same fabric of faith. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Your body has a right over you.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
When a severe illness like Ebola emerges—carried through the simple exchange of bodily fluids, bringing sudden fever, weakness, and pain—it is an error of faith to remain passive. True Tawakkul and reliance on Allah is not leaving your camel untied and praying it doesn’t run away. True Tawakkul is tying the camel with the tightest knot of human effort, and then leaving its safety to the Master of the Universe, Allah.
Therefore, let it be known from this blessed Minbar, the pulpit of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’at Mosque, that adhering to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines is a religious obligation and religious duty!
● Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
● Avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of anyone showing symptoms.
● Do not touch the deceased of an unknown illness.
Our Shari’ah has already laid down the law of quarantine over 1,400 years ago when our beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) commanded:
“If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Protect your families. Protect your Ummah. To hide a symptom or to ignore a medical protocol is to risk the lives of others, and Allah Almighty tells us in the Noble Qur’an:
“And whoever saves one life—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” [Qur’an, 5:32]
Respected brothers and sisters! The human psyche naturally panics when faced with an invisible enemy, especially a viral pathogen with no widely approved vaccine for this specific strain. Fear is real, but as Muslim believers, our fear must always be repurposed into focused action and deep introspection.
When an epidemic arises, it exposes the illusions of control we build around ourselves. We rely on modern systems, yet a microscopic virus can disrupt global transit networks in days. In the Islamic psychological framework, this realisation should not induce despair; it should induce a return to the center.
Sickness tests our community cohesion. Will we stigmatise those who test positive, or will we support them through safe isolation?
During past West African outbreaks, it was the religious leaders who shattered the stigma by reminding people that survivors are our brothers and sisters.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that early supportive medical care significantly improves survival rates. Seeking care immediately if you have a high fever or body aches is not a sign of weak faith; it is an act of worship and Ibadah. We follow the physical laws Allah created in nature just as we follow the spiritual laws He revealed in the Book.
Dear servants of Allah! Let us draw strength from our Islamic history. In the year 18 AH, during the caliphate of Umar Ibn al-Khattab (RA), a devastating plague struck the town of Amwas in Syria. It took the lives of giants of Islam—men like Abu Ubaidah Ibn al-Jarrah, the Trustworthy of this Ummah, and Mu’az Ibn Jabal, the great Islamic scholar.
When Umar (RA) traveled toward Syria and learned of the outbreak, he consulted the senior companions. After deliberation, he decided to turn back to Madinah.
Abu Ubaidah (RA), viewing the situation through a lens of raw spiritual fatalism, asked him:
“O Umar, are you running away from the decree of Allah?”
Umar (RA), a master of Islamic psychology and balanced faith, replied with words that should be written in letters of gold in every public health manual today. He said:
“Yes, we are running away from the decree of Allah, toward the decree of Allah.”
Umar understood that if a man has a flock of sheep and goes down into a valley with two hillsides—one fertile and the other barren—whichever side he grazes them on, he does so by the decree of Allah.
Later, Amr Ibn al-Aas (RA) took command of the remaining people. He looked at the medical reality of how the disease spread in crowded areas. He addressed the people, saying:
“O people, this plague is like a blazing fire, and you are its fuel. Separate yourselves and scatter in the hills so that it finds nothing to burn.”
They followed his directive, isolated from one another in the mountains, and the outbreak finally subsided.
Respected brothers and sisters! Know that, cleanliness is half of faith. Wash your hand with soap frequently. If experiencing sudden high fever, headache, or muscle pain after travel, isolate immediately. Leave the washing and preparation of those deceased from unknown illnesses to trained public health teams. Fear Allah and avoid spreading rumours or unverified remedies. Rely only on official updates from agencies like the NCDC.
Let us move forward with an active, vibrant faith—protecting our communities with rigorous hygiene, guarding our hearts with constant remembrance, and placing our ultimate trust in the Healer of all ailments, Allah!
Sincere Public Appeal To Support And Help Our Da’wah Activities!
Dear servants of Allah! Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“By Allah, if Allah guide a single man through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels (the most valuable wealth of that time).” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Know that, Da’wah is not a casual volunteer project; it is the ultimate inheritance of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.
Today, our Ummah faces an intellectual, psychological, and spiritual crisis. Doubts are marketed to our youth, materialism suffocates our souls, and the true, beautiful message of Islam is often obscured and distorted.
By supporting our Da’wah activities, you are not just giving charity—you are funding the guidance of souls, building a shield for the next generation, and securing your own continuous charity, The Sadaqah Jariyah.
Fellow brothers and sisters! When Abu al-Dardah (RA) heard the Qur’anic verse:
“Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over?” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 245]
He did not hesitate. He went straight to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and offered his finest asset: a magnificent orchard containing 600 fruitful date palms, a home, and a well.
He walked to the orchard where his wife and children were playing, stood outside, and called out:
“O Umm al-Dardah! Pack up your things and belongings and leave this garden, for I have loaned it to my Lord.”
Did she complain about financial security? No. She smiled and replied:
“What a profitable transaction, O Abu al-Dardah!”
Great Muslim believers! Imagine a young man or woman standing at the edge of losing their faith, drowning in the confusion of modern ideologies. They attend one of our sermons, lectures, seminars, read one of our publications, or watch one of our produced videos. A single sentence strikes their heart. They weep, they repent, and they align their life with Allah.
Every prayer they perform, every prostration they make, and every good deed their future children execute will be credited directly to your account of good deeds on the Day of Judgment, without diminishing theirs in the slightest.
Remember, dear brothers and sisters! Allah did not praise this Ummah because of our numbers, our wealth, or our architecture. He praised us for our mission. He says:
“You are the best nation produced as an example for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” [Surah Ali-Imran: 110]
Today, we live in an era where thousands are searching for meaning, yet looking in all the wrong places. If we do not provide the authentic, professional, and accessible message of Islam, who will?
Do not assume “someone else will do it.” Collective duty or Fard Kifayah remains an individual sin upon all of us until the need is fully met.
And remember, not everyone can stand on a pulpit to deliver a sermon, or write a book, or produce digital media. But when you finance the ones who can, you become an equal partner in their struggle and reward.
Our Da’wah infrastructure operates across critical psychological and social fronts. Your contributions directly fuel these high-impact sectors.
Dear brothers and sisters! Look around you. The world is changing rapidly, and time is slipping through our fingers. The wealth we leave in our bank accounts will belong to our heirs, but the wealth we send ahead by funding Allah’s cause is ours forever.
Do not look at your contribution as a donation to a charity. Look at it as a spiritual insurance policy for your soul. When you stand before Allah on a Day when neither wealth nor children will avail anyone except him who brings a clean heart, your support for this Da’wah will testify on your behalf.
Allah the Most High says:
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.” [Surah Al-Hadid: 7]
Propel this mission forward. Fuel the light of Islam. Secure your Akhirah today. We relied on you to propagate the religion of Allah!
Here are the bank details:
● Account number: 1779691620
- Account name: Murtala Muhammed.
- Access Bank.
● Account number: 0048647196.
- Account name: Murtala Muhammed.
- GTBank.
● 8056557477 – Opay.
● 8056557477 – Moniepoint.
Jazakumullah Khairan, as you kindly donate and contribute.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.