Corona virus "is one of Almighty Allah's soldiers... He is unleashing it on those who attack His believers," says preacher on official PA TV

• "The true meaning of the epidemics is a… trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners"
   
• "If [believers]… place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic [among the believers] merits the reward of Martyrdom"
   
• "Corruption has never appeared among any people without mass death reaching them"
   
• The PA Ministry of Religious Affairs is responsible for appointing Imams in the mosques in the PA

Before Corona broke out in the PA, a preacher on official Palestinian Authority TV taught that the virus is "one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers" and that Allah is punishing the sinners - "those who attack His believers": 

Unidentified preacher: "The true meaning of the epidemics is a trial from Almighty Allah and a punishment. A trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners… If they have stood firm and place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic merits the reward of Martyrdom… If the epidemic harms non-believers, from among the abusers and the aggressors, then that is punishment… This [Corona] virus is one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers, and He is unleashing it on those who attack His believers…"

[Official PA TV, Feb. 28, 2020]

The unidentified preacher further explained that epidemics are "a trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners." To underscore this religious view – that epidemics are a punishment - the preacher quoted Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and his uncle Ibn Abbas who both explained that plagues are the punishment for people in places where "abomination" and "corruption" occur:

"The Sunna (i.e., Islamic tradition) has indicated that acts of abomination and corruption cause epidemics. Prophet [Muhammad] said: 'An abomination has not appeared among a people… without plague and suffering breaking out...' And Ibn Abbas (an uncle of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and an early Quranic scholar –Ed.) said: 'Corruption has never appeared among any people without mass death reaching them.'"

However, since Muslim believers are also dying from Corona the preacher added that believers who die from the epidemic are being tested and "if they have stood firm and place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic merits the reward of Martyrdom."  

The PA preacher's message is that because of the corruption and abomination in the world, "Allah’s soldiers" – in this case the Corona virus - bring retribution on humanity.

While this preacher was not identified, his sermon was broadcast by official PA TV and the PA Ministry of Religious Affairs has just announced once again that it is responsible for appointing Imams in the mosques:

"[PA] Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Husam Abu Al-Rub… said that the ministry is making sure to support the mosques and appoint skilled and capable Imams and preachers so that they will take upon themselves the responsibility of managing the mosques, organizing them, supervising them, leading the worshippers, and giving the Friday sermon."

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 29, 2020]

The following are longer excerpts of the sermon and the report on the appointment of Imams by the PA Ministry of Religious Affairs:

"The [PA] Ministry of Religious Affairs yesterday, Friday [Feb. 28, 2020], inaugurated the Al-Nour Mosque in the village of Shuqba west of Ramallah, which was built with donated money.

Present at the inauguration were [PA] Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Husam Abu Al-Rub, Director-General of Religious Affairs in Ramallah and El-Bireh Sheikh Wafiq Alawi, Director-General of Mosques Sheikh Hassan Shehadeh, and Deputy District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Hamdan Barghouti…

Abu Al-Rub announced the appointment of the mosque’s Imam and preacher, and said that the ministry is making sure to support the mosques and appoint skilled and capable Imams and preachers so that they will take upon themselves the responsibility of managing the mosques, organizing them, supervising them, leading the worshippers, and giving the Friday sermon.

He also ordered that based on the leadership’s instructions and on the orders of [PA] Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh, they have begun to fill the shortage in the mosques by providing 500 salaried religious positions to give the sermons and lead the prayers in the central and secondary mosques throughout the homeland's districts."

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 29, 2020]

Unidentified preacher: "Dear Muslims, the true meaning of the epidemics is a trial from Almighty Allah and a punishment. A trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners. A trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners, the aggressors, the arrogant, those acting strongly, and those oppressing the Muslims. And if it has harmed the believers who are upholding the words of Supreme Allah, then that is a trial. And if they have stood firm and place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic merits the reward of Martyrdom, Almighty Allah willing…

Prophet [Muhammad], Allah’s blessing be upon him, said: 'The epidemic is Martyrdom for every Muslim.' … And if the epidemic harms non-believers, from among the abusers and the aggressors, then that is punishment. For Almighty Allah has announced that the tests, difficulties, and disasters that befall the believers are 'for what your hands have earned' [Quran, Sura 42:30, Sahih International translation]. Allah said: 'And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much' [Ibid.]. And this [Corona]virus is one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers, and He is unleashing it on those who attack His believers…

The Sunna (i.e., Islamic tradition) has indicated that acts of abomination and corruption cause epidemics. Prophet [Muhammad] said: ‘An abomination has not appeared among a people… without plague and suffering breaking out, the likes of which had not been among their forefathers.’ And Ibn Abbas (an uncle of Islam's Prophet Muhammad–Ed.) said: 'Corruption has never appeared among any people without mass death reaching them.' And corruption is abuse, and what abuse is greater than attacking a Muslim because he is a Muslim? Dear Muslims, this event is a sign that should be paid attention to…

Dear Muslims, the epidemic and the transfer of the disease from sick people to healthy people is a scientific fact. It is a known matter among the Muslim scholars, and has a source in religion. Prophet [Muhammad] said: 'Flee the leper as you would flee the lion.' And this is a reliable Hadith (sayings and practices attributed to Islam’s Prophet Muhammad –Ed.) that Imam Al-Bukhari related.”

[Official PA TV, Feb. 28, 2020]