MUI Of Lebak: Muslims Who Died Due To COVID-19 Will Be Syahid Ukhrawi

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Lebak Regency KH Akhmad Khudori (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) of Lebak Regency, Banten, K.H. Akhmad Khudori, said that a Muslim who died from COVID-19 was categorized as syahid ukhrawi.

"We ask Muslims who are exposed to COVID-19 and undergo isolation and medical treatment to be patient and trust Allah SWT," said Khudori in Lebak, reported by Antara, Thursday, January 28.

If Muslims die because of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, war against the invaders or give birth they will get the reward of syahid ukhrawi or syahid in the afterlife.

However, the rights of the body of a Muslim in the world are still required to be washed, clothed, prayed, and buried.

The requirement for syahid ukhrawi must be a Muslim who is pious and has faith in Allah SWT.

The syahid reward for those infected by corona virus is of course they will be forgiven for all their sins and they will go to heaven.

Currently, he said, the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is increasing to reach one million people and among them 28,855 people have died.

In fact, Muslims who died from the corona include medical officers, officials, civillians and ulama.

Based on the report from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) until December 2020, 342 medical personnel who died consisted of doctors, nurses and midwives.

Likewise, ulama who have died from the corona virus have now reached 290 people.

The incidence of non-natural disasters, he said, is certainly quite concerning and poses a threat to human life.

Therefore, Muslims must strive to save human life by preventing transmission of COVID-19.

"We as Muslims are obliged to comply with health protocols by wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands and not gathering to prevent the corona virus," he explained.

According to him, Muslims who died from COVID-19 based on the guidelines for managing the bodies of patients infected with the corona virus published by MUI must comply with the provisions of MUI Fatwa Number 14 of 2020 Point 7.

This provision, he said, serves as a guideline for the management of bodies that have been confirmed with COVID-19, to be bathed, clothed and prayed.

However, the management of the corpse must be in accordance with medical protocol and carried out by an authorized officer while still observing the shari'a provision.

"I think mourners for Muslims who died because of COVID-19 must comply with health protocols to prevent transmission of the disease," he said.