The Forgotten Knowledge: Pandemics in Islamic Manuscripts

COVID-19 is far from the first pandemic in history. Classical manuscripts show that plague and pestilence have long troubled humanity which have had significant religious, social, and medical ramifications. However, these manuscripts have been neglected rather than being taken into consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic response. This article explores Islamic views regarding pandemics, the human factors that contributed to past pandemics, and the recommended mitigation and treatment approaches. Taking three manuscripts-Bażl al mā'un fī faşl aț țā'un, by Ibn Hajr Al Asqolani; Mā Rawāhu al Mā'ūn fī akhbari aț țā'un, by Jalaluddin asy Syuyuty; and Risāah al mughniyah fī sukūti wa luzūmi l buyūt, by Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn Abdullah al Baghdady-as its corpus, this study analyzes classical texts to understand the historical records and representations of pandemics. Critical analysis, supported by several concepts and theories, is used to connect the texts to the relevant contexts, thereby providing a foundation for using classical manuscripts as sources of knowledge and understanding during times of a pandemic.