She wants to marry a man who has a contagious disease
Praise be to Allah.
It states in sharee’ah that the Muslim should not expose
himself to harm.
That includes mixing with a person who has a contagious
disease, especially if that disease is serious and chronic, such as herpes.
The rulings of sharee’ah are addressed to everyone, sick and
healthy alike.
With regard to the one who is sick, Muslim (2221) narrated
from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The owner of
sick camels should not bring them to the healthy ones” – lest the disease be
transmitted to the healthy ones.
With regard to the one who is healthy, the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Flee from the leper as
you would flee from a lion.” Narrated by Ahmad, 9429; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7530.
Leprosy is a well-known contagious disease – we ask Allaah to
keep us safe and sound.
Muslim (2231) narrated from ‘Amr ibn al-Shareed that his
father said: Among the delegation from Thaqeef there was a leper. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent word to him
saying: “We have accepted your oath of allegiance; go back.”
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
Miftaah Daar al-Sa’aadah (2/272):
He sent word to that
leper accepting his oath of allegiance so as to establish the shar’i
principle of avoiding the causes of harmful and hateful things, because a
person should not expose himself to the causes of harm.
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (4/147):
Chapter on the guidance
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on avoiding
contagious diseases and his advice to healthy people to avoid those who have
such diseases. Then he quoted the ahaadeeth mentioned above.
Your wish to marry this man who has herpes may be influenced
by emotion, and you think that you are being patient and forbearing, then if
disaster strikes you will regret it when regret will be of no benefit. There
is nothing to compare to good health.
Our advice to you is not to marry this person.
We ask Allaah to bless you with a righteous husband who will
help you in your religious affairs.
And Allaah knows best.