”Should we just stick to the SOPs – wear masks, practice physical distancing, and stay at home as much as possible to stay safe – or should we just put our trust in Allah?”

A man once asked a similar question to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَعْقِلُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ أَوْ أُطْلِقُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ قَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ

 “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I leave her untied and trust in Allah?” 

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Tie her, and then put your trust in Allah.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidzi)

The first part of the equation of tawakkul (putting our trust in Allah) is for us to put in our effort, to the best of our efforts and our ability. If you don’t practice this part, then in actual fact you haven’t truly practiced tawakkul. It is “tawaakul” (fake tawakkul. Or rather, Pseudo-tawakkul, if you fancy). 

When Umar was khalifah, he noticed a group of people who were not working, they were just kind of sitting around and living their lives begging and hoping for charity. And Umar asked what are you doing? They said, “we are the mutawakkilun” (people who put their trust in Allah) and he responded something to the effect of “you guys are just being lazy. This isn’t tawakkul. Get up and work.”

Okay, so back to answering the question at hand:

Adhere to the SOP’s and instructions of those in authority who issue in our best interests of public safety, so that we can all play our part in breaking the chain of infectious viruses. 

Then put your trust in Allah. 

Kaman gais. We've done a great job before. We can do it again. If we all play our part, we all have the capacity to save lives, bi idznillah.

وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

“..and if anyone saved one life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (Surah Al-Maidah, 5:32)