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PLAGUE STRICKEN AREAS

1841

“(Caliph) Omar, the son of Khattab set off to go to Syria. When he arrived at Sargh he was met by Abu Ubaidah, the son of Jarrah, the Commander of the Muslim army, and his officers who told him that a plague had broken out in the Syrian countries.

Ibn Abbas said that Omar told him to gather the first Emigrants together and informed them of the plague in Syria. They counseled with him but differed among themselves. Some said, ‘You started out on a mission therefore you should continue.’ Others said, ‘You have the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, as well as many other people with you, and we do not think it is right to expose them to this plague.’

After that he requested them to withdraw and asked me to call the Helpers (Al Ansar). So I called them and he consulted them but they too were divided in their opinion. So he requested them to withdraw and asked me to call the prominent Emigrants from among the Koraysh tribe who were present during the Opening of Mecca. So I called them and they were in complete agreement. They advised him, ‘We think you should go back and not lead the people into the plague.’ Thereupon Omar had it announced that he would start back the next morning.

The next morning after all the preparations had been made, Abu Ubaidah, the son of Jarrah said to Umar, ‘Do your propose to turn away from the decree of Allah?’ Omar replied, ‘Abu Ubaidah, I wish someone else had said this’ - because Omar used to hate to differ with him - Omar continued, ‘Yes, we are turning away from the decree of Allah to another decree of Allah.’ Then he said, ‘Tell me, if you had a herd of camels in a valley and the valley had two sides; one fertile and green and the other dry and barren, if you let them graze upon the green part wouldn’t that be by the decree of Allah, or if you let them graze upon the dry part, wouldn't that also be by the decree of Allah?’ Then Abdur Rahman, the son of Auf who had been absent on some errand of his own came forward and said, ‘I have some knowledge about this matter. I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘If you hear of an epidemic in a land do not enter it, and if you happen to be in a land when an epidemic breaks out, do not run away from it.'"

Upon hearing this Omar praised Allah and returned.

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.