The Plague of Amwas (Hazrat Musleh Mau’d’s (ra) Narration)
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) has also written with regard to returning from the area where there was the outbreak of the plague of Amwas:
“When the battle took place in Syria and there was an outbreak of the plague, Hazrat Umar (ra) also travelled there, so that he could take advice from the people and make appropriate arrangements to protect the Muslim army. However, when the impact of the disease became even more intense, the companions submitted that it was not appropriate for Hazrat Umar (ra) to remain there and that he should return to Medina. When Hazrat Umar (ra) decided to return, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) stated:
أَفِرَارًا مِنْ قَدَرِ اللّٰهِ؟
“‘Are you running away from the decree of God?’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) immediately replied:
مِنْ قَدَرِ اللّٰهِ إلَى قَدَرِ اللّٰهِ نَعْم نَفِرُّ
“‘I am going from one divine decree to another.’
“In other words, it is wrong to abandon worldly measures and means. Indeed, the worldly measures and means should be adopted whilst keeping them subservient to one’s faith.”
(Allah Ta‘ala se sacha aur haqiqi ta‘alluq qa‘im karne mein hi hamari kamiyabi he, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 21, p. 104)