Instruction Regarding the Outbreak of a Plague
It is narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (ra) that when Hazrat Umar (ra) left for Syria, he stopped at Saragh. Saragh is the name of an inhabited area near the valley of Tabuk, which is situated near the borders of Hijaz and Syria and was at a distance of 13 days of travel from Medina. In other words, to reach there from Medina, it would take 13 days of continuous travel by modes of transport that were used in those days.
When Hazrat Umar (ra) reached this area, he met the commander of the armies, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) bin al-Jarrah and his fellow companions. This incident took place in 18 AH, during the Khilafat of Hazrat Umar (ra) after the conquest of Syria. They informed Hazrat Umar (ra) that there was an outbreak of a plague in Syria. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that Hazrat Umar (ra) asked for the early Muhajireen to come and take their suggestions. Hazrat Umar (ra) consulted with them, however there was a difference of opinions amongst the Muhajireen.
Some of them were of the opinion that they should continue on with their journey and not turn back, whilst the others suggested that the noble Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) were present in the army and therefore, it was not appropriate for them to be taken into an area where there was a plague and it was better to return.
Hazrat Umar (ra) then told the Muhajireen to leave and invited the Ansar to present their suggestions. Just like the Muhajireen, the Ansar also had a difference of opinions, in other words, some suggested to return and others were of the opinion to continue going ahead.
Hazrat Umar (ra) then invited the elders of the Quraish, who had accepted Islam at the occasion of the conquest of Mecca and came to Medina. All of them unanimously expressed their opinion of taking everyone back and that there was no need to enter an area where there was an outbreak of the plague. Accepting their suggestion, Hazrat Umar (ra) announced to return.
Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) bin al-Jarrah then asked that was it possible for one to escape from what God has decreed. Were they returning out of fear of the plague because this was God’s decree and one cannot escape from that. Replying to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, “O Abu Ubaidah (ra)! I wish it was someone else who would have uttered what you have said. Indeed, we are moving away from one decree of God to another.”
Explaining what destiny is, Hazrat Umar (ra) further stated and gave the following example: “Say you have some camels and you reach a valley which has two sides; one is a lush green area full of vegetation, while the other is a dry and barren land. Now, would it not be in accordance with the decree of God if you were to take your camels to graze in the area with lots of vegetation, and on the other hand, it will also be according to the decree of God if you decided to take them to the dry and barren land. Thus, the decree of God has presented you with two options”, i.e. a lush green area and the other a dry and barren land except for a few bushes or very little grass. “You cannot say that the vegetation has grown due to its own decree and the dry and barren land is owing to the decree of God. In fact, both are due to the decree of God and you must now decide which option you take and it is obvious that you will take the option of the land which has vegetation.”
The narrator of this tradition states that when Hazrat Umar (ra) had said all of this, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf came, who was not present before owing to some other work he was engaged in. Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf submitted, “Since you are asking for suggestions, I have the answer to this issue. I once heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say that if one learns about the outbreak of a disease in a certain area, they should not travel there. And if the disease has emerged in an area which one resides in, then they shouldn’t leave the area in order to escape from it.”
Thus, one should not travel to an area where there is an outbreak of disease and if one lives in an area where the disease has developed, then they should not leave from there, so that the disease does not spread further to other people.
We are also observing this currently as well that those countries which implemented the lockdown in time were able to contain the disease to a large degree. However, those who failed to do so and showed negligence, the disease continues to spread. In any case, the Holy Prophet (sa) taught this fundamental principle to his companions right from the beginning.
Upon hearing this [i.e. from Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf], Hazrat Umar (ra) praised Allah the Almighty and returned from there.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tibb, Bab Ma Yudhkaru fi al-Ta‘un, Hadith 5729)