The Plague of Amwas
Amwas is a name of a valley which is six miles from Ramla in the direction of Jerusalem. According to the books of history, it was named as the Plague of Amwas because the outbreak of the plague started from here. Countless deaths occurred in Syria as a result of this plague; according to some there were around 25,000 deaths. The details of this incident are found in a narration of Bukhari.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (ra) relates that when Hazrat Umar (ra) reached Saragh (Saragh is the name of a village near the valley of Tabuk, which is situated near the borders of Syria and Hijaz and was at distance of approximately 13 days of travel from Medina. In old historical sources [the distances] were given like this; however, it equates to approximately 1,000 miles), he met the commander of the armies, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and his fellow companions. They informed Hazrat Umar (ra) that there was an outbreak of a plague in Syria. In order to seek counsel on the matter, Hazrat Umar (ra) first and foremost invited the Muhajireen to present their suggestions. However, there was a difference of opinion 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 opinion. Hazrat Umar (ra) then invited the elders of the Quraish, who had accepted Islam at the occasion of the conquest of Mecca and then came and settled in 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) then asked whether it was possible for one to escape from what God had decreed. Replying to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, “O Abu Ubaidah (ra)! I wish it was someone else who had uttered what you have just said. Indeed, we are moving away from one decree of God to another” (They were moving away from one decree towards another decree of God).
Hazrat Umar (ra) further stated, “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 to 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, would it not also be according to the decree of God if you decided to take them to the dry and barren land?”
The narrator of the tradition states that in the meanwhile, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (ra) came, who was not present earlier owing to some other work he was engaged in. Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (ra) submitted, “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.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Umar (ra) expressed his gratitude to Allah the Almighty and returned from there.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tibb, Bab ma Yudhkaru fi al-Ta‘un, Hadith 5729) (Yaqut Ibn Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu‘jam al-Buldan, Vol. 4 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah] 1771-178) (Yaqut Ibn Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu‘jam al-Buldan, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah] 239)
In regard to the Plague of Amwas, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states:
“When Hazrat Umar (ra) travelled to Syria, he was welcomed by Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and the Muslim army. At the time, the plague there, which is known as the Plague of Amwas, became widespread and the Companions suggested that since there was an outbreak of a plague, therefore he should return. Accepting their suggestion, Hazrat Umar (ra) made the decision to return. When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra), who would tend to accept things as they were, came to learn of this decision, he stated:
أَ تَفِرُّ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ
“‘Are you running away from the decree of God?’
“Hazrat Umar(ra) replied:
أَ فِرُّ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللّٰہِ اِلٰی قَدَرِ اللّٰہِ
“‘I am going from one Divine decree to another.’
“In other words, there are two types of Divine decrees; one is specific and the other is of a general nature, both decrees are divinely decreed. Thus, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that he was not running from the decree of God; rather he was going from one divine decree to another. It is mentioned in historical accounts that when Hazrat Umar (ra) learnt of the outbreak of the plague, he gathered people in order to seek counsel from them and asked what the people of Syria did when there was an outbreak of the plague as this was a common occurrence in the area. They told him that when the plague spreads, people disperse here and there which subsequently weakens its impact.” In other words, they would move to open areas instead of staying in the city.
“In relation to this suggestion, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that God Almighty had established a general law, i.e. one who leaves an area where there is an outbreak of plague and travels to an open area is saved. Thus, since this was also in accordance with the divine law, therefore he was not violating any law of God, rather he was moving from one decree to another. That is, he was moving from a specific law to a general law of God Almighty. Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that thus, it could not be said that he was running away from the divine decree, rather he was moving from one law of God to another.
(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 5, pp. 170-171)
Although Hazrat Umar (ra) returned to Medina; however, he was extremely concerned as the plague was continuing to spread. One day, Hazrat Umar (ra) wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) stating that he required some important work from him; therefore upon receiving the letter, he should return to Medina immediately. Furthermore, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that if he received this letter at night, he should not wait for the morning, and if he received the letter in the morning, he should not wait for night to fall.
When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) read the letter, he said, “I know the reason why the Leader of the Faithful needs me. May Allah bestow His mercy upon Hazrat Umar (ra) for he wishes to extend the life of that which is no longer going to remain.” In other words, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) understood why Hazrat Umar (ra) was concerned. In reply to the letter, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) stated, “O Leader of the Faithful! After reading the letter, I have understood what you desire, but please do not call me back and allow me to remain here. I am one of the soldiers from among the Muslim army. Whatever has been decreed will come to pass, but how can I abandon them.”
When Hazrat Umar (ra) read the letter, he began to cry. At the time, Hazrat Umar (ra) was sitting amongst the Muhajireen and they submitted, “O Leader of the Faithful! Has Abu Ubaidah (ra) passed away?” Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, “No, but there is a possibility that he may.”
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala li Imam al-Dhahabi, Vol. 1, pp. 18-19, Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah, Mu‘assisat al-Risalah, Beirut, Lebanon, 1996)
Hazrat Umar (ra) wrote another letter to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and instructed him to take the Muslims out of that area to an area more conducive to their health. Whenever any Muslim soldier would pass away and attain the status of martyrdom as a result of dying from the plague, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) would cry and pray to Allah to grant him martyrdom. According to one narration, it states that at the time, he would pray as follows, “O Allah, is there no share in this for Abu Ubaidah to partake?” i.e. to attain martyrdom.
One day, a small boil developed on Hazrat Abu Ubaidah’s (ra) finger and he prayed, “I hope that Allah shall bestow His blessings through this small affliction. When something is filled with blessings, even if it is small, it becomes immense.”
Irbad bin Saariya relates, “When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) fell ill as a result of the plague, I went to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) and he stated to me, ‘I have heard the Messenger (sa) of Allah say that one who dies as a result of the plague is a martyr; one who dies from illness of the stomach is a martyr; one who dies as a result of drowning is a martyr; one who dies as a result of being crushed under a roof that falls through is also a martyr.’”