a reward equal to that of a martyr. For this reason, an authentic ḥadith is related from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf (Allah be pleased with him) in which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you hear that it (the plague) has broken out in a land, do not go there; and if it strikes a land while you are in it, do not leave it in flight.”

Thus, when plague appears in a land we do not enter it, for to do so would be to cast oneself into ruin. Conversely, if it descends upon a land where we already are, we do not flee from it, for no matter how far you run from the decree of Allah once it has arrived, such flight will avail you nothing before Him. Remember the story Allah has recounted about those who left their homes—thousands in number—fearing death. Some scholars explain the verse to mean that a plague had spread in their land, so they fled; then Allah said to them, “Die!” and afterwards brought them back to life, to show that there is no refuge from the decree of Allah except with Allah.

The ḥadith of ʿĀʾishah (Allah be pleased with her) therefore proves the virtue of patience and seeking reward: if a person restrains himself in the land afflicted by plague and then dies of it, Allah records for him a reward equal to that of a martyr.

Life is precious to people, so when plague descends upon their land they are inclined to flee, afraid of the disease. But if someone remains patient, hopeful of reward, certain that nothing will touch him except what Allah has decreed, and then dies from the plague, he is granted a reward equal to that of a martyr. This is one of Allah’s great favors.