Chapter: The reprehensibility of leaving a land in which plague has broken out in order to flee from it, and the reprehensibility of entering it.

The Exalted said, “Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you are in lofty, well-fortified towers” (Q 4:78). He also said, “Do not cast yourselves, with your own hands, into destruction” (Q 2:195).

1791 – Ibn ʿAbbās related that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb set out for Syria. When he reached Sargh he was met by the commanders of the armies—Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jar­rāḥ and his companions—who informed him that a plague had broken out in Syria. Ibn ʿAbbās continued:

ʿUmar said to me, “Summon for me the earliest Emigrants.” I summoned them, he consulted them, and informed them that the plague had appeared in Syria. They differed: some said, “You set out for a purpose, and we do not think you should turn back from it.” Others said, “With you are the rest of the people and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; we do not think you should lead them into this plague.” ʿUmar said, “Withdraw from me.”

He then said, “Call the Anṣār for me.” I summoned them; he consulted them, and they followed the path of the Emigrants, differing just as they had differed. He said, “Withdraw from me.”

He then said, “Summon those of the elders of Quraysh who emigrated at the time of the Conquest.” I called them, and not two of them disagreed. They said, “We think you should return with the people and not lead them into this plague.”

ʿUmar thereupon proclaimed to the people, “Tomorrow morning I shall mount and turn back; so you, too, be ready.” The next morning they set out.

Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jar­rāḥ said, “Are we fleeing from the decree of Allah?” ʿUmar replied, “If anyone other than you had said that, O Abū ʿUbaydah—for I dislike differing with you—yes, we are fleeing from the decree of Allah to the decree of Allah.”