Plague

Plague cat flea

 Plague is a disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague. Plague is infamous for killing millions of people in Europe during the Middle Ages (i.e. the Black Death). Today, modern antibiotics are effective in treating plague. Without prompt treatment, the disease can cause serious illness or death. Presently, human plague infections continue to occur in the western United States, but significantly more cases occur in parts of Africa and Asia.

  Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, forbade people to leave or enter a land where there is an outbreak of plague, in order to check the spread of the contagious disease and confine it to a limited area. In medical terminology this is known as "quarantine."

  Narrated Abu Obaida: Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqas said to Usama ibn Zaid, "What have you heard the Messenger of Allah, peace & blessings be upon him, say concerning the plague?"  "He said, "I heard him say: "The plague was wrath sent on a group of the Children of Israel or on those who were before your time. So if you hear about it (an outbreak of plague) in a land, do not enter (the land) unto it (i.e. plague); and if it breaks out in a land where you are present, then do not leave (that land) in a bid to escape from it." 

Related by Al-Rabii bin Habib (Al Jami' Al Sahih, Hadith No: 640)

Quarantine in Honolulu’s Chinatown, 1899

  Abu Obeida reported from Jabir that Ibn Abbas narrated that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, departed for Sham and when he reached Sargh (i.e. a place in Sham), the commanders of the army, Abu 'Ubaida ibn Al-Jarrah, may Allah be pleased with him, and his companions met him and told him that the epidemic had broken out in the land of Sham. They disputed among each other (about what to do). Some of them said (to 'Umar), "You have come out for a purpose and we do not think that it is proper to give it up," while others said, "You have along with you other people and the companions of Allah's Apostle (PBUH), so do not advise that you take them to this epidemic." 'Umar said (to them), "Leave me now."

Ibn Abbas said," 'Umar said (to me), "Call for me the early emigrants." So I called them. He consulted them and they disagreed. Some of them said, "You have along with you other people and the companions of Allah's Apostle (PBUH) so do not advise that you take them to this epidemic." While others said, "You have come out for a purpose and we do not think that it is proper to give it up." 'Umar said to them, "Leave me now."

He then said (to me), "Call the Ansar for me." I called them and he consulted them and they followed the way of the emigrants and differed as they did. He then said (to them), "Leave me now." They left and then he said (to me), "Call for me whoever is here from the old people of Quraish and from the emigrants of the Conquest (of Mecca)." I called them and no two among them disputed, as they said, "We advise that you should return with the people and do not expose them to the epidemic."

So 'Umar called out to the people, "I will ride back in the morning, so you should do the same." Abu 'Ubaida said," O 'Umar! Are you running away from the decree of Allah?" 'Umar said, "I wish someone else had said this, O Abu 'Ubaida! Yes, we do run from the decree of Allah to the decree of Allah."

Ibn Abbas said, "Then, 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf, who had been absent because of some job, came and said, "I have some knowledge about this. I have heard Allah's Apostle (PBUH) saying, 'If you hear about it (the plague) in a land, do not go forward to it; but if it breaks out in a land where you are staying, do not run away from it.'"

He (Ibn Abbas) said: "'Umar praised Allah and then he departed."

Related by Al-Rabii bin Habib (Al Jami' Al Sahih, Hadith No: 641)

Plague Doctor's mask