Plague cat flea
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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)
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 |
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