Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Shahr bin Hawshab Ash'ari, who narrates from his stepfather, a man from his tribe, who married his mother after the death of his father and was present at the time of the plague of 'Amwas. It is narrated from him that when the epidemic of plague spread there, Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and addressed the people and said: O people! This disease is a mercy from your Allah, the result of your Prophet's supplication, and the cause of the death of the righteous before you. And Abu Ubaidah prays to Allah that He grants him a share of it as well. It is narrated from Rabah that after this supplication, Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) was afflicted with the plague and passed away, and he appointed Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) as the leader over the people. After the passing of Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and addressed the people, saying: O people! This disease has been a mercy from your Lord, the supplication of your Prophet, and the cause of the death of the righteous before you. And Mu'adh prays to Allah that He grants the family of Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) a share of this disease. It is narrated from Rabah that after this, the son of Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdur Rahman bin Mu'adh, was afflicted with the plague and passed away. After this, Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed to his Lord for himself, so a boil of plague appeared on his palm. I saw Sayyiduna Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) looking at that boil and kissing the back of his palm, saying: I do not prefer that, because of you, I would receive all the wealth of the world instead of the rank I am to receive. Then, when he passed away, he appointed Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) as his deputy over the people. He too stood among us and addressed the people, saying: O people! When this disease begins, it spreads like the flames of fire. To save yourselves from it, go out towards the mountains. Upon hearing this, Abu Wathilah Hudhali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What you have said is not correct. I have been in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). You are even worse than my donkey. Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! I will not answer you, but by Allah! In these circumstances, we cannot stay here. Then he left from there, and the people also left with him. When they left that area of the plague, Allah also removed it from them. When this news reached the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he did not dislike this action.