90/13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6973 — Plague Travel Guidance
Playing tricks to run from the disease of plague
Hadith About Plague: Do Not Enter or Flee the Affected Land
Sahih Bukhari : 6973
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6973
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ بِسَرْغَ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ وَقَعَ بِالشَّأْمِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ ". فَرَجَعَ عُمَرُ مِنْ سَرْغَ. وَعَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ إِنَّمَا انْصَرَفَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ.
`Abdullah bin 'Amir bin Rabi`a Narrated from:
`Umar bin Al-Khattab left for Sham, and when he reached a placed called Sargh, he came to know that there was an outbreak of an epidemic (of plague) in Sham. Then `AbdurRahman bin `Auf told him that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If you hear the news of an outbreak of an epidemic (plague) in a certain place, do not enter that place: and if the epidemic falls in a place while you are present in it, do not leave that place to escape from the epidemic." So `Umar returned from Sargh.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6973In-book reference : Book 90, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 86, Hadith 103
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6973
This Hadith gives clear plague guidance in Islam. Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه was on his way to Sham. When he reached Sargh, he learned that an epidemic had broken out in Sham. AbdurRahman bin Auf then shared the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: if you hear of an outbreak in a place, do not enter it; and if it happens while you are already there, do not leave that place to escape from it. Umar returned from Sargh based on this report. The main lesson is simple and practical: the Hadith gives travel guidance during an epidemic and links movement decisions to care, restraint, and obedience to Prophetic instruction.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not enter a land after hearing of a plague outbreak there.
- Do not flee from a land where plague occurs while you are present.
- Umar رضي الله عنه acted after hearing the Prophetic instruction.
- Travel choices during an epidemic should follow the guidance in the Hadith.
