39/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2218c — Do Not Enter a Plague Land
The Plague, Ill Omens, Soothsaying And The Like
Do Not Enter a Plague Land: Hadith Guidance
Sahih Muslim : 2218c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2218c
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ هَذَا الطَّاعُونَ رِجْزٌ سُلِّطَ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَوْ عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَإِذَا كَانَ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ وَإِذَا كَانَ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَدْخُلُوهَا " .
Usama Narrated from:
Usama reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Plague is a calamity which was inflicted on those who were before you, or upon Bani Isra'il. So when it has broken out in a land, don't run out of it, and when it has spread in a land, then don't enter it.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2218cIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 126USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5495
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2218c
This narration about plague keeps the same teaching in a slightly different order. Usama reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said plague was a calamity inflicted on earlier people or Bani Isra'il. Then he gave two plain instructions: if it has broken out in a land, do not run out of it; and if it has spread in a land, do not enter it. Readers may search for this as plague hadith quarantine or do not enter a plague land hadith. The Hadith is not a broad discussion of all sicknesses. It speaks about plague and the movement of people in relation to a land where plague has appeared. The message is calm and practical: avoid entering an affected place, and do not flee from the place if already inside it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not enter a land after hearing that plague has broken out there.
- If plague breaks out where someone already is, the report says not to flee from it.
- The Hadith describes plague as a calamity or punishment linked to earlier people.
- The teaching encourages careful movement and steadiness during a serious outbreak.
