39/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2218f — Plague Comes and Goes
The Plague, Ill Omens, Soothsaying And The Like
Plague Hadith: An Illness That Goes and Returns
Sahih Muslim : 2218f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2218f
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " إِنَّ هَذَا الْوَجَعَ أَوِ السَّقَمَ رِجْزٌ عُذِّبَ بِهِ بَعْضُ الأُمَمِ قَبْلَكُمْ ثُمَّ بَقِيَ بَعْدُ بِالأَرْضِ فَيَذْهَبُ الْمَرَّةَ وَيَأْتِي الأُخْرَى فَمَنْ سَمِعَ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ يَقْدَمَنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَهُوَ بِهَا فَلاَ يُخْرِجَنَّهُ الْفِرَارُ مِنْهُ " .
Usamah bin Zaid Narrated from:
Usama b. Zaid reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this: This calamity or illness was a punishment with which were punished some of the nations before you. Then it was left upon the earth. It goes away once and comes back again. He who heard of its presence in a land should not go towards it, and he who happened to be in a land where it had broken out should not fly from it.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2218fIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 129USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5498
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2218f
This version of the plague Hadith adds that the calamity or illness was a punishment for some earlier nations, then it remained on earth, going away at times and coming back at other times. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then gave the same movement guidance: whoever hears of its presence in a land should not go toward it, and whoever is in a land where it has broken out should not be driven out by fleeing from it. This is why many users search for the plague hadith, quarantine hadith Islam, or Islamic teaching on outbreaks. The report speaks with balance. It names plague as a serious matter and tells people not to move toward it or run from it once already present in its land.
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.
