39/32. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2219b — Choosing Safety Within Allah’s Decree
The Plague, Ill Omens, Soothsaying And The Like
Plague Hadith and Divine Decree: Choosing the Safer Path
Sahih Muslim : 2219b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2219b
وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ مَعْمَرٍ قَالَ وَقَالَ لَهُ أَيْضًا أَرَأَيْتَ أَنَّهُ لَوْ رَعَى الْجَدْبَةَ وَتَرَكَ الْخَصْبَةَ أَكُنْتَ مُعَجِّزَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَسِرْ إِذًا . قَالَ فَسَارَ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَدِينَةَ فَقَالَ هَذَا الْمَحِلُّ . أَوْ قَالَ هَذَا الْمَنْزِلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ .
Ma'mar Narrated from:
Do you think that he would graze in the barren land but would abandon the green land? Would you not attribute it to be a failing on his part? He said: Yes. He said: Then proceed. And he moved on until he came to Medina. And he said to me: This is the right place, or he said: That is the destination if Allah so wills.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2219bIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 137USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5505
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2219b
This narration adds to the plague hadith by making Umar’s example even clearer. He compares the decision to a person who owns camels and finds two sides of a valley: one barren and one green. Choosing the green side is not outside Allah’s decree. It is a wise choice within Allah’s decree. The report also mentions moving on until Medina and saying that this was the right place or destination, if Allah willed. The main lesson is simple: when harm is known, a believer does not need to choose the harder or more dangerous path just to prove faith. Wise action, safe planning, and saying “if Allah wills” can stand together in the same heart.
What we learn from this hadith
- A safer choice can still be part of Allah’s decree.
- Faith does not require choosing needless hardship when a better path is known.
- A person may plan carefully while still saying, “if Allah wills.”
- Good leadership considers the safety of the people.
