Plague and Contagious Diseases
Total Hadiths 26
Authentic Hadith Guidance on Plagues and Contagious Diseases
These authentic Prophetic narrations provide crucial insight into the Islamic approach to epidemics, pandemics, and contagions. The Prophet Muhammad teaches that while contagious diseases spread by divine permission rather than independent power, practical caution is necessary. He established foundational quarantine guidelines, instructing believers not to enter an area suffering from a plague outbreak, and forbidding those within the infected zone from fleeing the land. This balanced perspective is beautifully demonstrated by Umar bin Al-Khattab's historical decision to turn back from Sham during an epidemic. According to Islamic scholars, this reflects running from one divine decree to another, seamlessly uniting profound faith in Allah with active safety measures and community preservation.
وَقَالَ عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ وَلاَ هَامَةَ وَلاَ صَفَرَ، وَفِرَّ مِنَ الْمَجْذُومِ كَمَا تَفِرُّ مِنَ الأَسَدِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion." Note: The majority of scholars interpret this to mean that these things in and of themselves do not transmit or cause harm through supernatural or hidden means but that Allah is ultimately in control and any fearful superstition around these is false.
[1] Please see for details Fath Al-Barī .Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5707In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 27USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 608
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَغَيْرُهُ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى وَلاَ صَفَرَ وَلاَ هَامَةَ ". فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا بَالُ إِبِلِي تَكُونُ فِي الرَّمْلِ كَأَنَّهَا الظِّبَاءُ فَيَأْتِي الْبَعِيرُ الأَجْرَبُ فَيَدْخُلُ بَيْنَهَا فَيُجْرِبُهَا. فَقَالَ " فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الأَوَّلَ ". رَوَاهُ الزُّهْرِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ وَسِنَانِ بْنِ أَبِي سِنَانٍ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'There is no 'Adwa (no disease is conveyed from the sick to the healthy without Allah's permission), nor Safar, nor Hama." A bedouin stood up and said, "Then what about my camels? They are like deer on the sand, but when a mangy camel comes and mixes with them, they all get infected with mangy." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first one?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5717In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 34USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 615
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نُعَيْمٍ الْمُجْمِرِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْمَدِينَةَ الْمَسِيحُ وَلاَ الطَّاعُونُ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Neither Messiah (Ad-Dajjal) nor plague will enter Medina."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5731In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 627
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْمَبْطُونُ شَهِيدٌ، وَالْمَطْعُونُ شَهِيدٌ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He (a Muslim) who dies of an abdominal disease is a martyr, and he who dies of plague is a martyr."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5733In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 629
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى، وَلاَ طِيَرَةَ، وَلاَ هَامَةَ، وَلاَ صَفَرَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "There is no 'Adwa, nor Tiyara, nor Hama, nor Safar."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5757In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 72USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 653
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ عَدْوَى، وَلاَ صَفَرَ، وَلاَ هَامَةَ ". فَقَالَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا بَالُ الإِبِلِ تَكُونُ فِي الرَّمْلِ كَأَنَّهَا الظِّبَاءُ، فَيُخَالِطُهَا الْبَعِيرُ الأَجْرَبُ فَيُجْرِبُهَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الأَوَّلَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'No 'Adwa (i.e. no contagious disease is conveyed to others without Allah's permission); nor (any evil omen in the month of) Safar; nor Hama" A bedouin said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about the camels which, when on the sand (desert) look like deers, but when a mangy camel mixes with them they all get infected with mange?" On that Allah s Apostle said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first (mangy) camel?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5770In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 84USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 665
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، بَعْدُ يَقُولُ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يُورِدَنَّ مُمْرِضٌ عَلَى مُصِحٍّ ". وَأَنْكَرَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثَ الأَوَّلِ قُلْنَا أَلَمْ تُحَدِّثْ أَنَّهُ لاَ عَدْوَى فَرَطَنَ بِالْحَبَشِيَّةِ. قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ نَسِيَ حَدِيثًا غَيْرَهُ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: The cattle (sheep, cows, camels, etc.) suffering from a disease should not be mixed up with healthy cattle, (or said: "Do not put a patient with a healthy person). " (as a precaution).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5771In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 85USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 665
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُورِدُوا الْمُمْرِضَ عَلَى الْمُصِحِّ ". وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سِنَانُ بْنُ أَبِي سِنَانٍ الدُّؤَلِيُّ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". فَقَامَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ الإِبِلَ تَكُونُ فِي الرِّمَالِ أَمْثَالَ الظِّبَاءِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَعِيرُ الأَجْرَبُ فَتَجْرَبُ. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الأَوَّلَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." Abu Huraira also said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The cattle suffering from a disease should not be mixed up with healthy cattle (or said "Do not put a patient with a healthy person as a precaution.") Abu Huraira also said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." A bedouin got up and said, "Don't you see how camels on the sand look like deer but when a mangy camel mixes with them, they all get infected with mange?" On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first camel?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5773, 5774, 5775In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 87USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 667
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُورِدُوا الْمُمْرِضَ عَلَى الْمُصِحِّ ". وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سِنَانُ بْنُ أَبِي سِنَانٍ الدُّؤَلِيُّ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". فَقَامَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ الإِبِلَ تَكُونُ فِي الرِّمَالِ أَمْثَالَ الظِّبَاءِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَعِيرُ الأَجْرَبُ فَتَجْرَبُ. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الأَوَّلَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." Abu Huraira also said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The cattle suffering from a disease should not be mixed up with healthy cattle (or said "Do not put a patient with a healthy person as a precaution.") Abu Huraira also said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." A bedouin got up and said, "Don't you see how camels on the sand look like deer but when a mangy camel mixes with them, they all get infected with mange?" On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first camel?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5773, 5774, 5775In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 87USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 667
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُورِدُوا الْمُمْرِضَ عَلَى الْمُصِحِّ ". وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سِنَانُ بْنُ أَبِي سِنَانٍ الدُّؤَلِيُّ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ عَدْوَى ". فَقَامَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ الإِبِلَ تَكُونُ فِي الرِّمَالِ أَمْثَالَ الظِّبَاءِ فَيَأْتِيهِ الْبَعِيرُ الأَجْرَبُ فَتَجْرَبُ. قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَمَنْ أَعْدَى الأَوَّلَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." Abu Huraira also said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The cattle suffering from a disease should not be mixed up with healthy cattle (or said "Do not put a patient with a healthy person as a precaution.") Abu Huraira also said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No 'Adwa." A bedouin got up and said, "Don't you see how camels on the sand look like deer but when a mangy camel mixes with them, they all get infected with mange?" On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first camel?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5773, 5774, 5775In-book reference : Book 76, Hadith 87USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 667
