Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “The one who passes away in a plague, passes away as a shaheed.
During the khilaafat of Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the plague of Amwaas struck Shaam in the 17th year after Hijrah. In this plague, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the leader of the Muslims in Shaam, was afflicted with the plague and subsequently passed away. Before passing away, he had appointed Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as his successor.
Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed the people and delivered the following sermon, “O People! This plague is a mercy for you! It is the dua of your Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and it was the means of pious people passing away before you! Indeed Mu’aaz makes dua to Allah Ta‘ala to grant him and his family a share of the plague.”
Not long thereafter, upon returning home from the Musjid, Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) found that his son was ill and was afflicted by the plague. He continued taking care of him and nursing him until he eventually passed away.
According to some narrations, two of his daughters also passed away in the plague.
Thereafter, Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) himself had fallen ill during the plague and passed away. At the beginning of his illness, when he noticed sores appearing on his hand, which were symptoms of the plague, he said out of joy and happiness while looking at his hand, “I am not prepared to exchange this (share of the plague which has afflicted me) for even the red camels (of Arabia which were considered as extremely valuable wealth according to the Arabs)!”
Thereafter, Hazrat Mu’aaz (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also departed from this world.
(Kashful Astaar #3042, Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 10/43, At Tabaqaatul Kubra 3/441, Siyaru A’laamin Nubalaa 3/288)
