“HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THOSE WHO BEING IN THOUSANDS, LEFT THEIR HOMES TO ESCAPE DEATH? SO TO THEM ALLAH SAID, “BE DEAD.” THEN HE RAISED THEM ALIVE. SURELY, ALLAH IS ALL-GRACIOUS TO PEOPLE, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GRATEFUL.” (SURAH AL-BAQARAH: 243)

Part 3

According to Tafsir al-Qurtubi once Hazrat Umar RAA embarked on a journey to Syria. When he got close to the border he came to know that the country was affected by a severe plague. When Sayyidna Umar RAA heard about the plague he consulted with the Holy Companions (Sahaba) whether to continue the journey into Syria or not. Sayyidna Abd al-Rahman Ibn Awf RAA narrated the following Hadith:

"Referring to the disease (plague) the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: This is a punishment that was inflicted on some peoples; later on some of it remained. This reminder goes away for some time, and then returns. So, one who hears that a certain area is affected by it he should not go there, and one who is already there should not run away from it (the plague). (Al-Bukhari)

When Sayyidna Umar RAA heard this Hadith he ordered everyone to return. Sayyidna Abu Ubaydah RAA said, "O' leader of Muslims! Do you want to run from divine destiny?" Sayyidna Umar RAA replied, "O Abu Ubaydah, I wish this was said by someone else (meaning it is surprising that this comment is coming from you). Then he said, "Yes we run from Allah's will to Allah's will."

From Ma’ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE