Riyad as-Salihin, 33

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about pestilence and he said, "It is a punishment which Allah sends upon whomsoever He wills, but Allah has made it as a mercy to the believers. Anyone who remains in a town which is plagued with pestilence maintaining patience expecting the reward from Allah, and knowing that nothing will befall him other than what Allah has foreordained for him, he would receive a reward of Shaheed". [Al-Bukhari].

وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الطاعون، فأخبرها أنه كان عذاباً يبعثه الله تعالى على من يشاء، فجعله الله تعالى رحمة للمؤمنين، فليس من عبد يقع في الطاعون فيمكث في بلده صابراً محتسباً يعلم أنه لا يصيبه إلا ما كتب الله له إلا كان له مثل أجر الشهيد‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 33

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) It shows excellence of patience and awaiting Allah’s reward, for they are intertwined. If the individual wishes to obtain the reward for his patience, then his patience must be for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, rather than worldly purposes. 2) A person afflicted with the plague should remain in his country, exercise patience, and await Allah’s reward, based on the saying of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): “If you heard of it (the plague) striking some land, then do not proceed towards it, and if it struck a land while you are in it, then do not leave to flee from it.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri] 3) Whomever Allah Almighty loves, He afflicts him with trials to fend off harm heading his way, or to absolve him of a sin, or to raise him in rank in this life and the Hereafter. 4) Paradise is the ultimate compensation because its bliss is everlasting; so, the individual should always seek Paradise as compensation for any harm afflicting him.

Related hadiths3