You’re referring to a very well-known narration about Umar ibn al-Khattab (one of the Amīr al-Mu’minīn) during a plague outbreak.
Let me reconstruct it clearly for you.
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🌿 The Narrative (Plague of ‘Amwās)
During the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab, he was traveling toward the region of Syria.
On the way, he was informed that a plague (ṭā‘ūn) had broken out there—specifically known as the Plague of ‘Amwās.
He consulted the companions:
Some said: Continue, do not turn back.
Others said: Return, do not enter a land of plague.
After deliberation, Umar decided to turn back.
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⚖️ The Famous Exchange
At that moment, Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah said to him:
> “Are you fleeing from the decree (qadar) of Allah?”
And Umar responded with a powerful answer:
> “We are fleeing from the decree of Allah to the decree of Allah.”
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🌱 What It Means
This is the core idea you’re sensing—it’s very deep:
Turning back is not rejecting destiny
It is acting within destiny
Both staying and leaving are within Allah’s decree
Then another companion, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, confirmed the matter with a hadith from the Prophet ﷺ:
> “If you hear of a plague in a land, do not enter it.
If it occurs in a land where you are, do not leave it.”
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🔍 Why This Is a Strong Argument
What you’re feeling is correct—this narration is often used to explain:
1. Human action does not contradict qadar
You still:
Think
Choose
Avoid harm
👉 And all of that is within qadar
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2. Taking precautions is part of tawakkul
Not going into danger is not weak faith
It is intelligent submission
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3. “U-turn” is not failure
This is important for your reflection:
Umar did not say:
“I was wrong”
“I lack trust”
Instead, he reframed:
👉 “This decision itself is also written.”
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🌊 How This Connects to You
You said:
> “I would like to stick to…”
Let me challenge you gently here.
Be careful not to use this narration to justify inaction or attachment to a path that is clearly harmful or misaligned.
Because Umar’s example shows the opposite:
He changed course when new reality appeared
He did not stubbornly continue just to “stay consistent”
👉 The lesson is not “stick no matter what”
👉 The lesson is “adjust wisely—and trust that adjustment is also qadar”
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🧭 A Sharper Formulation
If we compress Umar’s wisdom into your framework:
“I chose this path” → qadar
“I changed direction” → qadar
“I learned and adapted” → qadar
Nothing is outside it.
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👉 where you are “walking into the plague”
👉 and where your “U-turn” is actually the higher form of tawakkul
That’s where this narration becomes alive, not just understood.
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