It is narrated from Tariq bin Shihab that when the plague (of Amwas) broke out in Syria, a letter of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reached us. He had written to Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him): "A necessary matter has arisen for me concerning you, in which your presence is indispensable to me." Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) (understanding the purpose of the letter) said: "May Allah have mercy on the Commander of the Believers; he wants the survival of people who are not going to remain." Then he wrote in reply: "I am in one of the armies of the Muslims, and I do not wish to separate myself from the affliction that has struck them all." When Sayyiduna Umar read this letter, he said the words of istirja' (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un: We belong to Allah and to Him we return). The people asked: "Has Abu Ubaydah passed away?" He said: "No." However, he wrote to him a firm order: "Leave the land of Jordan, for it is a low-lying and plague-ridden region, and go to al-Jabiyah, for it is a healthy and verdant place." When this firm letter arrived, he ordered his crier to announce departure among the people. Then, when a mount was brought to him to ride, and he placed his foot in the stirrup, he drew it back and said: "I think that your disease (the plague) has seized me too." The narrator says: Then Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, and the plague was lifted from the people. All the narrators of this hadith are trustworthy, and it is an extremely astonishing narration.

Abd al-Rahman bin Ghanm narrates from al-Harith bin Amirah al-Harithi that Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) used to send al-Harith bin Amirah to Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) to ask how he was, while he had been struck by the plague. Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) showed him the plague wound that had come out on his palm, and al-Harith was frightened on seeing it. So Abu Ubaydah (may Allah be pleased with him) swore by Allah before him that he would not like to have, in exchange for it (this wound and sign of martyrdom), the most precious wealth of the world (red camels).