How do we reconcile the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “There is no contagion or bad omen,” with his statement: “Flee from the leper…”?

Question:
The Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, says: How do we reconcile the statement of the Prophet with his statement ?

Answer:
As you have read in *Tawhid* and heard, the meaning is that there is no contagion or bad omen in the sense held by the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah), who believed that contagion occurs by its own nature, not by the decree of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Thus, there is no contagion or bad omen in the sense held by the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, that contagion and bad omens occur without the permission of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). However, since they occur by the permission and decree of Allah, there is no doubt that associating with a sick person or a leper is a cause of infection. We are commanded to avoid the causes that lead to harm. When 'Umar heard about the plague in Sham while on his way there, he turned away from the city where the plague was, acting on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , and whoever is in the city should not leave it. This is to prevent the spread of contagion, to prevent the spread of contagion, to prevent the spread of contagion and the spread of the disease. This is what is now called quarantine. It is a prescribed (mashru') good thing, and it is consistent with the hadiths. This is the reconciliation between the two hadiths: there is no contagion or bad omen in the sense held by the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance; “Flee from the leper as you would flee from a lion” is a matter of taking protective measures. You are commanded to seek treatment and take the measures that protect you from disease. This is among the permissible things.