A Pearl of Wisdom from Muʿādh b. Jabal

When Abū ʿUbaydah became sick with the plague during Ṭāʿūn ʿAmawas, he left Muʿādh b. Jabal in charge. The suffering became excruciating and the people said to Muʿādh: “Pray that Allāh lifts this punishment from us.” Muʿādh replied: “This is not a punishment. Rather, it is your Prophet’s prayer and the death of the righteous who passed before you. This is martyrdom, which Allāh bestows on whom He wills.”

(al-Mukhtār min Kalām al-Akhyār, 58)