complications. Therefore, countless numbers of people (in the hundreds of thousands), from throughout Arabia, gathered at Medina as food was being rationed. Soon, Medina's food reserves declined to alarming levels; by this time, Caliph Umar had already written to the governors of his provinces requesting any relevant aid they might assist with. One such letter was rushed to Abu Ubayda, who responded promptly: True to his assurance, Abu Ubayda's caravans of food supplies were the first to reach Medina, with 4,000 camels arriving full of food. To handle the overwhelming amount, Umar appointed Abu Ubayda to distribute this among the thousands of people living in the outskirts of Medina. Following Abu Ubayda's generous aid and efforts, Umar provided 4,000 dinars as a modest stipend or token of appreciation which, he refused on the grounds that the deed was done for the sake of God. Plague of Amwas Nine months had passed since the drought and a new problem had started brewing. The plague epidemic broke in Syria and western Iraq; it was most severe in Syria. When the news of plague broke Umar had been on his way for a tour of Syria but, he returned from the Syrian border as advised by his companions. Abu Ubayda met him there and said: Umar was shocked by this and said in sorrow: if only someone else would have said this other than you Abu Ubayda and then said: Umar returned from Syria because Muhammad once instructed that one should not enter the place where an epidemic is unless it is absolutely safe. So Abu Ubayda returned to his army at Emesa. It was then that a plague hit the land of Syria, the like of which people had never experienced before. It devastated the population. As Caliph Umar wanted to make Abu Ubayda his successor he didn't want him to remain there in the epidemic region. Umar dispatched a messenger to Abu Ubayda with a letter saying: When Abu Ubaydah received Umar's letter, he said, '"I know why Umar needs me. He wants to secure the survival of someone who, however, is not eternal." So he wrote to Umar: When Caliph Umar read this letter tears filled his eyes and those who were with him asked, "Has Abu Ubayda died?" he replied "No, but death is near to him." Caliph Umar sent another messenger to him saying that if you are