In the interpretation of `Ali ben Ibrâhim about God's saying: Bethink
thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations
in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then
He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind,
but most of mankind give not thanks(Al-Baqarah:243), and that is there
was a plague in the lands of Shem (Canaan) in some villages and districts,
so many people went out of there for their fear and escaping…