And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but

give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and they are those who receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones (2:155-157). The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience" (Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim). Also, he sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him" (Sahih Muslim). Have Patience upon Sickness When one is afflicted with an illness, one should bear it patiently hoping for divine reward and should not be impatient or discontented with fate and Divine Decree. Yet, one is allowed to tell others about ones illness and its kind, provided one is satisfied with Allahs predestination. Also, complaining of ones illness to Allah and asking Him for recovery does by no means contradict patience; on the contrary, it is desirable and highly recommended in Islam to complain to Allah and ask Him for recovery. Prophet Ayyub alayhe Assalam for example, called to his Lord, as Allah mentioned in the Quraan, saying, "Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy (21:83). A sick person must think highly of Allah, and be confident of His mercy, as Allah says in a Qudsi (Divine) hadith, I am just as My servant thinks of Me, (i.e. I am Able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) (Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim). That must be the feeling of every Muslim. When one is healthy, one should be both desirous of Allahs mercy and afraid of His punishment. Both hope and fear are needed for the healthy because being just overcome by fear of Allahs punishment makes one give up hope in Allahs mercy. On the other hand, being overwhelmed by hope in Allahs mercy, without fearing His punishment, makes one feel secure from Allah, and thus feels no remorse. Seek Medical Treatment Moreover, there is no harm in receiving lawful medical treatment; some scholars strongly recommend resorting to lawful medication to the degree that it seems to be obligatory. This is because there are many hadiths stressing adopting reasonable means to reach an end and seeking medical treatment when necessary, for this does not contradict ones reliance on Allah and trust in Him. It is just like satisfying hunger and thirst by means of food and drink. However, it is not permissible to use prohibited things for medical treatment, as the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, Allah has never made your remedy in what He has prohibited for you (Sahih Al-Bukhari). Additionally,

it is prohibited to use whatever might affect the correctness of ones creed, as a remedy, such as wearing amulets containing polytheistic words, superstitious names, nonsensical writings, and the like. It is also prohibited to wear beads, strings, earrings, or pendants on ones arm, upper arm, or elsewhere, believing that they are means of protection against the evil eye and affliction. The idea behind prohibiting such things is that ones heart would be attached to them instead of Allah, seeking their aid and protection against harm, which is a kind of polytheism or one of its causing factors. The same prohibition applies to seeking a remedy through resorting to sorcerers, witchdoctors, shamans, clairvoyants, and those employing the jinn, as a Muslims creed is more important to him than his health. Allah, the Exalted, has appointed lawful means of remedy, which are useful to ones body, mind, and creed, the first of which are the Glorious Quraan, the legal Quraanic incantations, and the legal invocations, as Ibnul Qayyem said, The best of remedy is performing good deeds, remembering Allah, supplicating and imploring Him, and turning to Him in repentance, the effects of which are much greater than medicine. Yet, their effects depend on how much one returns to Allah and Allahs acceptance of ones supplication. Seek Treatment through Charity Ibnul Qayyim Aj-Jawzeeyah said, There are types of medicines, which can treat illnesses, which the minds of the senior doctors cannot comprehend, and that which their sciences, experiences, and measurements cannot reach. These are the medicines of the heart and soul, the strength of the heart, its dependence upon Allah, trust upon Him, and seeking refuge in Him. Prostrating and feeling in dire need of Allah and humbling oneself for Allah. Likewise giving charity, making Dua, repentance, seeking forgiveness, being good to the creation, aiding the distressed, liberating from grief, and unhappiness (Zad al-Maad 4/11-12). He also said, Indeed charity has an amazing effect in repelling different types of trials and tribulations, even if the charity was given by an evil person, or an oppressive person. In fact, even if it was given by a non-Muslim! Indeed Allah, the Most High, repels different types of trials and tribulations due to giving charity. This is a matter which is well-known to the scholars, the general folk, and all of the people on the earth can associate with this fact because they have experienced it (Al-Wabil As-Sayyib p.63). The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, Treat your sick by giving charity (Sahih Al-Jamia, Hasan). From Ubadah bin Saamitt who said I heard the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhe wa sallam saying, There is no person who is afflicted with a wound on his body, and he gives charity due to that, then Allah expiates from him the like of what he gave in charity (Sahih, Collected by Ahmad). A man asked Abdullaah bin Al-Mubarak about ulcers that had sprung out on his knee for about seven years, and he tried to treat it with various treatments, he had asked doctors but to no avail. So Ibn Mubarak said, Go and dig a well in a place where people need water, indeed I hope that there

springs up water there, and by that you would stop bleeding. The man did that and Allah cured him. (Seerah Alaam 8/407) Supplications for Cure O Allah, the Lord of Mankind, take away the disease, please cure as You are the One Who cures, there is no cure except Your cure, a cure that leaves behind no illness (Sahih Al-Bukhari). I seek refuge in Allahs perfect words from every devil, vermin, and evil eye (Sahih Al-Bukhari). The Will and Bequeath It is also an act of the Sunnah for the sick person to bequeath some of his money to be given in charity. He should also determine in his will how his money should be divided; the bequests to be fulfilled, the debts to be settled, the deposits and trusts to be returned to their owners. Even healthy people should do the same and write their wills beforehand, for the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to declare in testimony to stay for two nights without having his (last) will written and kept ready with him (Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim). Two nights in the above hadith is not meant literally, but it refers to any short period of time. That is to say, it is impermissible for a Muslim, who has something to write down in a will, to stay even for a short period of time without having his will written and kept ready with him, for one does not know when death may overtake him. Ayyub alayhe assalam, Your Role Model And remember Our servant Ayyub, when he invoked his Lord saying, Verily, Shaytan has afflicted me with distress and torment! Allah said to him, Strike the ground with your foot. This is a spring of water to wash in, cool and a drink. And We gave him back his family, and along with them the like thereof, as a mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand. And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your wife, and break not your oath. Truly, We found him patient. How excellent a servant! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance to Us! (38:41-44). Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Ayyub (Job) and how He tested him. These tests afflicted his body, his wealth and his children, until there was no part of his body that was healthy except his heart. Then he had nothing left in this world, which he could use to help him deal with his sickness or the predicament he was in, besides his wife, who retained her devotion to him because of her faith in Allah and His Messenger. She used to work for people as a paid servant, and she fed and served him (Ayyub) for nearly eighteen years. Before that, he was very rich and had many children, being well off in worldly terms. All of that had been taken away until he ended up being thrown into the city dump where he stayed all this time, shunned by relatives and strangers alike, with the exception of his wife may Allah be pleased with her. She did not leave him, morning and evening, except for when she was serving people, then she would come straight back to

him. When this had gone on for a long time, and things had gotten very bad, and the time allotted by divine decree had come to an end, Ayyub prayed to the Lord of the worlds, the Deity of the Messengers, and said, Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy (21:83). It was said that "distress'' referred to bodily afflictions and "torment'' referred to the loss of his wealth and children. Then the Most Merciful of those who show mercy responded to him, telling him to stand up and strike the ground with his foot. He did this, and Allah caused a spring of water to flow. He commanded him to wash in it, and all the pain and affliction in his body disappeared. Then He commanded him to strike the ground in a different place, and Allah caused another spring to flow, and Ayyub was commanded to drink from it. Then all his internal problems disappeared, and he became healthy again, inside and out. The Messenger of Allah ssallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, While Ayyub was bathing naked, locusts of gold fell upon him. Ayyub alayhe assalam began gathering them in his garment. Then his Lord called to him, O Ayyub, have I not made you so rich that you have no need of what you see. He alayhe assalam said, Yes, O Lord! But I cannot do without Your blessing! (Sahih Al-Bukhari). And We gave him back his family, and along with them the like thereof, as a mercy from Us, and a reminder for those who understand. Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "Allah brought his family themselves back to life, and added others like them.'' As a mercy from Us, means, in return for his patience, steadfastness, repentance, humility and constant turning to Allah. And a reminder for those who understand, means, for those who understand that the consequence of patience is a solution and a way out. And take in your hand a bundle of thin grass and strike therewith your wife, and break not your oath. Ayyub alayhe assalam got angry with his wife and was upset about something she had done, so he swore an oath that if Allah healed him, he would strike her with one hundred blows. When Allah healed him, how could her service, mercy, compassion and kindness be repaid with a beating. So, Allah showed him a way out, which was to take a bundle of thin grass, with one hundred stems, and hit her with it once. Thus, he fulfilled his oath and avoided breaking his vow. This was the solution and way out for one who had Taqwa (fear) of Allah and turned to Him in repentance. Allah praised and commanded him, saying, How excellent a servant! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance to Us! Allah says, And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out from every difficulty. And He will provide him from sources he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things (65:2-3). Every Soul Shall Taste Death Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is moved away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (3:185). Allah issues a general and encompassing statement that every living soul shall

taste death. In another statement, Allah said, Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish. And the Face of your Lord full of majesty and honor will remain forever (55:26-27). This Ayah comforts all creation, since every soul that exists on the earth shall die. When the term of this life comes to an end and the sons of Adam no longer have any new generations, and thus this world ends, Allah will command that the Day of Resurrection commence. Allah will then recompense the creation for their deeds, whether minor or major, many or few, big or small. Surely, Allah will not deal unjustly with anyone, even the weight of an atom. And Allay said, You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in yourselves (3:186). Therefore, the believer shall be tested, in his wealth, himself, his offspring and family. The believer shall be tested according to the degree of his faith, and when his faith is stronger, the test is larger. Attain the Happiness I ask Allah, the Most Generous, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne, to protect you in this world and the Hereafter, and to bless you wherever you are and to make you from those who are grateful when they are given, patient when they are tested and those who seek forgiveness when they sin. For verily those are the three signs of happiness. Allah said, If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My blessings) (14:7). The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, Verily when Allah loves a people he tests them. So whoever is pleased then he has pleasure from Allah and whoever is displeased has His displeasure (AtTirmidhi). And The greatest of the people to be tested are the Prophets, then those most like them, then those most like them (Sahih Al-Bukhari). Allah said, And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns (3:140). So the slave should be aware that when he is tested, then it is not something specific to him alone. These tests have occurred to the awliyaa of Allah, so let him prepare himself, be patient and wait for the relief from Allah. And the final outcome is for those who fear Allah.
Sources: From the works of Shaykh Fawzan, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, Abu Yahya Abbas, and Imam Ibn Katheer.

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