SICKNESS
- A MERCY FROM ALLAH
by
Moulana Shu'ayb Ahmad Jeebhai
Introduction
Sickness
and other difficulties that we undergo in this worldly life
should not only be seen as a misfortune or as an expression of
the displeasure of Allah Ta'ala. For those servants of Allah
who enjoy a very special relationship with Him, it is a means
of great blessing and a mercy. Is there anyone in this world
who is free from sins and mistakes? If every soul were to be
fully recompensed for its every action, then apart from the
sinless Prophets of Allah, the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus salaam),
nobody else would be worthy of entering into Jannah. Man
commits minor and major sins all the time, but the
difficulties and hardships that he undergoes in this world
like illness, grief and sorrow, etc. become the atonement for
his sins and in this way he is cleansed of his sins in this
very world.
Allah
Ta'ala is so relenting and lenient with the Ummah of his
beloved Nabi Muhammad (Sallalaahu alaihi wasallam). However,
it has been observed that because of a lack of proper Deeni
knowledge, very often even when a Muslim becomes ill, many
incorrect statements are uttered by the sick person as well as
those who treat and take care of him.
To
seek a cure for one's illness and to take treatment for it is
certainly not forbidden in Islam. In fact it is a Sunnah.
There is also no harm if a person complains about pain in the
body. However, when a person becomes sick and then complains
bitterly and objects to Allah Ta'ala showing disrespect and
ingratitude to Him, this amounts to destroying his own
rewards.Whether we are healthy or sick, we should be thankful
to Allah Ta'ala in all conditions. Life and death are in the
hands of Allah Ta'ala alone.
A
person who is sick should regard his sickness as a gift and a
special sign of mercy from Allah. When he realises this, then
at every moment he will be thankful to Allah Ta'ala.
Furthermore, those who take care of the sick, like doctors and
nurses, should understand firstly, that the service they are
rendering will certainly earn them great sawaab (reward from
Allah) and secondly, that they are fulfilling a part of
huqooqul ibaad (i.e. the rights of the creation of Allah).
Every
Muslim doctor, nurse and sick person should learn what our
Beloved Nabi, Muhammad (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) has said regarding illness and disease.
Our Nabi (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) has taught us that a person is tested
according to the level of Deen present in his life. If he is
firm on his Deen then the test is correspondingly severe, and
if he is weak on his Deen then the hardship is made easy upon
him. (Tirmizi, Ibn Maajah)
Aa'isha
(Radiyallaahu anha) says, 'I have never seen anybody suffering
from sickness as much as Allah's Messenger (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam).' (Sahih Bukhaari)
Hadrat
Aa'isha (Radiyallaahu anha) also narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'When the sins of a person become
so much that his good deeds are unable to wipe them out, then
Allah Ta'ala lets grief overcome him in order to forgive his
sins.' (Musnad Ahmad)
Similarly,
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Radiyallaahu anhu) reports that
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'When Allah Ta'ala wishes good
for a person, then he becomes afflicted with sickness (or
hardship).'(Sahih Bukhaari)
Last modified:
July 19, 2007
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