THE DEEPER MEANING OF ILLNESS IN ISLAM

 

🌿 SICKNESS AS A TEST, MERCY, AND REMINDER

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Illness and pain are part of the human condition. Islam teaches us that sickness is not necessarily a sign that Allah ﷻ is displeased with a person. For the believer, hardship can become a means of purification, patience, and reward.

Allah ﷻ says:

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ

“Allah is the One Who created you from weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then brought about weakness and grey hair after strength. He creates whatever He wills. And He is the All-Knowing, All-Powerful.”

[Sūrah Ar-Rūm 30:54]

🌿 Illness Can Be an Expiation for Sins

One of the clearest authentic teachings of the Sunnah is that the suffering of a believer can be a means of expiation.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنهما، أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ

«مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ وَصَبٍ، وَلَا نَصَبٍ، وَلَا سَقَمٍ، وَلَا حَزَنٍ، حَتَّى الْهَمِّ يُهَمُّهُ، إِلَّا كُفِّرَ بِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِ»

“No fatigue, illness, sorrow, or distress befalls a believer—even the worry that concerns him—except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2573] 

A similar narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī adds even a small physical injury:

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنهما، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ

مَا يُصِيبُ الْمُسْلِمَ مِنْ نَصَبٍ، وَلَا وَصَبٍ، وَلَا هَمٍّ، وَلَا حَزَنٍ، وَلَا أَذًى، وَلَا غَمٍّ، حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، إِلَّا كَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ خَطَايَاهُ

“No fatigue, illness, worry, sorrow, harm, or grief befalls a Muslim—even a thorn that pricks him—except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5641] 

🌸 What About Fever?

There is also an authentic narration concerning fever.

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنهما، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَخَلَ عَلَى أُمِّ السَّائِبِ، فَقَالَ

«مَا لَكِ يَا أُمَّ السَّائِبِ؟»

She said, “Fever—may Allah not bless it.”

The Prophet ﷺ said:

لَا تَسُبِّي الْحُمَّى، فَإِنَّهَا تُذْهِبُ خَطَايَا بَنِي آدَمَ، كَمَا يُذْهِبُ الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ

“Do not curse the fever, for it removes the sins of the children of Ādam just as the furnace removes the impurities of iron.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2575]

This teaches us to view sickness differently. A believer may dislike the pain while still having good thoughts of Allah ﷻ and hoping for reward.

⚠️Sickness and suffering can be a means of expiation and reward for the believer.

🤲 The Believer's Attitude Toward Pain

The Prophet ﷺ said:

عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ الرُّومِيِّ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ؛ إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ

“How amazing is the affair of the believer! Indeed, all of his affairs are good, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful and that is good for him. If something harmful happens to him, he is patient and that is good for him.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2999]

🌿 A Final Reminder

If you experience fever, headaches, or another illness:

🤲 Make duʿā’.

🌿 Be patient.

💚 Have good expectations of Allah ﷻ.

📿 Remember Him.

💊 Seek appropriate medical treatment.

✨ Hope for the reward and expiation of sins.

Do not think that your pain is meaningless.

A believer may experience something painful while Allah ﷻ is giving him something far greater in return.

May Allah ﷻ cure those who are sick, ease their pain, forgive their sins, reward their patience, and make their illnesses a means of drawing closer to Him.

آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

*THE HUMAN SOUL : Sin, Repentance, and Purificationl*

 

*The Burden of Sin and the Beauty of Repentance*

_It is true that the nafs by its very nature is inclined towards freedom. However, religion restricts this ‘freedom’ in order to discipline the nafs._

■ Without such restriction, we could lose all good values and the nafs might lose control and act in a completely irresponsible manner.

_The nafs is constantly being tempted since what is alluring is always attractive. _

■ A person may enjoy listening to and taking part in gossips, deriving a vicarious pleasure in it because s/he feels s/he is better than the person whose weaknesses are being exposed.

■ Or the nafs may find committing adultery an enjoyable way of satisfying its desires.

_*But if we really think, we’ll find that this short-lived ‘freedom’ is not worth the trouble, because we will have to bear the consequences of our misdeeds for a long time.*_

■ If we think about all the sinful pleasures we might have enjoyed 10 years ago, and then ask whether we’re left with any of those pleasures now, what would be the answer?

Nothing!

His pleasures of sin have vanished, yet the punishment remains. *

_But think of fasting in Ramadhan 10 years ago. What effects are we feeling now from the suffering of thirst? _

What is left of that hunger pangs 10 years ago?

*The pain and suffering undergone for the sake of performing duties lillah have disappeared, but the reward stays with us. *

_You have been endowed by Allah SWT the power of reasoning and the will to choose which way is best. _

*So, will you not utilize them before it’s too late? *

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Reference:

Man’s Sense of Sinfulness and Purification of Soul (abridged)

(extracted from a free Islamic book received at Makkah)

AFTER HARDSHIP COMES EASE : Keep Trusting Allah

 

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After Hardship Comes Ease: Keep Trusting Allah ﷻ

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Allāh ﷻ says in the Qur'an:

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيۡءٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

[2:155]

This dunya is not meant to be a paradise. We shall surely be tested and trialed with many trials and tribulations.

We should not be stressed and depressed when such tests occur.

Don't grieve over the past, for what has been taken will never return! Don't worry over the future, for what has been ordained cannot be changed!

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In a Hadith From Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه who narrated that: “The Prophet ﷺ entered into the Masjid one day and found therein a man among the Ansar by the name Abu Umamah.

He ﷺ asked him: ‘O Abu Umamah, why do I see you sitting down in the Masjid when it is not prayer time?’.

He رضي الله عنه replied 'O prophet of Allah, I have been inflicted with anxieties and debts have overcome me.

Then the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Shall I not teach you a statement, when you say it, Allāh will relieve you of your anxieties and settle for you your debts?’,

He رضي الله عنه said: ‘O yes the prophet of Allah’.

He ﷺ said "say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ، وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ

O Allah , I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and being overpowered by men’.

Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه said that 'I did all this recommendation of the Prophet ﷺ and Allāh eased me of my anxieties and burden of debt.'”

[Sunan Abu Dawud 1555]

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In another narration, the same dua is mentioned with variation in the wordings.

Anas bin Mallik رضي الله عنه narrates, saying: “I used to often hear the Prophet (ﷺ) supplicating with these words:

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اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sadness, grief, helplessness, laziness, being stingy, overwhelming debt, and the overpowering of men

Allāhumma innī aūdhu bika minal-hammi wal-ḥazani wal-ajzi wal-kasali wal-bukhli wa ḍalaid-dain wa ghalabatir-rijāl

[Jamiat-Tirmidhi 3484. In-book: Book 48, Hadith 115, *Grade: Sahih*]

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Do not fall short in your trust in Allāh ﷻ, Have certainty!

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Allah ﷻ wants your trust in Him. Allah ﷻ wants your sabr with His Qadr!

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As Allāh ﷻ says

اَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَاْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوا مِنْ قَبْلِكُم

Or do you think that you would enter Jannah while such [trial] has not come to you as came to those who came before you?

[2:214]

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May Allāh ﷻ Grant us a deeper understanding and protect us from negative feelings and thoughts.

 آمين

⚡ FROM MISTAKES TO FORGIVENESS s: The Mercy of Allah

 

⚡ “The Compassion and Mercy of Allah: Understanding His Forgiveness, Love, and Blessings Upon His Creation”

*1.  First, it is only out of compassion for us that Allah ﷻ is showing us the Right Way and not for His own interest. *

_It will not serve any interest of His if we follow the Right Way and keep away from the wrong ways; nor will it do Him any harm if we swerve from it. _

_We will be serving our own interest and avoiding harming ourselves. _

_Therefore, it is His kindness that teaches us the right conduct to enable us to attain higher ranks and restrains us from wrong behavior that will throw us to the lowest depths of degeneration. _

*2. Second, our Lord is not ruthless. *

_He does not enjoy punishing us for trifling offenses and errors. _

_As a matter of fact, He is kind and sympathetic to all His creatures and rules over them with great compassion_

_That is why He forgives and forbears our shortcomings over and over again and shows compassion and leniency to us even though we become guilty of disobedience, sins and crimes. _

 

_He forgives and forbears and gives us respite_

AHMADTRINI

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF SIN: Al-Israa: 8

 

From Sin to Salvation: The Power of True Repentance

عَسٰى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا

*"It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. *

*But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment] *

Al-Israa: 8

And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."

▪ Every type of disobedience is a legacy of a nation from among the nations which Allah destroyed

Sodomy is a legacy of the People of Lot

Taking more than one’s due right and giving what is less is a legacy of the People of Shu’ayb

Seeking greatness in the land and causing corruption is a legacy of the People of Pharoah

Pride/arrogance and tyranny is a legacy of the People of Hud

So, the disobedient one is wearing the gown of some of these nations who were the enemies of Allah

Similar punishment awaits similar sin…and history is a witness to the fate of these people

May Allah SWT forgive and crown our efforts with success. Aamin