By: Wael Al-Zawahry-Riyadh

To whoever is badly fated by a disease and partially deprived from the bless of health, to the bedridden hugging the white beds, to anyone hit by a permanent or temporarily physical disability making him incapable of moving and walking, do not despair; do not be desperate. Keep in mind that sickness is, though severe and tough, never free of great benefits and enormous meaningful lessons for whoever wants to consider.

It is the meaningful lessons that cannot be grasped except through sickness, may Allah save you, all the Muslims and us. Here, we are not calling to be a victim of the sickness; the point is to remind a patient with the underlying benefits of the sickness so that the stress of the related catastrophe will be reduced and the pains and mourns may be removed.

The right texts point out that sickness is what Allah may afflicts his slaves with to see how far they are satisfied with His judgment and fate. Thus, it is a test of patience and satisfaction for the soul; whoever is satisfied and patient will be rewarded and compensated by Allah, and whoever is annoyed and objects will never come over the judgment of Allah, yet he will receive Allah�s anger and will be prevented from reward and recompense promised by Allah to the patients.

Our Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: "Anyone whom Allah wants to grant goodness is afflicted by His fate". (Agreed upon)

The obedient hit by the misery and sickness seeks protection in Allah. But when the disobedient is suffered by a disease, his/her heart and soul are getting more softened, repenting to Allah and considering of his/her difficult case. So, do not worry, my dear brother, and consider that the most afflicted people were the prophets then the good men and women then who are same. Importantly, a person is afflicted in accordance to his/her faith. The more one has strong faith in Allah, the more he/she is hit by the sickness as our Prophet (may peace be upon him) explained.


Sickness may be destined to a slave by Allah for forgiving his/her sins, removing the misdeeds and ignoring the offences committed by men from time to time. It is a great grant given by Allah. The Prophet ( may peace be upon him) talked about it saying, �Whatever hits a Muslim through hardship, difficulty, worries, sadness, annoyance, even the throne, is a sign of forgiveness from Allah against a man�s sins�. In another Hadith, the Prophet said,� The misfortune accompanies a believer till he meets Allah sinless�.

Cheer up my patient brother and be happy for the forgiveness. Consider with me what Abdullah Ibn Amr ( may Allah be pleased with them) said, "I entered to the Prophet (may peace be upon him) while he was sick, and I said: O Allah's Messenger, you are terribly hit by the sickness? He replied saying, "Yes, I may be hit like any two men of you. I said, �is this because you are rewarded in double?� He said� Yes, this applies to any Muslim hit by a thorn or what else harder and Allah will forgives his/her sins like a tree when drops its dry leaves� (agreed upon). Further, the sickness is not limited to the forgiveness of sins but it is a reason for getting high scores and positions in heaven � the ultimate goal of all Muslim slaves and good men. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, �A man may pursue a high position by Allah, not attained by good deeds; Allah keeps afflicting him/her with what he/she hates till he/she reaches it�(preferred by Al-Albani).

Do you not accept to be rewarded for your patience with the sickness by a high position in the Heaven?


Also, the sickness is a reason for saving the human soul from the indulgence in sins and vices. In a moment of astray, a person might think of committing a sin or offence to others; when Allah afflicts him/her with the sickness, he/she will be safeguarded from doing what may cause harm to him/her. Many people may use their health and power in harming others, usurping others� rights, violating the rules or talking badly about Allah. Sick brother, when the sickness strikes a person, it will soften his/her heart and soul to be more humble and submissive, making him/her with Allah closer than he/ she may be in the healthy state in which one might be hard-hearted and arrogant. The soft-heartedness and the humbleness are among the reasons for accepting the a man s� prayers and calls by Allah. On thinking over and over the sickness, man will find out that it brings about countless benefits and values; it is a big deal, so, let us have a meditating pause with it!