Spritual Guidance For Ailing People

When my mom was sick and during accompanying her in the hospital, we were given this little but so beneficial book. I find this book a heart moving and motivating for those who are in ailment. Especially my mom, I read this book to her whenever she was feeling down and depressed and add a bit of my own words :D it always lift her mood up. InsyaAllah, it will be beneficial to us all too.

1. Sickness and our effort to heal it
We do not know when Allah SWT will call us to return to HIM. So, remain conscious of Allah SWT till the end of our lives, as a Muslim, we perceive illness as a test from Allah SWT on our faith and patience. Allah SWT says in the Al-Qur’an :

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and foods, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient ones). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly! To Allah (swt) we belong and truly, to him we shall return.’”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155-6).

In facing this test, it does not mean that we leave everything to Allah SWT and take it as fate but making no effort to recover from this illness. According to the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad SAW, first we have to make an effort and then leave the result to Allah SWT (tawakkal). We must believe that Allah is the one who send this test so we must also believe Allah is the ONE who will cure us. Rasulullah said : “Allah (swt) never sends down a disease to mankind without sending down a cure for it.” (Narrated by Imam Bukhari). From this hadith, we can understand that for every sickness there is a cure for it. We should believe in this and do not lose our hope to always make effort to recover because Allah's promise is always true.

2. Do not have a treatment with the haram thing
The Prophet Mohammed SAW said: "O servants of Allah seek remedy, for Allah has not put an ailment except that he puts its remedy except one ailment. They asked: what ailment? He said: old age. Even though seeking remedy is ordered by Allah, but the usage of the medicine are limited to those halal things. Therefore it isn't allowed to use haram things or najis as a source of remedy.

3. Illness is a test from Allah so face it with sabr and ridha
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Narrated 'Abdullah:
I visited Allah's Apostle while he was suffering from a high fever. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! You have a high fever." He said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you." I said, "Is it because you will have a double reward?" He said, "Yes, it is so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds its leaves."

Those two hadeeths means that illness, as it comes from Allah is a test on our faith, how are we gonna deal with this ailment we are having. Sabr, linguistically means "patient, calm, daring to face anything and holding back from jeremiad". While terminologically, sabr is a feeling where we could accept everything that happened to us sincerely and patiently. While ridha, linguistically means willing or happy, and terminologically it means accepting what Allah has given willingly, be it a rule, law or destiny.

Allah has said : O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (QS Al-Baqarah:153) and also in other surah Allah has said : Say: "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!" (QS-Az-Zumar:10).

Sometimes, when we are having ailment, we are too busy in wallowing ourselves in grief, when Allah has already stated and promised us to expiates our sin if we can accept it willingly and patiently, but there are also a few of us who aren't complaining nor wallowing but deep down think it is a useless act because it won't be beneficial, this is not considered patience or ridha rather an ignorance act. So, face our ailment with patience and ridha and know that Allah will rewarded us for it.

4. When sick, we should be khusnudzon to Allah and don't ever lose hope
Allah said : And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me; (QS Asy-Syuaraa:80)
and also in another surah Allah has said :
Say O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful (QS Az-Zumar:53).

As Muslims, having faith in Allah SWT, we believe that all that is good and bad comes from Allah SWT, and that it is we who have to ask Allah SWT to protect us, our family and the public from every ailment we are facing. We should seek help from Allah SWT that this outbreak of disease should go away from us. Moslems aren't quitter, nor those who lose hope easily, why would we lose hope when Allah has promised us a hefty reward if only we are patient. The Quran informs us what to do when we face these tests in our life and also tells us about the reward that we will receive if we are successful in dealing with the situation in the way we are expected to.

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. [QS Al-Baqarah :155-157].

We are to be patient during hard times and always remember that Allah(swt) is the Creator of everything and We all will return to HIM. No deed is lost in front of Allah and we will be rewarded for even the minutest good that we ever did do. Tests that were given to us are signs of Allah's love. This world is is a field of tests and one should not deny or avoid these but should face them and pass them bravely. A person can be put into hardships for a number of reasons and we might not know those reasons when undergoing a certain loss but what we must do is always remember Allah SWT, be patient, abstain from what is unlawful, give charity and ask Allah to help ease out our hard times. If we do fail to do this then we should turn to Allah SWT and ask for forgiveness. Allah SWT is Most Merciful and InsyaAllah HE will forgive us for the wrong that we do. A believer is similar to a scale, the stronger his faith, the more his sufferings will be. Allah is The Reign Supremacy whom we should fear and trust. Allah holds the key to our fate and HE will never do humans injustice, so when we are sick, leave everything to Allah, then InsyaAllah, we will all be rewarded. Ameen