Sickness

Sickness

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Allah, the Wise, says:

وَ اِذاَ مَرِضْتُ فَهُو يشْفِينِ

(And when I am sick, then He restores me to health)[175]

Imam A’li (peace be upon him) has said:

اَشَدُّ مِنَ الْفاَقَةِ مَرَضُ الْبَدَن

(More calamitous than poverty is the sickness of the body)[176]

Short Explanation:

One of the treasures of Paradise, which reaches a Mu’min in this world, is sickness. If a Mu’min, occasionally and unintentionally, falters and commits sins, God does not like him to return to Him carrying the burden of his sins; He thus afflicts him with illness in order that his sins are forgiven.

A person who suffers from illness, beseeches and supplicates to God to restore his good health and God likes this state of a sick person, for He desires His servant to converse and communicate with Him. At times, God afflicts a person with sickness in order to elevate him in spiritual rank and status.

The best amongst those who are ill is one who exercises patience in this suffering, conceals his pain and desists from complaining about his disease to others until he regains his health and acquires the maximum reward ordained for him.

[175] Holy Qur’an, ch. Al-Shua’raa (26), vs. 80.

[176] Nahjul Balaghah (of Faidh al-Islam), pg. 1270.