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_001.jpg) Before talking about how a believer behaves when ill or
injured it is important to understand just what Islam teaches us about the life
of this world. Our existence here on earth is but a transient stop, on the way
to our real life in the Hereafter. Paradise or Hell will be our permanent
abode. This world is a place of trial and testing. God created it for us, for
our enjoyment, but it is a place of more than just worldly pleasures. It is
here that we fulfil our true purpose; we live our lives based on the worship of
God. We laugh, we play, we cry and we feel heartache and sorrow, but every
condition and every emotion is from God. We react with patience and
thankfulness and hope for eternal reward. We fear eternal punishment and know
with certainty that God is the source of all mercy and all forgiveness.
“And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily,
the home of the Hereafter, that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew.” (Quran
29:64)
God did not create us and then abandon us to the
pleasures and trials of life; rather He sent Messengers and Prophets to teach
us and Books of revelation to guide us. He also provided us with countless
blessings. Each blessing makes life wonderful and at times bearable. If we
stop for a moment and contemplate our existence, the blessings of God become
evident. Observe the rain falling outside, feel the tingle of the sunshine on your
bare skin, touch your breast and feel the strong rhythmic beating of your heart.
These are blessings from God and we should be thankful for them, along with our
homes, our children, and our health. God however tells us, that we will be
tested, He says,
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear,
hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient
ones.” (Quran 2:155)
God has advised us to bear our trials and tribulations
patiently. However, this is difficult without understanding that everything
that happens in this world happens by the permission of God. No leaf falls from
a tree without God’s permission. No business crumbles, no car crashes, and no
marriage ends without God’s permission. No illness or injury touches a human
being without God’s permission. He has power over all things. God does what
He does for reasons that are at times beyond our comprehension and for reasons
that may or may not be apparent. However, God, in His infinite wisdom and
mercy wants only what is best for us. Ultimately, what is best for us is
eternal life in a place of eternal bliss, Paradise.
“Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a Mercy from Him, and
that He is pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are
everlasting delight.” (Quran 9:21)
In the face of every trial, a believer must be certain
that God does not decree for him anything but good. The good may be among the
pleasures of this world or it may be in the hereafter. Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “How wonderful is the
affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good. If something good
happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something
bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is also good for him.” God tests us with
the trials and tribulations of life, and if we bear patiently we will attain
great reward. Through changing circumstances and trying times God tests our
level of faith, ascertains our ability to be patient and wipes away some of our
sins. God is all loving and all wise and knows us better than we know
ourselves. We will not attain Paradise without His mercy and His mercy is
manifest in the tests and trials of this life.
The life of this world is mere deception. The most
beneficial thing to us are the good deeds that we were able to perform. Families
are a trial, for God says that they can lead us astray, but equally they can
lead us to Paradise. Wealth is a trial; coveting it can make us greedy and
miserly, but distributing it and using it to benefit those in need can bring us
closer to God. Health is also a trial. Good health can make us feel
invincible and not in need of God, but bad health has a way of humbling us and
forcing us to depend on God. How a believer reacts to the circumstances of
life is very important.
What happens if the pleasures of this life suddenly
become torments? How should one behave when struck by illness or injury? Of course,
we accept our fate and try to bear the pain, sadness, or suffering patiently
because we know with certainty that from this God will bring about much good. Prophet
Muhammad said, “No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief
or harm or distress – not even a thorn that pricks him – but God will expiate for
some of his sins because of that.”
However, we are imperfect human beings. We can read these words, we can even
understand the sentiment, but behaving with acceptance is sometimes very
difficult. It is much easier to bemoan and cry about our situation, but our Most
Merciful God has given us clear guidelines and promised us two things, if we
worship Him and follow His guidance we will be rewarded with Paradise and that
after hardship comes ease.
“So verily, with the hardship, there is relief.” (Quran 94:5)
A believer is obligated to look after his body and mind,
therefore trying to maintain good health is essential. However, when struck by
illness or injury, it is vital to follow God’s guidance. A believer must seek
medical aid and do everything he can to bring about a cure or recovery, but at
the same time he must seek help through prayer, remembrance of God and acts of
worship. Islam is a holistic way of life, both physical and spiritual health
go hand in hand. In part two we will examine in more detail the steps to take
when struck by illness or injury.
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