How Should a Muslim Deal with Chronic Illness?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How should a Muslim deal with chronic illness?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Illness is a test from Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. It is a trial from the One Who possesses perfect wisdom, and it affects both the righteous and the sinful, the obedient and the disobedient.
A person who is sick or tested by chronic illness should keep the following points in mind:
Allah’s Decree
Illness is one of Allah’s decrees. A person facing illness has two choices: to be content and patient with Allah’s decree, or to resent it, not accepting what Allah has decreed for him.
Expiation
Whoever accepts Allah’s decrees—whether they be in the form of illness or distress—with contentment, submission, and patience, will have their sins expiated, their ranks elevated, and their good deeds increased. As the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) 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.” [Bukhari]
Great Reward
The one who remains patient through illness will find nothing from his Lord except reward and recompense. In fact, he will meet his Lord with no sin upon him. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“The believer will continue to be tested in his body, wealth, and children until he meets Allah, the Most High, with no sin on him.” [Hakim]
Umm ‘Ala’ reported: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) visited me while I was sick, and he said:
‘Rejoice, O Umm ‘Ala’, for Allah removes sins through illness just as fire removes impurities from gold and silver.’” [Abu Dawud]
Paradise
The patient believer who is content with the pain, illness, and trial will find nothing but Paradise with his Lord.
‘Ata’ Ibn Abi Rabah said: “Ibn Abbas said to me: ‘Shall I show you a woman from the people of Paradise?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘This black woman came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and said: “I suffer from epilepsy and I become uncovered, so pray to Allah for me.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“If you wish, be patient and you will have Paradise, or if you wish, I will pray to Allah to cure you.” She said: “I will be patient, but I become uncovered, so pray to Allah that I do not become uncovered.” So, he prayed for her.’” [Bukhari]
Most Severely Tested People
To ease the burden of illness, the sick person should remember that the most severely tested people are the Prophets, followed by those closest to them in piety. Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) said: “I entered upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) while he was suffering from a fever, and I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you are suffering from a severe fever!’ He said:
‘Yes, I suffer as much as two of you.’ I said: ‘Is that because you have double the reward?’ He said: ‘Yes, that is true. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even the prick of a thorn, except that Allah expiates some of his sins for it, just as a tree sheds its leaves.’” [Ibid.]
Beseeching Allah
Engaging in supplication, humility, and the remembrance of Allah during illness can lighten the burden and bring peace and tranquility to the heart. Allah (Most High) says:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [Quran, 13:28]
Same Reward
It also helps to remember the saying of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace):
“When a servant of Allah becomes ill or travels, the reward of whatever good deeds he used to do while in good health and at home will be recorded for him.” [Bukhari]
Notes Related to Illness
A Muslim must believe in divine decree and predestination, knowing that everything that happens is by the will of Allah and that Allah only decrees what is good for His servants. Allah (Most High) says:
“Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you.” [Quran, 2:216]
It is true, as it has been said:
قدْ يُنعمُ الله بالبلوى وإن عَظُمت
ويبتلي الله بعضَ القومِ بالنعم
“Perhaps Allah grants blessings through trials, even if severe
And perhaps Allah tests some people with blessings.”
Though illness may appear painful outwardly, it may carry within it numerous benefits and blessings for those who remain patient and are content with Allah’s will. Some people understand this, while others do not. Many trials carry hidden gifts; for instance, Allah has promised Paradise to the one who loses his eyesight—what could be more severe than the loss of sight? In a hadith qudsi, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Allah said: ‘When I deprive My servant of his two beloved things (his eyes) and he remains patient, I will compensate him with Paradise in return.’” [Bukhari]
One of Allah’s wisdom in sending trials and illnesses is that He wishes to elevate the ranks of some of His servants. However, their worship and good deeds may not be sufficient to reach these levels, so Allah tests them with illness, raising them to the rank He has decreed for them. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“When Allah has decreed a certain rank for a servant which he has not attained by his deeds, He afflicts him in his body, or wealth, or children, and then makes him patient until he attains that rank.” [Abu Dawud]
Conclusion
These illnesses that afflict people are part of Allah’s decree. Whoever accepts them as coming from Allah will have contentment, while those who are displeased will earn His displeasure. Yet, Allah’s decree will be fulfilled regardless.
ثمانية لابد منها على الفتى
ولابد أن تجري عليه الثمانية
There are eight matters that every young man must endure
and the eight will inevitably happen to him
سرورٌ وهَمٌّ، واجتماعٌ وفُرْقة
ويُسْرٌ وعُسْرٌ، ثم سُقمٌ وعافية
Joy and sorrow, union and separation
ease and hardship, and then illness and health.
We ask Allah, the Most Generous and the Pardoner, to grant us patience in times of trial, in a manner that pleases Him. Indeed, He is the Protector and fully capable of all things.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
