How Do I Steer Myself Correctly After Recovering From Cancer?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I am a woman aged fifty years. I recently recovered from stage 4 cancer after major surgery. Alhamdulillah, I am good now, and on the road to resuming life as a kindergarten teacher. After Allah Most High has granted me shifa (healing), I feel confused about what to do and what not to do. I subscribed to your website and channel, it looks as if I know nothing. Where to start?
Answer
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. All praise to Allah who has granted you healing from this difficult disease. Please don’t feel the urge to do too much at once. I don’t want you to get overwhelmed while you are recovering.
Take it slow
Whatever you do, I want you to take it slow, go with what you can handle, and stay on top of your health. You are not expected to do what is beyond your capabilities. Keep this hadith in mind, “Take on only as much as you can do of good deeds, for the best of deeds is that which is done consistently, even if it is little.” [Ibn Majah]
Start
A few things that you want to start with are praying on time daily, reading some Qur’an daily, and covering correctly when you go outside. Equally important is that you start learning about traditional Islam, by taking courses here at Seekers for free. Consider Step One courses, such as fiqh (how to worship correctly), aqidah (tenets of faith), and tajweed (recitation of the Qur’an).
Stop
At the same time, there are certain things that you should cease immediately to start your spiritual progress. Eliminate any haram (impermissible) from your life, among your speech, your food, and financial transactions. Take a course here on the halal and harams of daily life, so that you know what to look for.
Turn to Allah
During this time, don’t get stressed out, don’t compare yourself to others, but be eternally grateful that Allah has given you the gift of iman, has healed you, and has given you the opportunity for repentance and learning. Turn to Him often in supplication and bring the night to life with contemplation and remembrance of Allah before dawn.
Please see these links as well:
Knowledge: What, How and Why We Study
The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge – Nur Sacred Sciences
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
