Sickness: Its Kinds and Cures

Sickness: Its Kinds and Cures

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In his classic work Medicine of the Prophet, Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim says, 'Sickness is of two kinds: sickness of the heart and sickness of the body, and both are mentioned in the Qur'an. Sickness of the heart is also of two kinds: sickness of uncertainty and doubts and sickness of desires and temptations, and both these appear in the Qur'an. Concerning sickness of uncertainty, Allah Most High says, "In their hearts there is a sickness, and so Allah has increased their sickness." (2: 10) فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ

In other words, illnesses are of two types: physical and spiritual. Physical illnesses are the sicknesses that man faces from time to time, such as fever and other pains and aches of the body. Spiritual diseases or diseases of the soul are also of two kinds: diseases of doubts and diseases of desires. All the problems concerning the soul arise from these two types of illnesses. The diseases of doubts are those diseases that occur due to misconceptions and misunderstandings. Such misconceptions could be intentional or unintentional. So, for instance, when some ignorant Muslim supplicates to someone other than Allah, this can only be due to the fact that he has not understood the concept of supplication, or duaa', and not comprehended Allah's Names and Attributes.

Therefore, he turns to others, ascribing to them attributes which only Allah deserves. The diseases of desires and temptations are those forbidden urges and longings that afflict a person. He does not have the power to fight or overcome them. Telling lies is a sickness which leads to all vices and stops all virtues. The liar is psychologically weak and tries to appear otherwise. The sharpest weapon at the disposal of a liar is his tongue. Islam does not value empty words that are not backed up by actions. Likewise, a person who steals only does so because he is too weak to control his desire for money and does not have faith necessary to limit himself to permissible methods of earning money.

Bodily Illnesses

Allah, Most High, mentions bodily sickness in connection with pilgrimage, fasting and ablution. The rules of the bodily medicine are three: preservation of health, removal of harmful substances from the body and protection from harm or injury.

Preservation of Health is an Islamic Obligation

Health is a very important bounty from Allah. Therefore, we must strive to maintain and strengthen it. We should avoid everything that would endanger it. Islam is a revealed religion. It helps us conduct our lives in the best manner possible. It gives us instructions and guides us to preserve our health such as:

Moderation in Eating and Drinking The Qur'an says: 'Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. For, indeed, He does not like those who are excessive' (7:31) Overeating is one of the most frequent causes of illness. Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'A human being can fill no container worse than his belly. Sufficient for the son of Adam are as Sickness: Its Kinds and Cures many morsels as will keep his spine upright. But if he must eat more, then a third for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for easy breathing' (Ahmad, and it is saheeh)

There are three degrees of eating:

(1) out of need, (2) in moderation, and (3) in excess.

Allah's Messenger PBUH has made it known that if one consumes enough morsels as would keep his back upright, with which his strength would not be weakened, then that is sufficient. If one goes beyond that, then let him eat to fill a third of his belly, and leave another third for water, and a third for breath. This is most beneficial for both body and heart, for if the stomach is filled with food, it does not have sufficient space for drink, and when the drink is added to it, this leaves little space for breath. Thus a full stomach is afflicted with distress and fatigue, like one carrying a huge burden. This condition will also lead to heart problems, and the limbs become too lazy to perform the obligatory duties. Eating one's fill continually and in excess harms one's heart and body. However, there is no harm in occasional overeating. Abu Hurayrah PBUH drank milk in the presence of the Prophet PBUH until he said, 'By the One Who has sent you with the truth, I cannot find any space for it? And the Companions often ate

Health and Free Time are One's Capital

Al-Bukhaaree records that Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'There are two bounties that many people lose: health and free time'Thus free time and health are one's capital. If one uses them appropriately by using them in obedience to Allah, one can make a great deal of profit. If one does not use them adequately by remaining unmindful of Allah or by disobeying Him, he will suffer a great loss. Allah's Messenger PBUH also said, "Take advantage of five before another five occur: your life before your death, your health before your illness, your free time before your busyness, your youth before your old age, and your wealth before your poverty' (Ahmad, al-Haakim, al-Bayhaqee, and it is saheeh) Therefore, a believer should take advantage of these resources or opportunities that Allah has given him before it is too late. He must take advantage of his health before sickness comes to him. He ought to take advantage of life before death comes to him.

Sickness is of Varying Intensities

Sickness is the opposite of health. It means that some part or parts of the body do not function perfectly. Sickness is in fact of varying intensities or degrees. It can be anywhere from a minor cold to a total malfunction. It can be as mild as a light headache or a minor bruise or so severe as to cause death.

Allah Tests His Creation

Allah, Most High, sometimes tests our faith by giving or depriving them of the things they love most; for instance, He may provide us with children, but take away the lives of close loved ones. He may deprive us of good health, material wealth and property.

Tests Involving Health

Tests require a certain amount of mental or physical striving, but none more so than those which affect our health. Allah may test our faith by afflicting our loved ones or ourselves by varying degrees of physical or mental sickness. It may be as mild as the common cold or severe as paralysis.Some illnesses may be within our control through the use of medical treatment and therapy, while others may not be so manageable.

Tests Involving Health

Ibn Al-Qayyim says, 'Du'a' is of the most beneficial cure, and it is the enemy of all diseases. It fights them, cures them, prevents their occurrence and reduces them after occurrence. It is the weapon of the believer.' Ibn Al-Qayyim relates his own experience, 'It once happened to me in Makkah that I became ill and could find neither physician nor medicine, so I treated myself with Soorat al-Faatihah. I took a draught of water of Zamzam, recited Soorat al-Fatihah over it several times, drank it, and I obtained a complete cure. Thereafter I came to recite it in case of many kinds of pain and received supreme benefit. (Ibn Al Qayyim, Prophet's Medicine)

Illness and its Cure

Muslim relates in his Saheeh that Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'For every disease there is a remedy, and when the remedy to the disease is found, the sick person is cured by the permission of Allah, Most High.'Abu Hurayrah PBUH narrated that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said, 'Allah, Most High, did not send down any illness without sending down healing for it: the one who knows it knows it, and the one who does not know it is ignorant of it.' (Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee and Ibn Maajah) There are numerous ahaadeeth of the Prophet PBUH which contain the command to seek and take appropriate medicine.

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Visiting the Sick and its Reward

There are a number of narrations concerning the virtues of visiting the sick. Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'Whoever visits a sick person continues to remain in the orchards of Paradise until he returns'(Muslim, at-Tirmidhee and Ahmad) He also said, 'A person who visits the sick plunges headlong into Mercy (ar-Rahmah), and if he sits, he will remain engulfed in it.' (al-Bukhaaree, Al-Adab al-Mufrad.) In another hadeeth, Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'No man goes to visit an ill person in the late afternoon except that seventy thousand angels go with him and continue to seek forgiveness for him until the morning, and he shall have a garden in Paradise. And if he goes to him in the morning, seventy thousand angels go with him and seek his forgiveness until the evening, and he shall have a garden in Paradise. (Ahmad, Abu Daawood and at-Tirmidhee, and it is saheeh)

The Deeds of a sick Person will be Written as if he were Well

Allah's Messenger i said, 'When a worshipper becomes ill or travels, Allah will write for him similar rewards to what he used to do while a resident and healthy? (Al-Bukhaaree, hadeeth no. 2996)

Forgiveness of a sick Person's Sins

Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'Any Muslim who is beset by a calamity, pain or sickness will have his sins forgiven. This is as true for the prick of a thorn as it is for an all-out disaster. (al-Bukhaaree, Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Muslim and an-Nasaa'ee)

The Etiquette of Visiting the Sick

There is no hadeeth in which Allah's Messenger PBUH mentioned any specific time for visiting the sick. Therefore, it is permissible to visit a sick person at any time during the day or night, as long as the unseemly time does not annoy or burden the patient. After all, the main purpose of the visit is to bring warmth, good cheer and support to the patient. Visiting a sick person becomes an act of worship if one intends to do so to please Allah. Of course, the best time to visit the sick differs from place to place and from one condition to another. In the majority of cases, your visit should not extend beyond half an hour. When the patient has already a lot of visitors, stay only ten or fifteen minutes so as not to tire the patient.

The Etiquette of Visiting the Sick

If you are the only visitor and the patient is glad to see you, and if your presence has brought the patient cheer, you may stay all afternoon if visiting hours and your schedule permit. Say 'How are you feeling?' or something similar. If the patient avoids the question or responds with a brief 'fine' or "horrible', bring up something far removed from sickness. Most patients, at the drop of a "how are you feeling' become delighted for the chance to tell their story all over again. It is also proper etiquette to say comforting words to the patient, such as, 'No matter, you will get better, by the Will of Allah' or 'Allah will cure you, Inshaa Allah' or any similar comforting expressions.

The Etiquette of Visiting the Sick

Sympathise properly and positively. Keep your negative feelings, if any, to yourself. If your cousin had the same disease and the story did not have a happy ending, don't tell it. Don't make a diagnosis. Doctors differ in opinion as to what is the best way to health. No matter how grey the patient appears, don't mention your dismay that he looks terrible. Try to avoid unpleasant topics that may cause the patient to worry.

Maternity Patients

A maternity patient ought to be treated with the same consideration as any other patient in the hospital. Having a baby is very hard work. The mother needs a few days' rest after the delivery. The patient will have the opportunity to Sickness: Its Kinds and Cures rest for months. Likewise, treat a psychiatric patient just as you would treat any other patient. Modern civilization has resulted in a number of mental illnesses.

If Symptoms of Death are Apparent

If the symptoms of death are apparent, it is recommended for those that are present to remind the patient of Allah's vast Mercy. Three days before Allah's Messenger PBUH died, he said, Let no one die except that he thinks well of Allah, the Possessor of Might and Majesty? (Muslim) This means he should think that Allah will forgive him and have mercy on him. Also, they should prompt the dying person, in a gentle but coaxing manner, to say the shahaadah, laa ilaaha illallaah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah).

If Symptoms of Death are Apparent

Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'Prompt the dying ones among you to say: 'laa ilaaha illallaah.' (Muslim) If the dying person utters the shahaadah once, no one should prompt him to say it again, unless he says something else afterwards. In such a case, one should repeat his prompting to ensure that his final utterance will be the shahaadah. Scholars agree that it is disliked to prompt the dying continuously or too frequently, otherwise the patient, because of the pain he is already experiencing, might begin to dislike what is being requested of him, and he might end up saying inappropriate words. He might feel disturbed and irritated, with the result that his spirit may depart while he is feeling aversion to it. If such a person utters these words on his own, then there is no need for prompting him to do so.

Immediate Measures to be Taken after Death

As soon as the dying person's soul departs, one should waste no time in closing the eyes of the deceased. Allah's Messenger PBUH came to Abu Salamah as soon as he died. His eyes were open, and Allah's Messenger PBUH closed them and said, 'When the soul is taken away, the eyesight follows it.' Some of the people of the family of Abu Salamah wept and wailed, and he said, 'Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for the angels say 'Aameen' to whatever you say' (Muslim)

Immediate Measures to be Taken after Death

Next, someone around should loosen the joints of the body of the deceased and straighten his limbs. If the joints are flexed at this point, they remain flexible, otherwise this becomes impossible afterwards. His clothes should be removed and his body should be covered. It is a part of the Sunnah to cover the whole of the deceased's body with a sheet of cloth. It is reported on the authority of 'Aai'shah PBUH that she said, "When Allah's Messenger PBUH died, he was covered with a soft embroidered sheet.' (al-Bukhaaree)

Immediate Measures to be Taken after Death

Prompt action should be taken to discharge the deceased's obligations and to relieve him of all responsibility for debts and legacies so that he can meet his Lord in a pure state, free from unpaid dues and unfulfilled commitments. Allah's Messenger PBUH said, 'The soul of the believer is attached to his debt until it is paid for him.' (At-Tirmidhee: hadeeth no. 1079, and Ibn Maajah: hadeeth no. 2413, and it is hasan) It is a part of the Sunnah to hasten the preparation of the deceased for burial and to take it out quickly.

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4. What is the wisdom behind not indulging in topics related to illnesses and their outcomes with the patients we visit?

1. How does Allah reward the visitors of the sick?

6. List the immediate measures to be taken after death.

3. What do you know about illnesses and expiation of sins?

2. What happens to a Muslim's deeds when he is too ill to perform them?

5. Why should a dying person not be forced to repeat the shahaadah?

A. Fill in the blanks.

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1. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in matters of eating, drinking, clothing, using the toilet, etc.,

1. The two types of illnesses are and

6. Exercising, and so on.

Explain the physical and spiritual illnesses.

How important is prevention of health in Islam? What guidelines does Islam lay down for the prevention of physical

3. There is no harm if one overeats

3. Keeping away from forbidden sexual activity,

If you are going to present live, we recommend that you train your voice and rehearse: the best improvisation is always the most practiced!.

5. Protecting oneself from harmful insects and creatures,

Why is mankind sometimes afflicted with illnesses?

2. Avoiding alcoholic drinks and intoxicants,

5. "Allah does not send down any illness without

2. is one of the most frequent causes of illnesses.

What are Ibn Al-Qayyim's views about du'aa' as a cure for diseases?

6. Patients with should also be treated like those with physical illnesses.

7. For a dying person, uttering the shahaadah just once is enough unless

4. Fasting,

What does eating and drinking moderately mean?

4. and are one's capital.

How is health affected if one habitually overeats?