What to do when some illness becomes distressing.: since many years i am having pain in my back. i recieved medical treatment and sought some

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother asalam u alikum since many years i am having pain in my back. i recieved medical treatment and sought some spiritual help also. Now it has become too distressing.

1. Can i relate it to some sinful behaviour of my earlir days.

2. What to do when some illness becomes distressing.

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Answer:

Illness and medical treatment due to sins

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: ...can i relate it to some sinful behaviour of my earlir days.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2:

He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

Respected brother in Islam, the life of this short and transitory world is but a test and a trial from the Lord…..the real place to receive rewards and punishments is only the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:

155    Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and hunger, some loss in goods, or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.

156    Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157    They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy; and they are the ones that receive guidance.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.1

Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (saws) said: "When Allah wants to be good to someone, He tries him with some hardship."

Abu Hurairah reports that Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim -even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn - Allah removes some of his sins." 

Ibn Mas'ud said: "I visited the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he (saws) had a fever. I exclaimed: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws) ! You have a high fever!'  He (saws) said: 'My fever is as much as two among you [might have].'  I asked: 'Is it because you have a double reward?'  He (saws) replied: 'Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree'."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.545   Narrated by Abu Said Al Khudri and Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "No fatigue, no disease, no sorrow, no sadness, no hurt, no 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."

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6244         Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah's Messenger (saws) visited Umm Sa'ib or Umm Musayyib and said: ‘Umm Musayyib, why is it that you are shivering?’  She said: ‘It is fever and may it not be blessed by Allah’, whereupon he (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘Don't curse fever for it expiates the sin of the posterity of Adam just as furnace removes the alloy of iron.’

Rest absolutely assured brother that fever, illness, sickness, diseases, or any calamity or hardship that befalls a believer is not a punishment for one's past sins from Allah Subhanah….but rather a trial and a Mercy from their Lord, for through these afflictions Allah Subhanah expiates some of the sins of that person.

The life of this transitory and short world is a place to do deeds….it is only in the Hereafter when the Lord Most High, Most Just will determine who amongst mankind did deeds that deserve His Mercy, His Grace, His Forgiveness and His Rewards….and who amongst mankind did deeds which deserve His Wrath, His Anger and His Punishments.

The one thing that you can and must do if you have transgressed the Boundaries of the Lord and were involved in sin in the past is to seek constant forgiveness for those sins....if you are indeed sincere in your repentance, it is expected you will find your Lord Forgiving and Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy!  Surely,  Allah forgives all sins.   He indeed is the All Forgiving,  All Merciful.   Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you;  for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs,  say: "Peace be on you!  Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy.  Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance,  and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct),  Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving,  Most Merciful."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2357   Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "He who repents of a sin is like him who has committed no sin."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2338   Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah accepts a servant's repentance (taubah) till he gives up his spirit in death."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2339   Narrated by Abu Sa'id

Allah's Messenger (saws) said that the Shaytaan said, "By Thy Might, my Lord, I shall continue to lead Thy servants astray as long as their spirits are in their bodies!"  The Lord, Who is Great and Glorious, replied, "By My Might, Glory and Exalted Station, I shall continue to pardon them as long as they ask My forgiveness!

Your Question: ...what to do when some illness becomes distressing.

Along with consulting the appropriate experts in the field of medicine to remedy their illness, and bearing their affliction with patience, some of the best supplications one can and should make when afflicted by some illness as a test from their Lord is the supplication made by the Noble Prophet Ayyub (a.s.) as related in the Glorious Quran:

Allah Subhanah severely tested his Noble Prophet Ayyub (a.s.), whereby he was afflicted by an incurable disease for a long period of time.  This incident and the beautiful supplication of Prophet Ayyub (a.s.) is related in the Glorious Quran:

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verses 83-84:

83      And (remember) Ayyub when he cried to his Lord "Truly distress has seized me, but Thou art the Most Merciful of those that are merciful."

84      So We listened to him: We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his people to him and doubled their number as a Grace from Ourselves and a thing for commemoration for all who serve Us. 

Amongst the supplications one may make when one is ill and related in the Sunnah are:

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.8a

Topic: supplications for illness

Aishah reports that the Prophet (saws) used to seek refuge in Allah for some of his family members. He used to touch them with his right hand, saying: ‘Allahahuma Rabbin nas adhhabal ba'sa, ashfi wa antashafi, la shifa' illa shifa'uka shifa' la yughadiru saqma’  (O Allah! The Sustainer of mankind! Remove the illness, cure the disease. You are the One Who cures. There is no cure except Your cure. Grant (us) a cure that leaves no illness.)

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Uthman ibn Abu Al-'As relates that once he complained of pain in his body to Allah's Messenger (saws). The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: 'Put your hand where you feel pain in your body and say, "Bismillah (in the name of Allah)," and say, "A 'udhu bi 'izzatillah wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhiru” (I seek refuge in the Might of Allah and in His Power from the evil that I find and that I fear)," seven times'."  Uthman continued: "I did that a few times and Allah removed my pain. I always advised my family and others to do the same."

Related by Muslim.

Muhammad ibn Salim reported: "Thabit Al-Banani said to me: 'O Muhammad! When you have any pain, put your hand where you feel pain, then say: ‘Bismallah a'udhu bi'izatillah min shari ma ajidu min waj'i hadha’  (In the Name of Allah! I seek refuge in Allah's Might from the evil of this pain).  Then remove your hand, and repeat the same for an odd number of times. Then he said to me that Anas ibn Malik had told him that Allah's Messenger (saws) had taught this to him."

Related by Tirmidhi.

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas reports that the Prophet (saws) visited him while he was sick and said: 'O Allah, make Sa'd well! O Allah, make Sa'd well! Make Sa'd well!"'

Related by Muslim.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brothers and well wishers in Islam,

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