Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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:

I come from an islamic family. My grand father died recently of cancer in the prostate glands. All my relations hid this cause of his death and published even the obituary notice as he died out of a heart attack. When i questioned why, the answer i got was that cancer is a CURSED diseas and we as muslims are suppose to be blessed and we cannot get it. So if any outsider gets to know that he has actually died out of cancer it will be an embarrassment to him and the family. They have done the same thing previously as well when one of my uncles has passed away out of cancer in the liver. Where does islam stand on this? and do you think its fare on the person who has died to fake the cause of his own death?

Awaiting for a reply.

Thank you.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fake cause of death cancer

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.

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." (inna lillahe wa inna ilayhe rajeoon)

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

Every illness or loss of health that befalls man is but a trial and a test ordained by the Lord Most High….to see whether man bears his affliction with patience or is ungrateful.

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.’

Thus to claim that any form of illness is a ‘curse’ from Allah, or to claim or believe that the occurrence of any form of illness would not befit a believer is nothing but absolute and utter ignorance!

Secondly, to intentionally fabricate a lie on any matter would be against the very principles of Islam.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:

135 O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice (and Truth) as witnesses to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice and truth) or decline to do justice; verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan