Sickness

Sickness

---

Allah, the Wise, says:

وَ اِذاَ مَرِضْتُ فَهُو يشْفِينِ

(And when I am sick, then He restores me to health)[175]

Imam A’li (peace be upon him) has said:

اَشَدُّ مِنَ الْفاَقَةِ مَرَضُ الْبَدَن

(More calamitous than poverty is the sickness of the body)[176]

Short Explanation:

One of the treasures of Paradise, which reaches a Mu’min in this world, is sickness. If a Mu’min, occasionally and unintentionally, falters and commits sins, God does not like him to return to Him carrying the burden of his sins; He thus afflicts him with illness in order that his sins are forgiven.

A person who suffers from illness, beseeches and supplicates to God to restore his good health and God likes this state of a sick person, for He desires His servant to converse and communicate with Him. At times, God afflicts a person with sickness in order to elevate him in spiritual rank and status.

The best amongst those who are ill is one who exercises patience in this suffering, conceals his pain and desists from complaining about his disease to others until he regains his health and acquires the maximum reward ordained for him.

[175] Holy Qur’an, ch. Al-Shua’raa (26), vs. 80.

[176] Nahjul Balaghah (of Faidh al-Islam), pg. 1270.

 

My Daughter has Never Fallen Ill!

My Daughter has Never Fallen Ill!

 

Once, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) sought a lady’s hand in marriage.  Her father began praising her and while enumerating her virtues, he uttered:

 

“From the time she was born till today, she has never fallen sick.”

 

As soon as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) heard this, he immediately left the gathering.

 

Later, he said, “There is no goodness in an entity which, like a zebra, never falls sick.  Diseases and misfortunes are God’s gifts to His servants that should they ever become negligent of Him, diseases and misfortunes serve to make people mindful of Him.”

Pand-e-Taareekh, vol. 2, pg. 180.

Sickness

Sickness

---

 
Allah, the Wise, says:

 
وَ اِذاَ مَرِضْتُ فَهُو يشْفِينِ

(And when I am sick, then He restores me to health)[175]

 Imam A’li (peace be upon him) has said:

 اَشَدُّ مِنَ الْفاَقَةِ مَرَضُ الْبَدَن

(More calamitous than poverty is the sickness of the body)[176]

 
Short Explanation:

 One of the treasures of Paradise, which reaches a Mu’min in this world, is sickness.  If a Mu’min, occasionally and unintentionally, falters and commits sins, God does not like him to return to Him carrying the burden of his sins; He thus afflicts him with illness in order that his sins are forgiven.

  A person who suffers from illness, beseeches and supplicates to God to restore his good health and God likes this state of a sick person, for He desires His servant to converse and communicate with Him.  At times, God afflicts a person with sickness in order to elevate him in spiritual rank and status.

 

The best amongst those who are ill is one who exercises patience in this suffering, conceals his pain and desists from complaining about his disease to others until he regains his health and acquires the maximum reward ordained for him.

[175] Holy Qur’an, ch. Al-Shua’raa (26), vs. 80.

[176] Nahjul Balaghah (of Faidh al-Islam), pg. 1270.

 

The Recitation of Surah Al-Waaqia’h

The Recitation of Surah Al-Waaqia’h

 

A’bdullah Ibn Masu’d had been one of the close companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and had developed into being a distinguished and zealous personality of Islam. During the caliphate of U’thman, he suffered a bout of illness, which eventually resulted in his death.

 

U’thman once came to pay him a visit and finding him distressed, asked, “What distresses you so greatly?”

 

“My sins,” he answered.

 

“Tell me your wish so that I can fulfill it for you.” 

 

“I desire God’s mercy”, replied Ibn Mas’ud.

 

The caliph asked,“If you permit, I could call for the doctor”.

 

“It is the Doctor who has made me sick.”

 

“If you want, I could present you with gifts from the Public Treasury.”

 

Ibn Masu’d retorted, “At the time when I was in need, you did not give me a thing and now that I am not in need, you wish to shower me with presents!”

 

U’thman insisted, “Let these gifts be for your daughters then.”

 

“They are not in need of your presents,” Ibn Masu’d replied tersely. “I have instructed them to recite the chapter Al-Waaqia’h every night, for surely, I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) say: One, who recites the chapter Al-Waaqia’h every night, shall never be afflicted by poverty]

Riwaayat-ha Wa Hikaayat-ha, pg. 39; Daastaan-ha-e-Paraakandeh; vol. 2, pg. 66.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood

---

 Allah, the Wise, has said:

(The believers are but brethren)[Holy Qur’an, ch. Al-Hujaraat (49), vs. 10.

 Imam Baqir (a.s.) said:

(It is incumbent) upon you to take true friends for yourself, for they are an asset, in times of ease and a shield, during adversities[Bihaar al-Anwaar vol. 78, pg. 251.

 At any age, brotherhood and friendship are necessary for someone, who is worthy of them.  Allah has not bestowed upon His servants a bounty more important than success in keeping  and associating with religious friends.

 But do you not observe that the primary Grace which God granted to the Prophets at the time of their Prophethood was a friend, brother and wali?  It is apparent from this that after the bounty of cognizance of God and His Prophets, there is no bounty more pure and pleasant than brotherhood in the path of God and a righteous friend.

 One ought to refrain from entering into friendship and brotherhood with those, who seek these alliances out of avarice or worldly motives. A few brothers (in religion) who possess great cognizance, are better than numerous ones who lack this attribute

Tadhkirah al-Haqaaiq, pg. 52.