During Tough Times* [[--Fourth Outing--]]

 *During Tough Times*

[[--Fourth Outing--]]
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Dr. Mahmud Es'ad says, "Sickness wakes people up from heedlessness, guides them to give up their sins, makes them think about the Hereafter, leads them to pious foundations; makes them more thankful to Allah, and teaches them the necessity of taking better care of their health and making better use of their life - something they didn't realise before - teaches them to understand other sick and pained people better, to feel sorry for them and to help them; and raises their ranks and degrees higher in the Hereafter."

My people!

Allah (swt) promised His servants that if they connect to Him during times of ease, He shall connect to them in times of hardship. The prophet (PBUH) said: “Seek to connect with Allah in times of ease; He will look unto you in times of hardship.” 📚 Hadith

From that understanding,

Muslims try to think positively about illness and sickness as it draws them closer to their Lord.  This is evident in the following:

"Life is a test that can be of many dimensions including sickness, death, loss of property etc. Allah (ﷻ) said: {And, most surely, We shall test [all of] you [believers] with something of fear and [with] hunger and [with] loss of wealth and life and crops.}" 📚Q2:155.

My people!

When a person responds well to calamity, they understand that it is a blessing and a gift, not a test.

Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] (may Allah have mercy on him) said: A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”

Sufyaan said: What a person dislikes may be better for him than what he likes, because what he dislikes causes him to call upon Allah, whereas what he likes may make him heedless.'

Now,

*Is Sickness a Punishment or Test?*

Sicknesses are blessing in disguise, and a test. It doesn’t imply that the person afflicted is being punished.

Allah (swt) says: “Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested, like those before you [were]?” 📚(Qur’an 2:214)

Tests will eventually pass, so the sooner you can accept the sickness as a trial, and don’t fall into despair and fear, the easier it will be. Yes. Just humble yourself and count your blessings.

As long as you keep a positive outlook and respond to sickness with humbles and not anger, and resentment, all will be good for you. Give thanks to Allah in the good times, and the bad. By being patient with Allah’s decree, sickness can be a cause for earning good rewards from Allah.

*Treat Sickness with Charity and Dua’*

Narrated Abdullah bin Masoud that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Treat your sick with sadaqa and protect your money with zakat, and prepare for the hard days with dua’." 📚[Al-Bayhaqi in Kubra 3/382]

TO BE CONTINUED

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك نشهد ان لا اله الا انت نستغفرك ونتوابوااليك