Illness Due to Personal Action: Does It Contradict Divine Decree?
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 20109 )
Q 1: I have been afflicted with an illness for about a year or more. I was with my family, but I voluntarily moved from my hometown to the capital ( Cairo ), where I work as an elementary school teacher. However, I fell ill with typhoid fever there and was admitted to a hospital affiliated with the health insurance provided by my employer. They neglected my treatment, and I suffered a blood clot in my left leg. My family came to Cairo and took me back to my hometown. When I arrived, most of the people greeted me with the words, "You
caused harm to yourself, and if you had stayed in your home and not moved to Cairo , this would not have happened to you." I became confused about my situation, but I believe in the decree and destiny of Allah. However, I ask for clarification on this matter: Is it true that a person causes harm to himself when he undertakes an action, or is it written for him? And what should I say to these people who argue that I am the cause of what happened to me?
A: What happened to you is by the decree and destiny of Allah. It is obligatory for you to be patient and not to be weary, for these illnesses and calamities are good for the believer. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 2999 Narrated by Muslim . And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5641, 5642 Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim . You must take the permissible means of healing, while your heart remains attached to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and you should frequently supplicate to Him and seek refuge in Him. We ask Allah for your well-being and reward for what has befallen you. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 1: I have been afflicted with an illness for about a year or more. I was with my family, but I voluntarily moved from my hometown to the capital ( Cairo ), where I work as an elementary school teacher. However, I fell ill with typhoid fever there and was admitted to a hospital affiliated with the health insurance provided by my employer. They neglected my treatment, and I suffered a blood clot in my left leg. My family came to Cairo and took me back to my hometown. When I arrived, most of the people greeted me with the words, "You
caused harm to yourself, and if you had stayed in your home and not moved to Cairo , this would not have happened to you." I became confused about my situation, but I believe in the decree and destiny of Allah. However, I ask for clarification on this matter: Is it true that a person causes harm to himself when he undertakes an action, or is it written for him? And what should I say to these people who argue that I am the cause of what happened to me?
A: What happened to you is by the decree and destiny of Allah. It is obligatory for you to be patient and not to be weary, for these illnesses and calamities are good for the believer. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.
عجبًا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله له خير، وليس ذلك لأحد إلا للمؤمن، إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيرًا له، وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيرًا لهNo fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor 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.
ما يصيب المؤمن من نصب ولا وصب ولا هم ولا حزن ولا أذى ولا غم، حتى الشوكة يشاكها إلا كفر الله بها من خطاياه
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.