The Relationship Between Patience and Treatment in Illness

Question:
He said: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, if a man is afflicted with an illness, which is more preferable: to be patient with this illness, or to hasten to seek treatment?

Answer:
Hastening to seek treatment does not conflict with patience. Patience means not displaying distress or dissatisfaction. If he is afflicted, he says, "What have I done? What have I done that I was afflicted with this illness? I did not do anything?"
This is the reward. As for going to seek treatment, this is among the causes one is commanded to take, and this does not contradict patience. One is patient and seeks treatment; there is nothing wrong with that. Just as one is patient and calls upon Allah for healing. Ayyub (peace be upon him) was a prophet among the prophets, and despite this, he complained to his Lord, saying, “My Lord, indeed affliction has touched me,” . And Ya'qub (peace be upon him) said, . So complaining to Allah and calling upon Allah is not considered part of the reward; rather, it is part of taking the means. Likewise, treatment is part of taking the means and does not conflict with patience. One should be patient and seek treatment. Patience is not when one rebukes his Lord and says, “What have You done to me? What have I done?” That is when one rebukes the Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) and says, “I am not the worst of people; there is someone more sinful than me,” and the like. That is the reward. Yes.