The Ruling on Abandoning Means and Treating Oneself with Illness in the Name of Reliance upon Allah

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, does one commit a sin if he abandons the means in the name of reliance upon Allah, such as abandoning medical treatment, for example?

Answer:
Yes. Peace be upon you. Medical treatment is not obligatory; it is permissible. There is no harm in abandoning it. One may do it or leave it off, because it is permissible. As for other means—means that have not been established as causes, where it is not established that they are a cause, and they may be beneficial or may not be—there are means, such as taking up arms, wearing armor, and wearing what protects a person from danger. A Muslim does not abandon these. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the master of those who rely upon Allah, and yet he wore armor and carried weapons. (Peace and blessings be upon him) used to take the means; he did not abandon them. Therefore, it is not permissible to abandon the means. The one who abandons them has committed a sin. Yes.