Patience in Illness and Affliction

Question:
The questioner: Allah has afflicted me with a serious illness since I was young, and now I am in my thirties. This illness has no cure. What is the reward associated with such patience, especially regarding this affliction and these illnesses? May you be rewarded.

Answer:
The Shaykh: There is no doubt that the Muslim is commanded to be patient with what he dislikes of calamities and illnesses. Along with patience, he should utilize beneficial means by the permission of Allah. If there is an illness, he should seek its cure while being patient, expecting reward, and not being distressed. Performing permissible means does not contradict patience, because patience in this situation is restraining the tongue from complaining, restraining the self from distress, and restraining the hand from slapping cheeks and tearing clothes. If there is a beneficial cause and a cure for this illness, he should seek its cure. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah has not sent down a disease except that He has sent down a cure for it; some know it and some do not know it.” The One who sent down the disease sent down the cure, and His sending down the cure indicates that we should search for this cure and use it. However, if there is no cure, meaning the doctors are unable to find a cure, then the afflicted person should be patient and expect reward from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). The patient is rewarded. Allah the Exalted said: “Indeed, only the patient will be given their reward without account.” Allah tests the believer. If Allah loves a people, He tests them. If Allah loves a people, He tests them. So whoever is patient has the reward, and whoever is distressed has the sin. If Allah loves a people, He tests them. So whoever is pleased has pleasure, and whoever is displeased has displeasure, as in the hadith. With this, the believer is reassured and knows that what struck him was not meant to miss him, and what missed him was not meant to strike him. He hopes that this illness or this disease is good for him with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Allah the Exalted said: “And it may be that you hate a thing and it is good for you. And it may be that you love a thing and it is bad for you.”