Medical treatment and Tawakkul

Allah Ta'ala has created a cure for every sickness. It is through Him that the medicine has an effect. If He wishes, the medicine will be beneficial. And if He does not wish, the medicine will not help in any way. Thousands of different medicines may be used but they will not help (if Allah does not wish so). Therefore, one should not have this belief that a certain medicine cures and another does not. It is Allah who cures. If He wishes you to be cured immediately, He will place the cure in that medicine. If not, the medicine will not help. We have been ordered to seek the cure. We do this by placing full trust in Him. It is for this reason that we make dua to Him alone. As for that person who has complete trust in Allah and does not seek any medical treatment, no evil thoughts will enter his mind. He will express gratitude to Allah all the time. It is permissible for such a person not to seek any medical treatment. However, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had sought medical treatment and also showed us the benefits of certain medicines. It is therefore preferable to seek medical treatment but at the same time the person should exercise patience and express gratitude to Allah. Furthermore, the person should have full conviction that Allah Ta'ala loves us more than what our own mothers love us. Whatever He does is solely for our benefit. When we are afflicted by any sickness, our sins are wiped out. When we exercise patience, our stages are increased and calamities are withheld from us. Whatever pride and arrogance that we may have is decreased and we realize our dependence on Allah Ta'ala. Previously, a person may have been very independent. When he falls ill, he realizes his dependence on others for every little thing. When he was healthy and strong he may have not valued his health. Once he falls ill, he realizes the importance of health, appreciates it and later expresses his gratitude. In short, illness is a source of mercy for us Muslims. In fact, it is a great bounty from Allah Ta'ala. At the same time, it is a great test and trial from Allah Ta'ala. We have to exercise patience, express our gratitude and consider everything to be the decree of Allah. We should not express evil words against Allah Ta'ala and whatever He has decreed. At times such words could cause us to become devoid of Imaan . Just think, that here is the person who has borne so many difficulties (for which he would have been rewarded) but has allowed all the rewards to be snatched away from him. He has spent some money (on medication), but because of the evil words that he has uttered, he lost his Imaan , lost the world, and lost his Deen . If, Allah forbid, he does not repent and passes away in this state, he has lost his entire life earnings of Imaan on account of a little suffering. May Allah save us from this.

On the other hand, if we muster some courage and say to ourselves that if Allah wishes this (sickness) for us, we are prepared to lose this life of ours and we do not utter a single word. If death overtakes us in such a state, what great rewards we will receive from that Being who gave us so much without even asking. How much more He will reward us (on account of our patience)! And if we recover from that sickness, we would regain our health, maintain the rewards that we received (for exercising patience) and also receive great stages (in jannah) - there will be no decrease in all these rewards. At the same time, we will still have our Deen and dunya with us.

When we feel perplexed, why should we not make dua to Allah? He is the one who will inspire the doctor to be attentive towards us. He is the one who will cause the medicine to be effective. And if He wishes, He is the one who can cure us without any medication whatsoever. In short, sickness is a bounty from Allah. However, because there is a great test and trial in it, and because there is the fear of one even losing one's Imaan on account of it, it is not permissible to hope or to make dua for a sickness to afflict us.