صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

O devotees of the Prophet! Indeed, Allah Almighty loves His people so much more than a mother. Attaining the Taufeeq of repentance, forgiveness of sins, illness, distress and difficulty, comfort and ease are all wonders of the bestowals of only Allah Almighty. If a person perpetrates a crime in this world, then the perpetrator receives punishment for his doing(s), prosecution takes place, one is sent to prison, and one is held in remand. If the crime is severe, then appeals of mercy are rejected and at some places, even a death penalty is issued. But the matter of Allah Almighty and His people is indeed unique; His people remain drowned in the ocean of sins day and night, but despite this, His bounties continue to bless them day and night. He does not deprive them from the rays of the Sun, the brightness of the Moon and stars, and the breeze; rather, He bestows blessed days, blessed nights and countless bounties; places them in difficulties and tribulations; grants them the blessing and mercy of illness; and bestows them the cure to the illness of sins and the bounty of forgiveness.

Let’s listen to six sayings of the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for encouragement as to what blessings a Muslim is favoured with when he becomes ill; hence,

   ۔1It was stated, ‘If Allah Almighty afflicts someone with a bodily illness, that illness is therefore the cause of forgiveness for him.’

(Tareekh-e-Madinah Dimashq, vol. 47, p. 260)

   ۔2It was stated, ‘When a believer gets ill, Allah Almighty purifies him from sins like a furnace cleans the rust of iron.’

(Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 4, p. 146, Hadees 42)

   ۔3It was stated, ‘The sins of the sick fall just as the leaves of a tree fall.’

(Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 4, p. 148, Hadees 56)

   ۔4It was stated, ‘Allah Almighty states, ‘I have made dependency a prison and illness a chain and tie with them whosoever I like amongst creation.’ (Qoot-ul-Quloob, vol. 2, p. 38)