Sadly, instead of keeping the excellences and blessings of illnesses in mind, some Islamic sisters start speaking ill of illnesses and start to complain, e.g. ‘This fever is a really awful illness too, how bad of an illness is this headache that has affected me really badly, this cold has actually torn me apart as my whole routine has become disturbed because of it, etc.’

Bear in mind! Calling illnesses bad is not wise, especially fevers and headaches because fevers and headaches are those blessed illnesses which have had the fortunate honour of being present in the blessed court of the Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام. Regarding fevers as bad has also been prohibited in a blessed Hadees as well; hence,

Do not call fever bad

The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Saa`ib رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا and said, ‘What happened to you that you are shivering?’ She humbly replied, ‘I have a fever, may Allah Almighty not bless it.’ Upon this, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, ‘Do not despise fever because it removes the sins of a person just as a furnace removes the rust of iron.’

 (Muslim, p. 1068, Hadees 2575)

Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states with regards to this blessed Hadees, ‘Illnesses affect either one or two parts (limbs) of the body but fever has its effect upon every vein from head to toe; therefore, it will cause the mistakes and sins of the entire body to be forgiven.’  (Mirat-ul-Manajeeh, vol. 2, p. 413)

When the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, ‘Fever is expiation of sins.’ (Muslim, p. 1068, Hadees 2575, summarised) Sayyiduna Zayd Bin Saabit رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ supplicated to always remain in the state fever. Hence, the state of fever remained until he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ passed away. (Qoot-ul-Quloob, vol. 2, p. 39)

Some Ansari Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ also made this supplication, hence the state of fever also remained with them as well (until their passing away).

 (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 4, p. 858)