When one faces illness and health problems with patience and good conduct, it could be a reason to raise their status in the hereafter, Muslims will be told on Friday.
In this life, Allah tests people with many types of advantages and disadvantages, as the Quranic verse says: “And We try you with evil and with good, for ordeal. And unto Us ye will be returned.”
A true believer is one who maintains strong faith and patience during difficult and good times.
And the greater the crises a person is tested with, the greater is their reward and benefit by Allah.
A reason for testing people with such ordeals is because Allah wants to give them a higher status that they have not achieved with their knowledge and deeds, so they are challenged with crises in order to achieve that great status, the sermon continues.
“Islam has stresses on a sick one to be patient, and promised him forgiveness from sins.”
A hadith by Prophet Mohammed says: “No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn.”
Moreover, Islam has entitled the diseased to rights and duties by society members, such as visiting them.
As another hadith says: “The rights of one Muslim over another are five: returning the greeting of salaam, visiting the sick, attending funerals, accepting invitations, and saying yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on you) to one who sneezes.”
hdajani@thenational.ae