In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam as-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

Likewise, Islam commanded strong reliance upon Allaah when calamities and hardships occur (see footnote a), and that a person should not be subdued, his heart and resolve weakened, and becomes overwhelmed by those imaginations that are deadly diseases. There are many small and mild diseases whose pain becomes severe due to heart’s weak and feeble state, and being deceived by illusions and imaginations. And there are many severe diseases whose hardship become less severe and its pain is eased when the heart relies upon Allaah, its faith and reliance strengthened, and fear is removed from it. This is an affair that is witnessed and clearly perceived.

Commentary: The author (Imaam As-Sadi) said, “Likewise, Islam commanded strong reliance upon Allaah when calamities and hardships occur”. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ – No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart]. [Surah At-Taghaabun. Aayah 11]

Alqamah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said: This (ayah) is about a person who is afflicted with a calamity and he knows that it is from Allaah. So he becomes pleased with what Allaah has decreed and submit to Allaah’s judgement. (see footnote b) If a believer’s dependence and reliance upon Allaah is robust, and he hopes for Allaah’s reward, this would lessen the pain of his illness and calamity.

The author then said: “And that a person should not be subdued, his heart and resolve weakened, and he becomes overwhelmed by those imaginations that are deadly diseases”. Some people have a small illness and it is easy to deal with, but then the individual with such an illness becomes overwhelmed by imaginations- evil thoughts and imaginations that comes to his heart, and thus these things increase until he constantly lives with the disease of evil illusions and thoughts that leads him to what is more severe than the small illness that has afflicted his body. Some people are afflicted with a small illness and thus they are overwhelmed with thoughts – sometimes thinking that they have been afflicted with magic and at other times thinking that they are afflicted with the evil eye until this leads to numerous imaginations, even though maybe the illness is something very small and would come to an end very soon. He afflicts himself with illusions that makes the small illness into a big one. (see footnote c)

And there are others who are afflicted with severe illness, but due to being blessed with dependence and reliance upon Allaah, patience and hoping for Allaah’s reward, the illness becomes less severe. And it maybe that even in that state of illness, the person finds himself (or herself) in a state of happiness that is not witnessed from those who are healthy. I once met a 26 year old youth – who was afflicted with an illness that did not allow him to move any part of his body except his head – who said to me, “Indeed, I feel happiness which I sought after (in the past) and could not find  – happiness due to Eemaan, patience, being pleased with Allaah’s judgement, supplicating to Allah, obedience to Allaah, remembering Allaah etc”. (see footnote d) (1)

Footnote a: The levels of reliance upon Allaah -By Shaikh abu Hakeem:

Footnote b: “. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ – No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart]. [Surah At-Taghaabun. Aayah 11]

Alqamah [may Allaah be pleased with him] said: This (ayah) is about a person who is afflicted with a calamity and he knows that it is from Allaah. So he becomes pleased with what Allaah has decreed and submit to Allaah’s judgement, and he (or she) says, “This is Allaah’s decree. I believe in Allaah and we are pleased with Allaah’s decree”. So Allaah fills his heart with Eemaan and tranquillity, and he (or she) receives a great reward (i.e. due to his patience). [Fadaa’il Al- A’maal’ pages 11-14 -By Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (may Allaah have mercy upon him)]

Footnote c: The fearmongers in the media have afflicted many vulnerable people – in the past two years – with anxiety due to fearmongering about disease. Some articles at “Health & Immunity In The Light of Covid 19 (Telegram Channel) sheds light on this serious affair. Search for artcles titled: *[The Saying of the People of Tawheed and Iman Versus the Saying of The People of Tawheed and Khidlan -08: Delta Variant a ‘Formidable Foe” Capable of Counterattacting Health Orders] *[The Saying of the People of Tawheed and Iman Versus the Saying of The People of Tawheed and Khidlan -05: On The Call to Superstition, Omens And Whisperings of The Devil: Pretend As If You Are Contagion] *[The Saying of the People of Tawheed and Iman Versus the Saying of The People of Tawheed and Khidlan: Virus Superpower]

Footnote d: Severe Ailments For Eighteen Years And The Highest Level of Patience – [Prophet Ayyoub (alayhis salaam)]:https://salaficentre.com/2020/03/18/severe-ailments-for-eighteen-years-and-the-highest-level-of-patience-prophet-ayyoub-alayhis-salaam/

Read: Second, Third, Fourth or Even Hundredth Wave of XYZ Illness or Disease! [Do Not Allow a Mulhid Fear-monger to Afflict You With Fear And Anxiety]: https://salaficentre.com/2020/09/08/second-third-fourth-or-even-hundredth-wave-of-xyz-illness-or-disease-do-not-allow-a-mulhid-fear-monger-to-afflict-you-with-fear-and-anxiety/

[Ref 1: From 54mins 08secs to 59mins 43 secs https://www.al-badr.net/detail/6y71LsHDZr paraphrased]