The blessings of ill health

I am such a hopeless hoper.

RELIGION -

The one aspect of my life that is not lacking focus and hasn't transgressed into disorder .

I am normally punctual with what I'm asked to do - the daily prayers, and even more if I'm feeling well.

Actually there is a teaching in our religion, that the example of a believer is like a plant blown, sometimes bending and other times straight.

Narrated Kab: The Prophet said,  "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant, which the wind bends lt sometimes and some other time it makes it straight. And the example of a hypocrite is that of a pine tree which keeps straight till once it is uprooted suddenly".

So in times of hardship, and unlike the hypocrite, our faith is never uprooted.

But how do you act towards your faith in ill health? If you have physical or mental illness, those with good health undoubtedly have more of an advantage for doing nafl salaat (extra prayers) or attending Jumu'ah.

But we, the diagnosed community, have a great opportunity for patience and putting our trust in Allah.

Its so easy, yet hard and something I've decided on after years of hardship - I never once thought of saying "We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return", simply because I thought I was being punished.

I hope someone in the midst of their own suffering decides from seeing this post, to say "Innah Lillahi Wa Innah Ilayhi Raji'oon"

- By Laila Ali Haid