O mankind! There has come to you an admonition from your Lord, a cure for whatever (disease) is in your hearts, a guidance and a blessing for all those who believe. Say: 'It is the grace and mercy of God (that He has sent this Qur'an), so let the people rejoice over it, for it is better than (the worldly riches) they hoard.
(Yunus: 57-58)
We are on the home-stretch leading to the end of Ramadhan. Has the month of reflection affected you? Many people fall unwell during the month of fast. Definitely, your body goes through changes. You stay awake longer, eat a whole lot less and you spend more time in prayer, which is actually a very relaxing exerise for your body.
It is no wonder some of us come down with the sniffles, a cough, sometimes dehydration.
These little things happen for a reason.
Sometimes during a detoxification, we tend to fall ill before we get better. It helps our immune systems strengthen and build up as we encounter these little ailments. To get over them, imagine little children in Africa that have nothing to eat even after the sun sets. Fasting 24 hours a day is no longer a choice for them. For better-off Muslims, even those who fall a little ill, they are able to enjoy a proper meal at the end of the day with friends and family whom they love, before proceeding to prayers for the night. Alhamdulillah.
Another reason why we fall ill, whether it is during Ramadhan or not, is a way for us to have our sins erased. Even a little cut removes sins of the same weight. There is no reason to toss ibadah aside when this happens. Visit the nearby clinic and get whatever medicine that will help you through the few days and continue fasting.
Insha'Allah there is virtue in steadfastness and holding strongly to faith. There are again, millions of children in Iraq who have been denied medical attention by ridiculous sanctions.
Their ailments are far from the minor scratch. Some have dimembered limbs, internal bleeding, cracked bones and dysfunctional muscles. Yet, they live day to day, maybe without even a proper meal.
We should all pray for healing. For ourselves and our faith in the Lord. We should also pray that all the pain and suffering endured by less fortunate Muslims be alleviated. There is a cure for every disease. May we find one for cruelty and ignorance!
