Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 960 [Read full issue]
Bearing Sickness
Ata ibn Abi Rabah reported: "Ibn Abbas said to me, 'Shall I show you a woman who is one of the people of the Garden?' I said, 'Please do.' He said, 'A black woman came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, "I have fits during which I expose myself. Pray to Allah Almighty for me." He replied, "If you wish, you can show fortitude and you will receive the Garden, and if you wish, I will pray to Allah Almighty to heal you." She said, "I will show fortitude." She added, "I expose myself, so pray to Allah that I do not expose myself." So he prayed for her.'"
This woman who was afflicted by fits preferred to die with the guarantee of entering the Garden as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, informed her. All that she wanted was for her body not to become uncovered during unconsciousness as a result of her fits. The Prophet guaranteed that to her. If her illness had been from Shaytan taking power over her, would the noble Prophet leave her the victim of that accursed one? What would have happened if the woman had lived now? Perhaps she would have been treated with electric shocks to be cured. Perhaps someone would have said, "She is possessed by a devil," and continued to beat her until the alleged devil left her. Perhaps she would have died from the severe beating.
Compiled From:
"The Sunna of the Prophet" - Muhammad al-Ghazali