Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 683 [Read full issue]
Certainty and Good Health
Patience is essential in performing the commanded good and abstaining from the forbidden evil. This includes patience in bearing hurt and things that are said, patience in adversity, patience when tempted to arrogance in good times, and every other kind of patience.
It is not possible for a creature to be patient unless he has something by which to reassure, comfort and sustain himself. This something is the certainty of firm conviction. As the Prophet, on him be peace, said in the hadith transmitted by Abu Bakr the Veracious, may God be pleased with him: "People! Ask God for certainty and good health, for after certainty no gift of His is better than good health, so ask God for both."
Compiled From:
"Public Duties in Islam" - Ibn Taymiya, p. 102