Abdullah Learns About Patience

Since 2012-12-05

Sickness is a test from Allah and we have to be patient.

 


Abdullah: Mom, will the doctor give me medicine? Will it work right away?
Mom: We have to see what the doctor says. But usually it takes a few days until the cold virus gets away. No medicine cures a cold virus; it only helps you feel better, in sh’allah.

Abdullah: Mom, why did Allah send us sickness?
Mom: Sickness is a test from Allah and we have to be patient. Verily, Allah is with the patient. Also, the good part is that for any suffering we have Allah forgives some of our sins. Therefore, it is good to say Astafirullah when we are sick.

Abdullah: What does Allah say about patience?
Mom: There is a verse in the Holy Qur’an: {O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere} [Al-Baqarah 2:153]

Abdullah is a nine year-old boy. He likes to get things done right away. His mother takes him to the doctor’s office. He fell sick with the cold. He complains to his mom that he is feeling miserable and wants to get well in a moment. He asks his mother:

 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ} البقرة: 153
 
Transliteration: Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Asta`īnū Biş-Şabri Wa Aş-Şalāati 'Inna Allāha Ma`a Aş-Şābirīna
So, you can make du’a and ask Allah to make you healthy again.



Abdullah: Ok, mom. Do people get sick in Jannah, too?
Mom: Oh, no, people never get sick in Jannah. Allah makes our bodies young and strong, for those of us who go to Jannah. In sh’allah, if we are patient about any test Allah gives us, we will go to Jannah, too.

Abdullah gets called to the doctor’s office. He now understands that he has to be patient. When the doctor asks him how he feels like, he says he feels sick; however, he does not complain anymore and says that Patience is the key to healing. The doctor is very pleased to see that such a young boy like Abdullah have such a positive thinking. The doctor gives Abdullah his acetaminophen (Tylenol) prescription. He tells him it will help with the headache and congestion.

Abdullah thanks the doctor and asks Allah to get healed as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he tells his mom that he will be patient until he gets better.

Abdullah: Oh, mom, and do I get to stay home, too.
Mom: Only for one or two days, until you get a little better, in sh’allah.
I am very happy you are calm about your illness now.

Abdullah: Yes, mom, we only get better when Allah wants us to get better.
Mom: Of course, Allah in His mercy gave us doctors and medicines to help us heal as soon as possible.

Abdullah: Yes, but meanwhile we have to be Patient.
Mom: Thanks to Allah, you finally got my point.

After two days, Abdullah gets to feel better and goes to school. He gets really well five days after the disease started. He now thanks Allah for getting his health back and for learning to be Patient as well. A Patient should be Patient, he thinks! What a good new rhyme. Oh, no, any Muslim should be Patient when things are tough – for Allah plans are wise and better than what we understand with our limited knowledge. That’s what Abdullah learned from his last experience.

 
Written by Sister Mariam Ignat
http://muslim-publishers.blogspot.com/2006/03/story-abdullah-learns-about-patience.html