Ibn Baz on Crying Due to an Illness and Talking to People About It

Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullaah bin Baz – rahimullaah – was asked: “A sister from Riyadh said in her question[:]

I am sick and sometimes I cry due to the condition of my illness after I became sick. Does my crying mean I reject and resist Allaah – Azza wa Jal – and am not pleased with what He has destined for me, even though my crying is involuntarily? Also does talking to those close to me about the illness enter into this?

The Answer:

There is no problem with crying if it is only with tears and not audible, due to the saying of the Prophet ﷺ when his son Ibraheem passed away: “The eyes shed tears, the heart is saddened, and we do not say except that which pleases our Lord; indeed we are saddened by your leaving us O Ibraheem.”

The ahadeeth with this type of meaning are many. Also, there is no problem with your informing your relatives and friends about your illness while praising Allaah, being grateful to Him, glorifying Him, asking Him for health and goodness, and using permissible means for treatment.

We advise you with patience, hoping for a reward and receiving glad tidings, due to the saying of Allaah – Subhanahu wa Ta’ala:

وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ * أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

Meaning:

Give glad tidings to as-sabirin (the patient ones, etc.) who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.

Also due to the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:

A Muslim is not afflicted with concern of removing a difficulty, grief, illness, suffering [from a chronic illness] and harm, even being hurt by a thorn, except that Allaah expiates his mistakes due to that.

[And] the saying of the Messenger ﷺ: “Whomsoever Allaah intends good for, He tries him to see if he is patient.”

We ask Allaah to favour you with a cure, good health, rectifying the heart and actions. Indeed Allaah is the one who hears and responds.