Section: As well as adhering to the Ruqyah program, what else should the patient do?
40. Firstly
The patient should strengthen himself, arm himself with patience and not give in to despair. The sick person should realize that patience in bearing calamities is the essential outcome of faith and belief in the divine will and decree. Belief in the divine will and decree is one of the six pillars of faith.He should also understand that whatever calamity has befallen him has happened with Allah's knowledge and was decreed by Him fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth. Allah says: أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِي كِتَابٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّـهِ يَسِيرٌ ﴿٧٠﴾ Translation: “Know you not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz). Verily, that is easy for Allah." (Al-Hajj 22:70) مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّـهِ يَسِيرٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ Translation: "No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lawh AlMahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you." (Al-Hadeed 57:22-23) Once a person understands that whatever befalls him happens with the knowledge of Allah and by His decree, then he must have faith, be patient, accept it and submit to the will of Allah. Once a person has faith and acceptance, then Allah will guide his heart and enable him to be content, to seek reward, to be patient and to give thanks. Whoever is blessed with guidance will find peace of mind, as Allah says: مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّـهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١١﴾ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٢﴾ Translation: "No calamity befalls, but by the Leave li.e. Decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart (to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)). And Allah is the All-Knower of everything, Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad); but if you turn away, then the duty of Our Messenger is only to convey (the Message) clearly." (Al-Taghaabun 64:11-12) One thing that will help a person to achieve that is belief in the will and decree of Allah, and the belief that man has no control over his affairs in this life, rather he does not have control over even the most personal of matters, or his provision, or his lifespan, or whether he is destined to be doomed or blessed. All of that is decreed for him. Anyone who is faced with calamity should understand that a good outcome comes with patience, and that relief will follow distress, and that with hardship comes ease. It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas ra. said: I was behind the Prophet (ﷺ) one day and he said to me:"O young man, I will teach you some words (of advice). Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah has already decreed for you, and if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something that Allah has already decreed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."[Saheeh Hadeeth. See Saheeh Al-Jaami' by Shaykh Al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him), no. 7957; Saheeh Muslim; AlTirmidhi] According to some reports: “Remember Allah at times of ease and He will remember you at times of hardship. Understand that whatever misses you would never have befallen you, and whatever befalls you would never have missed you. Understand that a good outcome comes with patience, that relief follows distress and that with hardship comes ease." The person who has been smitten with a calamity must remember the promise of Allah, that a great reward and high status will come to the one who is patient, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said:"A man would have a high status before Allah which he cannot attain by means of good deeds; Allah will continue to test him with things that he dislikes until He causes him to reach that status."[A Hasan Hadeeth. See Saheeh Al-Jaami' by Al-Albaani, no. 1625]
41. Secondly
The patient should be certain that the Healer is Allah alone, and that the Ruqyah comes under the heading of following the means prescribed in Sharee'ah for seeking healing. What counts in Ruqyah is that what is recited --namely the words of Allah, which are as Allah says: وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا ﴿٨٢﴾ Translation: "And We send down of the Qur'aan that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe." (Al-Isra' 17:82) The basic principle is that what counts in Ruqyah is what is recited, not the one who recites it, so we should not let out hearts become attached to individuals.
42. Thirdly
The sick person should turn to Allah and make Du'aa'. This is one of the most effective means of warding off that which is disliked, and is one of the most efficacious of remedies. If all the necessary conditions are met, Du'aa' is the enemy of calamity; it wards it off and remedies it, prevents it befalling, and relieves it if it has happened. Du'aa' is the weapon of the believer.Persisting in making Du'aa' is a powerful weapon which will prevent sickness from occurring, and ward it off if it does occur. The Muslim should offer Du'aa' with presence of mind, not with a wandering mind such that the Du'aa' comes out weakly because it comes from a weak heart that is like a slack bow from which arrows come weakly.Thawbaan (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Nothing repels the divine decree except Du'aa'; nothing increases one's lifespan except righteousness; and a man may be deprived of provision because of a sin that he committed."[Da'eef Al-Jaami' by Al-Albaani, 1453]Similarly one should not be too hasty in seeking a response to Du'aa', and give up Du'aa' saying, I made Du'aa' but I received no response. In Saheeh AlBukhaari it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Any one of you will receive a response (to his Du'aa') so long as he is not hasty and says, 'I made Du'aa' but I received no response."According to Saheeh Muslim, it was said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), what does being hasty mean?" He said: "When one says, 'I made Du'aa' and I made Du'aa' and I received no response, and he feels frustrated and stops making Du'aa'.The one who raises his hands to Allah in supplication should also be keen to seek what is Halaal in his food, drink and clothing. Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that Abu Hurayrah ra. said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "O people, Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good. Allah enjoins upon the believers that which He enjoined upon the Messengers, as He said: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ Translation: "O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that we have provided you with." (Al-Baqarah 2:172)Then he mentioned a man who has undertaken a lengthy journey, he is disheveled and dusty, and he stretches his hands towards the heavens saying, "O Lord, O Lord," but his food is Haraam, his clothing is Haraam, he has been nourished with Haraam so how can he receive any response?He should also seek out the six times when Du'aa's are answered, which are:1. The last third of the night 2. When the Adhaan is given 3. Between the Adhaan and Iqaamah. 4. Following the obligatory prayers 5. When the Imam ascends the Minbar on Friday, and until the prayers of that day are over6. The last hour after 'Asr prayer on Friday.Finally, Du'aa should come from a heart that is humble, broken before Allah, submitting to Him and beseeching with humility, whilst facing towards the Qiblah with the hands raised, and choosing appropriate words. Whoever is guided to make Du'aa' will receive a response. He should also be in a state of purity. He should start by praising and glorifying Allah, then send blessings and salaams upon the Messenger of Allah then he should address Allah by His most beautiful names and sublime attributes. Then he should humbly persist in asking of Allah, weeping before Him, calling upon Him in hope and fear, and thinking positively of Allah, and he should do that a great deal. It is also recommended to give in charity before making Du'aa', giving good and Halaal things, from the dearest of one's wealth.If the Du'aa' is offered in this manner, then it can hardly be refused, especially if one uses the Du'aa's that the Prophet (ﷺ) said are likely to bring a response, which include the greatest Name of Allah.I also say to everyone who is faced with calamity, everyone who is sick, and indeed every Muslim: who among us does not possess this powerful weapon, namely Du'aa'? So make Du'aa', and use this powerful weapon. You have a fine example to follow in the noblest of creation, the beloved of Allah, our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) He made Du'aa', beseeching Allah, and he used to raise his hands towards heaven in supplication until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen, and until his cloak fell from his shoulders, even though he was infallible and his previous and future sins had been forgiven.
43. Fourthly
The sick person should pray a great deal for forgiveness, and repent, and say: إِنَّا للّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَا جِعُونَ. Transliteration: "Inna Lilaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji'oon.Translation: Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."and, لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ. Transliteration: "Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah.Translation: There is no power and no strength except with Allah” and, حَسْبُنَا اللّٰه وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ. Transliteration: "Hasbunaa Allah wa ni'ma Al-wakeel.Translation: Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.". The sick person must frequently recite his daily Wird and recite Qur'aan, and read Soorah Al Baqarah, at least once every three days.. The sick person must regularly recite the Adhkaar for morning and evening, which we will discuss under a separate heading in the chapter on prayers for protection.. He should do a lot of Nawafil acts of worship, namely fasting and praying.. He should try to keep his Wudoo' as much as possible.. He should not start any action except in the name of Allah, especially eating and drinking.