Aslam

It is reported that when a certain prophet complained of illness, God revealed to him: Eat eggs. Another Prophet complained of weakness and God revealed to him: Eat meat and drink milk, as both give strength. It is reported that a party of men complained to their Prophet that they did not get beautiful children born to them. God then revealed to him : Tell them that they should give their pregnant women nutritious 'Safarzal' as food, as by this their children will be beautiful and they should give it to them on the third and fourth months of their pregnancy as God then makes their figure. They should give their pregnant women 'safarzal' and nutritious fresh grapes to eat. From this it is understood that the Creator of causes bound His laws with those who observe them in a chain, so that Hifi skill may be disclosed. Medicine is a cause, which has been subdued like other causes just as bread is a medicine for hunger, water is a medicine for thirst. So also oxymel is a medicine for anamea and scammony is a medicine for purgation.

If the God-reliant man look to the Creator of causes and not to the causes, medicines and physicians, his God-reliance is not impaired if he takes medicines. It is reported that the Prophet Moses prayed : O my Lord, from whom do the diseases come and cure? God said : They come from Me. Moses said : Then why are physicians necessary? He said : They get their provisions by virtue of their treatment and give solace to the hearts of My servants. Then My cure comes or my fixed law (death)

So God-reliance in the matter of medicine is an affair of knowledge and thoughts of mind. In fact to give up treatment is not God-reliance. In certain circumstances however, to give medicine is not opposed to Prophet's ways. The Prophet sometimes did not take any medicine. It is reported that Hazrat Abu Bakr once fell ill and he was requested to call for a physician.
He said : The Physician looked to me and said : I will do what I like. Abu Darda was asked in his illness : What do you think? He said : I am thinking about my sins. He was asked : What do you hope? He said : I hope for forgiveness from my Lord. They said :
Shall we call for you a physician? He said : The Physician gave me this disease. There was pain in the eye of Abu Zarr. He was told :

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 237

If you had called a physician, it would have been better. He said :
I am engaged in another affair. He was told : If you had prayed for recovery of your illness to God, it would bave been better. He said : I pray from Him more urgent matters.