Aslam

(5) Fifth cause. It is to believe that sins are compensated by diseases. Some people commit many sins and fear much and abstain from taking medicine for diseases for making expiations for their sins. The Prophet said : Fever and other diseases continue to come to a man owing to his sins till he travels in the earth like a virtuous man free from sins and faults. There is in the tradition that the fever of one day expiates the sins of a year.
Some people explain its reason by saying that fever destroys the strength of a year. Some say that a man has got 360 glands. Fever enters into each gland and therefore one feels pain. So every pain in each gland expiates the sins of one day. When the Prophet mentioned the expiation of sin by fever, Zaid-bin-Sabet prayed for lasting fever. As a result his fever continued till he died. Some Ansars prayed similarly. The Prophet said : God is not pleased with anything but Paradise for one whose two eyes has been robbed by Him. Some Ansars wished therefore to become blind.
The Prophet Jesus Christ said : He who does not remain satisfied with diseases and economic difficulties with hope of expiation of sins can not become wise. It is reported that the Prophet Moses prayed to God on seeing a man in a great distress : O Lord, show mercy on him. God said: How can I show mercy on him ? I am

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showing mercy on him by giving him this distress. In other words I am expiating his sins and increasing his ranks.

(6) Sixth cause. It is to believe that health breeds greed, pride - and other evils. A man by virtue of his continued sound health may have in his mind pride ungratefulness and low desires. For this reason a religious man gives up medicine. So that idleness, pride and other evils may not come to him. Health is the name of natural strength. Greed arises out of health and when it is high, commission of sin becomes easy. The lowest danger of health is to lose time uselessly by engaging oneself in happiness. When God wishes good for a servant. He warns him by diseases, dangers and difficulties. For this reason, a certain sage said : A believer is not free from diseases, wants and disgrace. The Prophet said : God says : Proverty is my prison and disease is my chain. I inflict a servant whom I love with these. When there is prevention of sin in disease, what greater good can there be than this ? There is peace of mind in giving up of sins. A certain religions man asked a man : How are you? He said : I am in peace of mind. He said : If you have not committed sins, you are then in peace of mind. If you have committed sins, then what disease is greater than sins ? He who commits sins is deprived of good.