Chapter V: Oneness of God and Trust in God
Answer. Know. O dear readers, that there are no two opinions that there is no prohibition to flee away from injurious things. In this matter, to give up God-reliance is lawful. But it does not show the path to reach the goal. God knows that the air does not injure the body when it touches it, but foul air breathed constanly may injure health. In other words, when the air becomes polluted and one inhales and exhales it for a long time, it enters into a healthy body. It does not not come out till the inner body is affected by it. In that condition any man living long in a place infected with epidemics, may be affected by it. If the Prophet would have given permission to the people of the place infected with epidemics to go out, there would have been no persons there except the patients, whose condition would have been miserable for want of nursing and care. The Muslims are
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like a building whose one part strengthens the other. The believers are like one body. If one part is attacked, the other parts also respond. This is one of the reasons of prohibition.
Question. It is seen from above that there is good in giving up medicine. Then why did not the Prophet give up medicine in order to gain merits ?
Answer Togive up medicine is good for the man whose sins are many and which require expiation. This was contrary to the case of the Prophet who was sinless and pure. He came as a world teacher to teach the people in all matters. Therefore he taught the people to take medicine in case of illness. It is, however, more perfect to know that stone and gold are the same than to flee away from them. This was exactly the case with the Prophet and thereby his God-reliance did not lessen.