Question
A relative of mine has been diagnosed with a rare and terminal form of cancer. The doctors have said that this form of cancer is incurable and has a limited life expectancy, usually between months to 9 months, in certain cases 2 years maximum. He is undergoing intensive chemotherapy and has applied for a certain trial drug from America, which doctors say was developed for this specific type of cancer. His condition is not improving and it seems that doctors are uncertain about the outcome of the trial drug which has not been used on humans yet, hence the results of use are even more uncertain. He is not in a good frame of mind currently as the hope seems slim. Please comment in the light of the Shariah.
Answer
The relative has unnecessarily invited worry upon himself. Everyone and everything has a limited life expectancy. No one and nothing lives forever. The Qur'aan Majeed says: "No person will die but at the appointed time with the permission (decree) of Allah." Since this is a fact of absolute certitude, the 'life expectancy' idea of the doctors should be ignored. No amount of medicine and anxiety will prevent the arrival of Maut at its precise moment.
The new, untried drug was uncalled for. Never should he have made himself a guinea pig for the kuffaar to experiment on. He should resign himself to Allah Ta'ala, recite Istighfaar in abundance and understand well that no amount of medicine will delay Maut. Furthermore, there will be numerous people without cancer who will die before him.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 25 No 08
- PDF page
- 12
Verbatim verified against the source PDF
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