In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

The one afflicted with sickness will be rewarded for the good deeds he used to perform while being healthy

By Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhali may Allah have mercy on him

500. On the authority of ِAbdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

ما من أحد يمرض الا كتب له مثل ما كان يعمل و هو صحيح

“There is not anyone who becomes sick except that it will be written for him the likes of what he use to perform when he was healthy.”

The Shaykh commented on this narration in his explanation of al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imaam Bukhari on page 87 Vol 2. He said,

This hadith shows the expansive bounty of Allah upon the Muslims and believers, both male and female. An example of this hadith is when a Muslim performs an action while in a state of good health. For example, performing the prayers in congregation with the Muslims without any laziness or weariness.

A Muslim does this while not seeing that he is excessive by attending the masjid every day and night five times a day. He knows that attending the masjid regularly is among the most virtuous deeds and means of getting closer to Allah. He realizes that this action brings comfort to the heart and soul, every step he takes walking to the masjid, sitting in the masjid, reciting the Qur’an, and the glorification he makes of Allah are means for his sins being expiated. These deeds bring about rewards none know of the extent except the Knower of the unseen.

This good deed the rewards for this good deed cannot be enumerated except by Allah. Therefore, it is upon you, O Muslim, to work hard in performing righteous actions while you are healthy, because if you were to become sick or unable to attend the masjid, Allah will still write the rewards of what you use to do when you were healthy. He will write the same rewards of praying in congregation, remaining in the masjid, walking to the masjid – and this bounty is from Allah’s mercy.

If you consistently slept during the night and woke up for night prayers, but one day, you become afflicted with sickness or inability to pray the night prayers, Allah will still record for you the same deeds you attained when you were healthy – without anything being taken away no matter how long your sickness lasts and how severe your sickness becomes! Your reward remains the same and the same goes for any good deed you performed for Allah’s sake while healthy. The reward will not cease and this is from Allah’s bounty, His generosity and perfection!

Therefore, it is befitting for us, the Muslims, to perform as many good deeds as we are able to carry out while we are healthy. We should never see our deeds as plentiful, rather we should know that we are servants in need of performing more good deeds, and that is because good deeds leads to being raised in degrees. For surely in front of us is a hard day (the Day of Judgement) and we are in the most need of performing good deeds in order to expiate our mistakes and raise our levels with Allah. This is the reason for salvation from Allah’s punishment, attaining success of being pleased by Allah, and attaining His mercy in the next abode.

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee Abdus-Salaam

الفقير الى الله