Before seeking cures for any disease, a Muslim should first believe that all diseases as well as their cures are in Allah’s hands and power. Allah alone decrees trials for His creation and He alone can decree their remedies. All means of getting sick and healed are, therefore, contingent upon Allah’s decree. As part of a Muslim’s belief, this principle is important because people sometimes fail to understand how afflictions come down upon a person and seek their cures without internalizing this reality. So, Allah is the One Who heals whomsoever He wills, and He decrees sickness and death for whomsoever He wills. Allah tells us in the Quran:
“And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things.” (Surah Al-AnAam, 6:17)
The second belief has to do with “tawakkul” in Allah related to the treatment of diseases. One may ask whether the use of spiritual treatments based on the Quran and sunnah is in contradiction to those based on medical sciences. We know from the prophet’s life that he (s.a.w.) used the Quran and dua to treat all types of ailments along with using physical means of healing. The use of medical treatment, therefore, does not contradict any Islamic guidelines nor should it suppress one’s belief and trust (tawakkul) in Allah. The proper way, therefore, is to fully trust Allah, to ask for His help, and to seek medical advice as well.
In this context, Ibn Al-Qayyim stated the following:
““This (seeking medical advice) does not contradict tawaakul (putting one’s trust in Allah), just as warding off hunger, thirst, heat and cold does not contradict tawakkul. The essence of tawaakul is not complete without resorting to the means which Allah has set out in order for us to achieve results both according to His decree (qadr) and His laws. Not using these means is contrary to tawakkul: it goes against and undermines the command and wisdom of Allah, although the one who neglects the means may think that this makes his tawakkul stronger. Ignoring the means is a sign of helplessness that goes against the true essence of tawakkul, which is that the heart relies on Allah to bring the slave whatever will benefit him in this world and the next, and to protect him from whatever may harm him in this world and the next. But along with this reliance, it is essential to take the appropriate means, otherwise he will be going against the wisdom and command of Allah. Helplessness should not be taken as a sign of tawaakul, nor should tawakkul make a person helpless (Zaad Al-MaAad, 4/15. See Al-MawsooAh Al-Fiqhiyyah, 11/116).”