Treat Your Sick With Sadaqah (Charity)
By Sheikh Khalid al-Hibshi
Chapter 1: Etiquettes of Giving Charity
Chapter 2: Reports Demonstrating the Impact of Charity in Healing Illnesses
The web version does not include the footnotes. Please refer to the PDF for footnotes.
The Hadith
Abu Umamah al-Bahili reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Treat your sick through sadaqah (charity).”
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “The trials of a man concerning his family, wealth, self, children, and neighbours are expiated by fasting, prayer, charity, enjoining good, and forbidding evil.”
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Charity has an extraordinary effect in repelling various types of afflictions, even if given by a sinner, an oppressor, or even a disbeliever! Indeed, Allah Almighty wards off afflictions through it. This is a well-known fact among both the elite and the common people, and it is acknowledged by all people of the world because they have experienced it.”
He also said, “There are remedies for illnesses that the greatest minds of physicians have not discovered, nor have their sciences, experiments, or analogies reached them. These remedies include spiritual and heart-based treatments, such as the strength of the heart, reliance on Allah, trust in Him, seeking refuge in Him, humbling oneself before Him, submission to Him, charity, supplication, repentance, seeking forgiveness, doing good to people, helping those in distress, and relieving those in hardship. These treatments have been tested by various nations across different religions and beliefs, and they found in them an effect in healing that the most knowledgeable doctors could not attain with their science, experience, or reasoning. We, along with others, have experimented with this on many occasions and witnessed it achieving what physical medicines could not!”
Author's Introduction
All praise is due to Allah in times of ease and hardship. May peace and blessings be upon the one who endured illness and tribulation, and upon his family and companions—those who exemplified patience and contentment.
Now to the matter at hand:
Diseases have spread and diversified in this era, and some have even baffled physicians—such as cancer and similar ailments—despite the fact that Allah has created a cure for every disease. Yet, for reasons known only to Him—exalted be His name—some cures remain undiscovered. One of the greatest causes of these illnesses is sin and the public display of disobedience, which leads to the affliction of people with diseases and calamities, as Allah Almighty says, “And whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned, but He pardons much.” Additionally, these afflictions serve as a test from Allah for His servants in this world, which is filled with trials and hardships, teeming with illnesses and dangers. As Abu al-Hasan al-Tihami said, “This world was created in distress, yet you wish for it to be pure and free from trouble and hardship?”
Observing how patients wrestle with pain, how those in need endure their suffering, knocking on every door and seeking every means—yet often neglecting to turn to the Lord of all lords, the Almighty and Supreme—I was compelled to pen these words. I dedicate them to every afflicted soul, hoping to dispel their sorrows, ease their burdens, and bring healing to their ailments.
So, to you, O weary patient… to you, O burdened and broken-hearted soul… to you, O afflicted and distressed one…
Peace be upon you, as much as you have burned in the flames of sorrow.
Peace be upon you, as many as the tears you have shed.
Peace be upon you, as often as you have sighed in pain.
Your illness has distanced you from people, replacing health with hardship. While others laugh, you weep; while they sleep peacefully, you lie restless in pain. How many times have you longed for healing, willing to give up everything you own just to attain it!
My dear brother, whether suffering from a physical or psychological illness…
I do not wish to reopen your wounds, but rather, I want to offer you a proven cure and, by Allah’s permission, relieve you from years of suffering. This cure is found in the words of the Prophet ﷺ, “Treat your sick through charity.” The illnesses that afflict a Muslim—whether upon themselves or those under their care—are among the greatest trials in this world. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The trials of a man concerning his family, wealth, self, children, and neighbours are expiated by fasting, prayer, charity, enjoining good, and forbidding evil.”
Yes, my dear brother, it is charity, given with the intention of seeking healing. Perhaps you have given charity many times before, but not with the specific intention that Allah grants you or your loved one a cure. So do it now—this time with full confidence that Allah, the Most Generous, will heal you. Feed a poor person. Sponsor an orphan. Donate to a charitable endowment or an ongoing charity. And you will see from your Lord far beyond what you could ever hope for!
Indeed, charity—by Allah’s permission—removes illnesses and ailments, as well as calamities and tribulations. Those whom Allah has selected have experienced this firsthand and found that spiritual healing is far more effective than physical remedies. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to treat ailments with spiritual and divine supplications, and the righteous predecessors would give charity in proportion to their illness or affliction—and before long, the Healer, the Merciful, the Most Generous—exalted be He—would grant them a cure. So do not withhold from yourself if you have wealth and abundance. And even if you are poor, give in charity—even if it is just one small coin—with the intention of seeking healing for yourself or your loved one, and let your trust in your Lord be immense, for the stronger your certainty, the more complete and perfect your healing will be.
Now, I will briefly mention some important etiquettes of giving charity. So, lend me your ear and practice them with full reliance upon Allah, seeking His help alone. And soon, you will witness the boundless generosity of your Lord.
Chapter 1: Etiquettes of Giving Charity
Some may ask, “If I am already treating my sick loved one with ruqyah (Quranic recitation and supplications), should I stop and rely solely on charity?” The answer is: No, absolutely not. Rather, combining ruqyah with charity is one of the most powerful and effective means of bringing about healing. It is self-evident that treating an illness with two complementary remedies is more beneficial than relying on just one. Likewise, using multiple spiritual treatments—such as ruqyah, charity, seeking forgiveness, supplication, repentance, reciting the Quran, and engaging in remembrance of Allah—is far more effective than relying on just two remedies.
The more a person utilises these spiritual cures, the more complete, perfect, and swift their healing will be—by the will of Allah. How many people, while undergoing ruqyah, have also given charity with the intention of seeking healing—only to find that Allah hastened their recovery? Many of them were cured faster than those who relied solely on ruqyah without giving charity. So pay close attention to this and reflect upon it—it is extremely important!
Before mentioning some etiquettes of healing through charity, you must first and foremost understand that the wealth you possess belongs to Allah. He is the One who granted it to you, and He is testing you through it. If you fulfil Allah’s right on it, then you will succeed, God-Willing. However, if you withhold it from His weak and needy servants and fail to give it its due, then you risk having it taken away from you—losing both this world and the Hereafter. Allah has repeatedly encouraged and urged you to give charity from this wealth, so that you may attain the best of both worlds. He says, “O you who believe! Spend from what We have provided for you.” There are countless Quranic verses and authentic hadiths that emphasise the immense blessings and rewards of charity and spending in the way of Allah—both in this life and the Hereafter.
And if you wish to treat your sick loved one through charity and reap its rewards—by Allah’s permission—just as those in the attached real-life stories have experienced, then follow these simple steps:
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If you want the healing of your sick loved one through charity to be swift and complete, then give from the pure and lawful wealth that Allah has granted you. Indeed, Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure, as mentioned in the authentic hadith. Allah also says, “O you who believe! Spend from the good things which you have earned, and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim at the bad (inferior) to spend from it, while you yourselves would not accept it except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Praiseworthy.”
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When you give this charity, do so with the sincere intention of seeking healing for your loved one. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed, actions are judged by intentions, and every person shall have only what they intended.”
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If you are wealthy, then be generous in your charity. The Prophet ﷺ was exceptionally generous, giving like one who never feared poverty.
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Give your charity purely for the sake of Allah. The more sincere and devoted your act is to Allah, the greater and more complete its reward and impact will be. Remember the hadith about the seven whom Allah will shade under His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His. Among them, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned, “A man who gives in charity and conceals it so much that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.” This is a great encouragement to be sincere in all acts of worship.
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For your charity to have a profound impact, by Allah’s permission, strive to give it to a righteous and pious person in need. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not keep companionship except with a believer, and do not let anyone eat your food except a pious person.” The greater the poverty and need of the recipient, the greater the effect and reward of your charity. However, charity is not limited to humans alone. The Prophet ﷺ said, “In every living being (with a moist liver) there is a reward.” So do not think that your charity must be given only to a human to be beneficial. Even if you feed a hungry animal with the intention of seeking healing for your sick loved one, Allah—by His will—may grant that healing. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.
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When you give charity with the intention of healing for your sick loved one, do not say, “I will try and see if it works.” Instead, be firm, certain, and fully confident that Allah, the Most High, will grant healing. Do not rush the outcome. Do not lose hope. Do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Rather, have unwavering trust in Him—for He alone is the Healer, the Beneficent, the Most Generous. It is He who holds both harm and benefit in His hands. Nothing in the heavens or on earth is beyond His power. When He wills something, He simply says, “Be,” and it is. So, think well of Him and believe with full confidence that He will heal your loved one. For Allah has said, “I am as My servant thinks of Me.” And Allah never disappoints the one who has good expectations of Him.
If you do not see an immediate result in your sick loved one’s healing after giving charity—which is very rare but can happen—then give again and repeat the act. Do not lose hope. Be fully confident that your charity will never be lost. It is safely preserved with the One who neither errs nor forgets—glorified and praised be He. And if Allah does not grant healing through your charity, then know with absolute certainty that this is due to His divine wisdom and mercy. Sometimes, Allah does not cure a sick person—even if they give charity—because He, in His infinite kindness, may delay their healing until they are purified from sins they persist in. So, examine yourself and your sick loved one, and strive to repent from sins and abandon disobedience. Then, you will witness how the Most Generous will remove your affliction, accept your charity, and grant healing in ways beyond imagination. Allah Almighty has said, “And whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned.” This is why it is said in Islamic wisdom: “No trial descends except due to a sin, and it is not lifted except through repentance.”
If Allah grants healing to your sick loved one and replaces their hardship with ease and well-being, then turn to Him with praise and gratitude, and repeat it often, saying, “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds.” For He alone is worthy of praise and glory, and He has clearly promised an increase to those whom He blesses with appreciation. As He states in His Noble Book, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase [My blessings] for you.’” So whoever frequently thanks Allah for granting them healing, let them rejoice—for Allah will bless them with greater well-being and protect them from future illnesses. The Prophet ﷺ said, “How amazing is the affair of the believer! Indeed, all of his affairs are good—and this is for no one except the believer. If he experiences ease, he is grateful, and that is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he is patient, and that is good for him.”
We ask Allah, Almighty, to grant your sick loved one a complete healing, leaving no trace of illness, and to make their affliction an expiation for their sins, an elevation in their ranks, and a shield from the Hellfire.
Chapter 2: Reports Demonstrating the Impact of Charity in Healing Illnesses
Here are some astonishing reports that, if they indicate anything, they demonstrate the profound impact of charity in healing the sick.
Report One: The Prophet commanded him in a dream to give charity, so he did—and Allah healed him, granting him a radiant and beautiful face.
It is narrated in Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib that Imam al-Bayhaqi related the following story about his teacher, al-Hakim Abu Abdullah that he developed a severe ulcer on his face and tried various treatments, yet it did not heal. The condition persisted for nearly a year. He then requested Imam Abu Uthman al-Sabuni to make supplication for him during his Friday gathering. During the gathering, the Imam prayed for him, and the people earnestly said “Amin”.
The following Friday, a woman threw a note into the gathering. She wrote that after returning home, she prayed fervently for al-Hakim Abu Abdullah that night and saw a dream in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appeared and said to her, “Tell Abu Abdullah to provide water generously for the Muslims.” The note was brought to al-Hakim, and upon reading it, he immediately ordered the construction of a water station at the entrance of his house. Once the station was completed, he instructed that water be poured into it, along with ice, so people could drink from it. Within a week, the ulcer completely healed, his face returned to its best state, and he remained healthy for many years thereafter.
Report Two: He dug a well for the people, and Allah cured him of a severe illness
It is narrated in Siyar Alam al-Nubala that a man once asked Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak about a persistent ulcer on his knee that had afflicted him for seven years. He had tried various treatments and consulted doctors, but nothing had worked. Ibn al-Mubarak advised him, “Go and dig a well in a place where people are in need of water, for I hope that when water flows from it, your bleeding will stop.” The man followed his advice, dug a well, and—by the will of Allah—he was completely healed.
Report Three: He gave charity to a widow with orphans, and Allah cured him of cancer
It is said that a man was diagnosed with cancer and travelled across the world in search of a cure, but found none. In desperation, he gave charity to a widow with orphans, and—by Allah’s grace—he was completely cured.
Report Four: She was cured of cancer because of her care for orphans
Similar to the previous story, a righteous Algerian woman, who was living in Saudi Arabia, shared her experience, “I was diagnosed with cancer several years ago and became certain that death was near. However, I continued to spend whatever I earned from my embroidery work on orphans. Every amount I gave was returned to me many times over, and Allah sent generous people in Algeria who helped fund my treatment. Then, after moving to Saudi Arabia, Allah placed in my path those who cared for me and looked after my needs—despite the fact that I knew no one in the country. I found righteous sisters who supported me, and I continued my treatment until—by the grace of Allah—I was completely cured. Even though I had no connections in this land, Allah facilitated everything for me, making my journey smooth—all because of my charity toward those orphans.”
Report Five: A barren woman gave charity, and Allah blessed her with twins
A woman was afflicted with infertility, and doctors completely ruled out any possibility of her ever conceiving, saying that there was no treatment for her condition. But Allah guided her to give charity to a poor woman. After giving, she asked the woman to pray for her to have a righteous child. Only three months passed, and she discovered that she was pregnant with twin boys!
Report Six: Allah saved him from death because of his charity
A well-known female preacher once narrated a story about the impact of charity, expressing her amazement at its effects. One of the women in the audience responded, “Do not be surprised! Our father once had a needy man come to his tent, so he gave him milk in a bowl and let him drink until he was full. Later, while traveling, our father’s car broke down, and he sat under the shade of a tree, on the verge of death from exhaustion and thirst. Suddenly, a man appeared and gave him milk to drink, reviving him. Upon closer look, he realised that this was the very same man he had once given milk to!”
Perhaps it was a noble angel who appeared in the form of the man whom their father had helped, for Allah is capable of all things and never lets the reward of a good deed go to waste.
Report Seven: Her sight was restored because of her mother’s charity
A young boy was playing with his sister while holding a knife in his hand. Suddenly, he accidentally struck her in the eye. She was rushed to the hospital, but due to the severity of the injury, she was transferred to Riyadh, where specialised doctors could examine her. After thorough tests and imaging, the doctors gave a grim diagnosis—her cornea was severely damaged, and the chances of restoring her eyesight were very slim.
One day, as the mother sat with her injured daughter, she remembered the power of charity. She immediately asked her husband to bring her only piece of gold jewellery, the only valuable item she owned. Despite their difficult financial situation, she gave it in charity and prayed sincerely, saying, “O my Lord, You know that I own nothing else—so make this charity a means of healing my daughter.” The next day, a doctor examined the girl and, like the previous physicians, confirmed that there was no hope for recovery. A few days later, another doctor reviewed her case. He carefully examined her eye and, after deep thought, decided to proceed with surgery. By the grace of Allah, the operation was successful! The little girl fully recovered, with no scars left on her face. Her eyesight was completely restored—just as it was before! All praise be to Allah.
Report Eight: Allah healed his daughter through charity
Sheikh Suleiman al-Mufrij narrates this story from the man who personally experienced it: “I have a young daughter who developed a severe illness in her throat. I took her to several hospitals and consulted many doctors, but nothing worked. Her condition became incurable, and the entire family was in distress. I felt as if I were the one suffering from her illness, as we were only giving her injections to ease her pain—until we lost all hope, except in the mercy of Allah.
Then, one day, hope arrived, and relief came. A righteous man called me and reminded me of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ ‘Treat your sick through charity.’ I told him, ‘I have already given a lot of charity.’
He replied, ‘This time, give charity with the specific intention of seeking healing for your daughter.’ So I gave a modest amount of charity to a poor person, but her condition remained the same. When I informed him, he said, ‘You are someone whom Allah has blessed with wealth. Let your charity be in proportion to what Allah has given you.’ So I went out a second time, filled my car with rice, chicken, and other essential goods, spending a large amount of money, and distributed them among many needy people. They were overjoyed with my charity, and—by Allah, I never expected it—but the last injection my daughter received was the one just before I gave that charity. She was completely healed by the grace of Allah!
I became certain that charity is one of the greatest causes of healing. It has now been three years, and my daughter has not suffered from any illness whatsoever. From that moment on, I increased my charity, especially towards charitable endowments (awqaf). And ever since, I have felt immense blessings in my wealth, my health, and my family.
Now, I sincerely advise every sick person to give charity from their most valuable possessions and to do so repeatedly, for Allah will surely heal them. I bear witness before Allah to the truth of what I have narrated, and indeed, Allah never lets the reward of the righteous be lost.”
Report Nine: She gave away all her gold in charity, and her son was healed
A young man was admitted to the hospital after being afflicted with a severe illness—may Allah grant us and all Muslims well-being. After conducting multiple tests, the doctors lost all hope and informed his mother, who was accompanying him, “Take his belongings; there is no hope for his recovery. And Allah knows best.”
The mother was devastated at the thought of losing her beloved son. However, she quickly remembered the power of charity. She immediately sold all the gold she owned and gave its entire price in charity. Just a few days later, the doctor came to her with unexpected news, “There is now hope for his recovery.” Her son’s condition gradually improved, and after some time, he was completely healed and discharged from the hospital—fully recovered. Everyone praised and thanked Allah Almighty for His mercy, kindness, and the miraculous healing He granted.
Report Ten: He was afflicted by the evil eye, and Allah healed him through charity
The Sheikh also narrates another story shared by its witness: “My brother went out one day and was standing in a street. He was perfectly fine and had no complaints, but suddenly, he collapsed unconscious, as if he had been shot in the head by a bullet. We feared he had been afflicted by the evil eye, a brain tumour, or a stroke. We rushed him to multiple hospitals and clinics, conducting tests and scans, but his head showed no signs of injury. Yet, he suffered from excruciating pain that deprived him of sleep and well-being for a long time. At times, the pain became so severe that he struggled to breathe, let alone speak.
I asked him, ‘Do you have any money we can give in charity on your behalf? Perhaps Allah will heal you.’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ So I withdrew about seven thousand riyals and contacted a righteous man who knew poor families so he could distribute it among them. I swear by Allah Almighty that my brother was completely healed on the same day—before the money even reached the poor! At that moment, I became certain that charity has an immense impact on healing.”
Report Eleven: His daughter was struck with a fever, and Allah healed her through charity
The Sheikh narrates another event, as told by the person who experienced it firsthand: “My little daughter fell sick with a severe fever. She stopped eating, and I took her to several clinics, but her temperature remained high, and her condition worsened. I returned home, overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Then, my wife said to me, ‘Let’s give charity on her behalf.’ So, I called a man who helps distribute aid to the poor and told him, ‘Please meet me at the mosque after Asr prayer. I will give you 20 bags of rice and 20 cartons of chicken to distribute to those in need.’ I swear by Allah, and I am not exaggerating, that within five minutes of ending the phone call, my daughter suddenly got up, started running, playing, jumping on the couches, and eating until she was completely full. She was fully healed—by the grace of Allah, and then through charity. Since that moment, I have made it a practice to give charity whenever illness strikes and I strongly encourage others to do the same.”
Report Twelve: A woman suffering from a severe mental illness was saved by charity
There was a woman who suffered from a severe and overwhelming mental illness. One of her relatives, may Allah reward him generously, decided to give charity on her behalf, with the sincere intention of seeking her healing. He donated to a righteous yet poor man who was supporting two families and asked him to pray for her recovery. Within just a few days, Allah facilitated a way out for her—someone was guided to help her and became the means of her healing. The man who gave the charity narrates, “By Allah, no one in her family knew about the charity I gave. I did it purely for the sake of Allah. But soon after, her family and several righteous people who were aware of her condition were suddenly moved to take immediate action. They devoted themselves to caring for her and ensuring her recovery—and by the grace and mercy of Allah, she was completely healed.”
Report Thirteen: No trace of the illness was found after her charity
A woman who suffered from kidney failure—may Allah grant us and all Muslims health and protection from every illness and affliction—she endured a great deal of hardship due to her condition, going through numerous medical appointments and treatments. Desperate for a donor, she offered a reward of 20,000 riyals to anyone willing to donate a kidney.
As news of her plea spread, a poor woman came forward and agreed to undergo the procedure. On the scheduled day, the patient met the donor, only to find her in tears. Surprised, she asked if she was donating against her will. The donor replied, “The only reason I am donating my kidney is my poverty and my need for the money,” before breaking down in sobs.
Moved by her words, the patient reassured her, saying, “The money is yours, and I ask for nothing in return.” You can only imagine the poor woman’s joy upon hearing this!
Days later, when the patient returned to the hospital for a check-up, the doctors were utterly shocked. After conducting tests, they found no trace of her illness—Allah had completely healed her. All praise and gratitude be to Him!
Report Fourteen: A person gave charity on her behalf, and Allah healed her
A woman was admitted to intensive care due to a severe illness. Upon hearing about her condition, a generous benefactor slaughtered a camel with the intention of dedicating the reward to her. He then distributed its meat among poor families as charity. Just a few days later, the woman was completely healed—all praise and gratitude be to Allah!
Report Fifteen: She gave charity, and it became her cure from sihr (sorcery)
As a group of women were discussing the virtues of charity, one of them was so moved that she took off her expensive necklace and handed it to another woman, asking her to sell it and donate the money to poor families.
When the woman took the necklace to a gold dealer to weigh it, he removed a gemstone from its centre. To his astonishment, he found something inside that appeared to be a form of sorcery. Upon extracting it, the owner of the necklace was miraculously cured of the affliction she had been suffering from. All praise and gratitude be to Allah!
Report Sixteen: Her husband gave all her gold in charity, and her condition immediately improved
A doctor called the husband of a woman who was hospitalised and informed him that her condition was critical, with little to no medical hope for her recovery. Deeply affected by the news, the husband quickly decided to give charity on her behalf, donating all of her gold.
A few hours later, when he arrived at the hospital, the doctor told him that just moments earlier—at the exact time he had given charity—signs of improvement and recovery had begun to appear in his wife. She was soon transferred from intensive care to a regular hospital room, and within days, she was discharged completely healed. All praise and gratitude be to Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful!
Report Seventeen: Her tooth was completely healed because of charity
A well-known preacher shared her experience, “Several years ago, I was in the Haram (Grand Mosque of Makkah), and I was suffering from severe pain in a tooth that I had delayed treating and filling. I was delighted to be in the Haram and wanted to spend my time reciting the Quran, but if the pain persisted, I would have to visit a dentist, which would take away precious time.
Then, an idea crossed my mind—I decided to give charity to relieve my pain. So, I gave charity to one of the young girls in the Haram. By Allah, it was only a short while before my pain completely disappeared! And from that year until this very moment, I have never needed to see a dentist for that tooth because it has never hurt me again!”
Report Eighteen: Doctors declared his child dead, but Allah saved him through his father’s charity
Sheikh Abd al-Hadi Badlah, the Imam of al-Ridwan Mosque in Aleppo, Syria—one of the rare scholars who speaks to both the heart and mind, may Allah bless him and benefit others through him, shared this story: “At the beginning of my marriage, Allah blessed us with our first child, and we were overwhelmed with joy. However, it was Allah’s will that our child fell gravely ill with a severe illness that medicine at the time was unable to treat. His condition worsened, and with it, our sorrow deepened as we helplessly watched our beloved son suffer. You can imagine what a child means to his parents, especially when he is their firstborn!
But the worst feeling of all was our helplessness—we could do nothing to ease his pain.
Still, we submitted to Allah’s decree while doing everything within our power to find a cure.
People of goodwill guided us to a renowned and experienced doctor, so I took my child to him. At that time, the child was burning with a fever—a fever that consumed not only his body but also the hearts of his mother and me. The doctor examined him and said, ‘If the child's fever does not go down by tonight, he will not survive until tomorrow!’
I returned home with my child, overwhelmed with sorrow. The pain in my heart was unbearable, and sleep abandoned me. Unable to rest, I stood up to pray, then wandered aimlessly through the streets, leaving my wife by our son’s bedside, crying in despair. I didn’t know what to do for my child. But then, I remembered charity and the words of my beloved Prophet ﷺ, ‘Treat your sick through charity.’ But who could I find at such a late hour to give charity to? And if I knocked on someone’s door, what would they think of me?
As I walked, lost in thought, I suddenly heard the faint meowing of a hungry cat in the dark of night. At that moment, I recalled the words of the Prophet ﷺ when the Companions asked, ‘Is there a reward for us in caring for animals?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘In every living being (with a moist liver) there is a reward.’ I hurried back home, took a piece of meat, and fed it to the cat.
As I closed the door behind me, the sound of the door mixed with my wife’s voice calling out, ‘Have you returned? Quickly, come here.’ I rushed to her side and saw that her face had completely changed—her sorrow had vanished, replaced by a radiant smile. I said, ‘I just returned.’ She said, ‘After you left, I dozed off for a short while as I sat beside our son and I saw a strange dream.’
‘I saw myself holding our son in my arms, and suddenly, a huge black bird swooped down from the sky, ready to snatch him away. I held onto our child tightly, terrified, not knowing what to do! But then, out of nowhere, a cat appeared and fiercely attacked the bird. I had never seen such strength! Though the bird was massive, the cat kept pushing it back and fighting it until it finally drove it far away. Then, I woke up to the sound of you coming in.’
The sheikh continued, ‘I smiled and felt hopeful. My wife looked at me in astonishment, surprised by my reaction.’ I told her, ‘May this be a sign of goodness.’
We rushed toward our child, each of us trying to reach him first. And there he was—the fever had completely left him, and he opened his eyes! By the next morning—by the One besides whom there is no god—our son was playing with the neighbourhood children as if nothing had happened. All praise be to Allah!” Thus ended the sheikh’s story.
After sharing this miraculous event, that very child—who had now grown into a young man of about 17 years old, having completed his memorisation of the entire Quran and continuing his pursuit of Islamic knowledge—delivered a profound sermon to the congregation at his father’s mosque, al-Ridwan Mosque in Aleppo, during one of the final nights of the blessed last ten nights of Ramadan.
Dear brothers and sisters, we share this report and others like it with you because they reflect the divine power and the clear, undeniable blessing of charity—one of its greatest worldly benefits being the removal of hardships and afflictions.
Charity is a treasure from the divine treasures of Allah and a powerful cure with immense benefits. So embrace it, and treat your sick through charity!