Chapter 8.5. How The Ill Express Their Complaints

It is recommended that when asked about our condition, a sick person should start by thanking Allah and then proceed to list his complaints. This is to avoid the appearance of complaining of Allah's will. This was the etiquette of the followers as reported by al-Khatib al-Baghdadi in his Tarikh Baghdad in the biography of Abdul Rahman al-Tabib who was the physician of imam Ahmad and Bishr al-Hafi. Abdul Rahman said both Imam Ahmad and Bishr became sick and were treated at the same place. 'When I visited Bishr, I asked how he felt, and with thanks to Allah first, he then proceeded saying I have this pain or that complaint. When i visited imam Ahmad and asked how he felt, he would say 'i feel all right.' one day i told him, 'your brother Bishr is also ill, but when i ask him of his conditions, he thanks Allah first, then tells me his condition. Imam Ahmad said, 'please ask him from where did he get this.' I answered, 'his presence makes me reluctant to ask.' imam Ahmad said, 'tell him your brother, Abu Abdillah asks from where did you get this.' Abdul Rahman asked Bishr as told. Bishr said, 'Abu Abdillah wants everything with authority. I heard this from Azhar who heard it from ibn Aoun who heard it from ibn Sireen; 'if a person thanked Allah before complaining, it will not be a complaint but as if telling the acts of Allah.' Abdul Rahman said, 'I told this to imam Ahmad. After that, if asked how he felt, he would start by thanking Allah, and then describing his complaints.'

The answer of Bishr indicates that when asked about their health, the sick preferably should praise Allah first then explain their complaints. By this approach, it is not considered complaining against the acts of Allah.

• The Manners Of Visiting A Patient
• Condolence

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