The best provision is Taqwa, so fear Me, O people of intelligence, (al Baqarah, verse 197)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to encourage his companions to recite the above supplication on a regular basis. Allah has mentioned the virtues of Taqwa and encouraged us to ask Allah to provide us Taqwa. There are two popular supplications asking Allah for Taqwa.
Allahumma Inni As’aloka, al huda, wattuka, wal afafa, wal Ginah.
O Allah I ask you to give me Hidaya, Taqwa, steadfastness and Independence from others.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha wa zakkiha anta khairu man zakkaha, anta waliyuha wa moulaha.
Taqwa is to protect one’s self from those things which can be destructive for your health, wealth, character and life. We are commanded to perform those deeds that will strengthen our faith, build taqwa and increase our guidance.
The foundation of strong faith is based upon five things, and of them is protection of health. One should keep himself away from those things which will harm his health. Good health is among the finest blessings of Allah. Ibn Abbas is quoted in Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are two great blessings towards which many people are careless, Good health and Free time.” On the day of Qiyamah, each one will be questioned about all the blessings
Where did you utilize the Blessings given by Allah?
From the millions of blessings, the first blessings that will be asked about how did you utilize your good health? Was it wasted or utilized ? Did your good health be a source to build your akhera? Whom did your health please? Allah or Shaytan? Once you have answered the question on health, the next one will be, “Where did you utilize your free time?”
Consider this: your job is eight hours and you sleep for eight hours but what happens to your rest of the eight hours? Did you pass it in Masjid or Islamic gathering or blew it off in Hotels and loitering in malls and markets? Was time helpful for others or just passed away in entertainment?
The Qur’an states it very clearly, “Summa Yusalunna anil na’eem” “Then you will be questioned about the Blessings.”
Five Blessings which are followed by Hardships
“ Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.” Shu’ab al-Imān 9575
Everything harmful thing for health is prohibited and that includes huge efforts in worship if it harms one’s health.
Abdullah bin amr bin al-As (Allah be pleased with him) got married to a beautiful girl. The couple started their own life and had their house. Three days after the marriage, Amr bin Al-As went to his son’s house and inquired from the wife, “How is your husband?” She replied, “I don’t know him as yet because till now he does not know in which room I sleep.” The father asked the reason so she said, “He is so religious that whole day he fasts and offers prayers whole night.” She was complaining in a gentle manner that her husband does not find time to give due rights of his wife.
Hearing this, Amr bin al Aas ( Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and reported the matter. He called upon Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) and asked him if it was true. He then said, “Your body has a right over you. Your Lord has a right over you and your family too has a right over you.”
If a person observes the right of his body over him he can do many good deeds out of good health.
Each one’s right is duly divided and explained in Islam and they must be duly given. In other narrations of the above Hadith, the Prophet is reported to have said, “ Allah has given your eyes too a right over you.” It means sleep well and enough. The above hadith continues, “Abdullah replied, “ I have strength to do it.” But the Prophet (Peace be upon him) refused to permit such a tedious worship and permitted him to complete recitation of entire Qur’an in forty days. When Abdullah insisted, then he approved to complete Qur’an in three days. Years later when Abdullah became old and weak he recalled the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “I wish I had accepted the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him).”
“A strong Believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak Believer though both of them have goodness”, says a sahih Hadith from Muslim. This Hadith also refers to physical health as the productivity of a strong Believer is higher and better. If a person is healthy and strong then he can do many high profile deeds but if he is weak then it becomes difficult even to get up and offer prayers.
Good health is a bounty of Allah even if….
If you are healthy and sound, performing strong good deeds but fall to a illness still the angels will be instructed to write down your good deeds even if you are not able to perform. Hadith says, Allah will ask them, “ Why are the deeds of my worshippers getting lessened in your records?” They will reply, “As long as he was healthy he worshipped in large amount and now he is ill so he cannot and thus we recorded the way he has worshipped.” Allah will command them to note all the deeds however less in number during illness as much as performed in high numbers when he was healthy. This is the mercy of Allah that He benefits his worshippers even after they fall sick.
“All that is Good is Halal and all that is Bad is Haram. (Surah al Araf)
Everything that harms the health is declared to be prohibited in Islam. Pork and alcohol are prohibited and it is known that they ruin our bodies. Also prohibited are those things which intoxicates a person. These things harms the mental and physical health too damaging the spirituality of a person and taking him away from the remembrance of Allah. The ruling is very clear, “Anything that intoxicates you in large amount is prohibited even in small amount” said the Prophet (peace be upon him). Let me remind that you cigarettes, tobacco are included to be in the list of prohibition based upon the above verse.
Trustworthiness and strength are indeed a part of good character
When Musa (peace be upon him) was on his way to Midyan he reached a place where lot of people were feeding water to their animals. Little away, there stood two girls waiting for the crowd to disperse. Musa (Peace be upon him) inquired from them and they told him that, “Our father is old and weak so we have to feed our animals.” They had their animals too but did not want to mix with the crowd and there was a heavy stone they could not lift to get water easily for their animals. Musa (peace be upon him) pitied them and lifted the stone single handedly and put it aside. Then he took their animals and got them water. The two sisters returned home and informed their father to hire Musa (peace be upon him) and one of them said, “Father, hire him because he is a trustworthy and a strong man.” The father sent one of the girls to call Musa (peace be upon him) and then he was offered to marry one of the girls. The girl was very modest when she approached Musa and the reward she got from Allah was, she became the wife of the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). The story displays character and strength of Musa (peace be upon him). Trustworthiness is indeed a good character.
A man who grazed sheep was appointed as a prophet of Allah and ended up as one of the five most powerful Prophets of all time. He got the privilege to talk to Allah directly and was titled Kalimullah. That was the fruit of being trustworthiness and strong.
Once the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by some children who were playing with bow and arrows. The moment they saw him they fled out of awe and respect. He called them back and joined them in their play. He shot his arrow and said, “O Bani Ismail, use your bow and arrow, for your father Ismail was an excellent archer.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged to learn and master archery because it is full of strength. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has encouraged us to walk to masjid for all five prayers and Jumuah as well as Eid. Today most of us travel in cars and buses only. So we lose out our good health.
Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) walked, he walked swiftly and gracefully as if descending from a slope. Today, most of the patients who are suffering from high blood pressure, hypertension, high sugar are those who do not exercise nor walk. Our life is totally governed by machines.
Teach your children three skills
Umar bin al Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Teach and encourage your children to do three things,
1. Archery 2. Horse riding 3. Swimming”
Instead of getting involved in sports, many young people are sporting video and mobile games thus getting obese or overweight.
On the concluding note let me tell you that anything that improves your health and gives you strength is permitted in Islam.