Unable to work for taking care of very ill wife

15-7-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

My wife is very sick and I am taking care of her every day and night. I can't work because of her illness and am able to get very little help. Question: What does our Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) say about this matter? Am I at fault for not being able to earn a living? Please give me right guidance and information.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. No doubt that your taking care of your wife and your being beside her in this critical situation is a great act that brings the person nearer to Allah. We supplicate Allah to accept it from you and grant full and quick recovery to your wife. Obviously, illnesses and poverty are among the afflictions and trials that befall the Muslim in this life. But they are a source of enormous Blessing and great reward if the person remains patient seeking the reward from Allah Alone. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: Nothing befalls the Mumin (believer) toil, exhaustion, grief, illness sadness, even a pierce of a thorn, any of that expiates for some of his/her sins . In another narration (If the Mumin is afflicted by any of these) Allah grades him/her up for that and reduces his sins [Reported by Imam Muslim ]. Moreover, you do not commit any sins by not working to earn your living because you are busy with something more important, taking care of your sick wife. But if there is one of her relatives who can take care of her instead of you, then you should work to earn your living. Allah knows best.