Refusing medical treatment
| Fatwa #1057 | Category: Aqaaid (Beliefs) | Country: United Kingdom | Date: 4th January 2024 |
| Fatwa #1057 | Date: 4th January 2024 |
| Category: Aqaaid (Beliefs) | |
| Country: United Kingdom | |
Question
Assalamu Alaykum Respected Mufti Sahib
I would appreciate your advice please. I am certain that you may have been asked about this by others.
I suffer from ulcerative colitis. My consultants had advised me to have surgery to remove my colon (have an external stoma pouch for collection of stool) as they were concerned that I showed pre cancerous signs. I wasn’t keen on the idea as I didn’t want it to affect my wudhu and salah. I also feared the possible foul smell. I was advised that the diseased part of the colon would be removed and I could opt for another procedure to replace my colon.
After a recent sigmoidoscopy polyps were found. I still await the results of the biopsy (request for duas). I feel I may again be encouraged to undergo the surgery.
My understanding is that they want me to have the surgery to prolong my life by reducing the chances of developing cancer. My feeling is that the duration of my life is pre-destined. It cannot be extended. Why go through the surgery when I know my life will not be prolonged?
Am I right to refuse treatment and potentially allow the illness to develop/worsen and spread in my body?
I have an appointment with my consultant on 15th January. I fully appreciate and understand the demands on your time. It would be a great help if you could please help me with your guidance and advice before my appointment, so that I can make the right decision. JazakAllah.
Wasalaam.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The decree of Almighty Allah is set in stone and cannot be changed. Nothing occurs except because it was written before man came into this world. Despite this, man has not been commanded to discard means in this world. When it comes to food, one will not say I will not work and earn money because my food is written for me. Rather, it is understood as a means to an end. Similarly, medical treatment is a means of alleviating ones ailments, whereas ultimate cure lies in the hands of Almighty Allah.
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam encouraged us to seek treatment and himself sought treatment for illnesses. See the following,
عن ابن عباس، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: يا أيها الناس، تداووا، فإن الله عز وجل لم يخلق داء إلا خلق له شفاء إلا السام
Translation: Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “O People, seek treatment (for your ailments) because Allah has not created a diseased except that He has created a cure for it. the only exception is death.” (Al Mu’jamul Kabeer)
The hadith above teaches us that medical treatment is not against divine decree, rather, it is part and parcel of our worldly life.
Therefore, if a competent doctor has advised surgery for you, then with due mashwarah with ones family, one should take the recommended solution provided by medical experts.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad IV Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia