Five minutes of health

"Five minutes of health comfort the ill one." – Bengali proverb.
In other words, a person who is ill would get comfort and relief from
justfive minutes of health.
This reminds me of my friend Hisham, who has an autoimmune disorder
and has been confined to a wheelchair for many years. He is the same
age as me, and we grew up riding our bicycles together. He was an avid
cyclist and even participated in a ride all theway across the United
States and back. In his twenties he was diagnosedwith MS, and his
health began to go downhill.
Recently a physical therapist has been workingwith him, and last week
hestood on his feet and took five steps for the first time in three
years, Alhamdulillah! He said he felt very tall, being on his feet
again. It was an inspiring moment for him…SubhanAllah. He literally
got comfort from "five minutes of health."
That's really something to think about, for those of uswho have our
health and fitness and take them for granted as if they were nothing.
We moan and complain about small things, while ignoring the huge
blessings in our lives. "Then which of the favors of your Lord will
you deny?" – Surat Ar-Rahman. Allah has givenus so much, so much.
And let me add that although I used my friend Hisham as an
illustration ofthe proverb, that does not mean that I pity him. He
also has many gifts, for example he is highly intelligent and
articulate, and he has accomplished a lot in his life. I am overjoyed
for him that he was able to stand again. Allahu Akbar!
Of course we must be grateful for every blessing, and thank Allah from
the bottom of our hearts. But it's important to understand that
gratitude is not just a feeling in the heart. It is expressed through
action.
*. Are you grateful for your healthy body? Then use itto bow down in prayer.
*. Are you grateful for the ability to see? Then look at that which is
beautiful and halal.
*. Grateful for the ability to speak? Then praise Allah, recite Quran
and spread the message of Islam.
*. Grateful that you are mentally and emotionallyhealthy? Then use
your gifts to do good in the world. Show love to those who are grief
stricken, and kindness to those in pain. Spend your money in Allah's
cause, don't hold on it it until it can do you no good!
That's why the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, in the famous hadith
that we have all heard:
"Take benefit of five before five:
your youth before your old age,
your health before your sickness,
your wealth before your poverty,
your free-time before your preoccupation,
and your life before your death."
( Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Right? He didn't only say, "be grateful," he said, "takebenefit"! That
means USE what you have been given,while you still can, before the end
of this brief life that is but a moment between a sleep and a sleep,
or a desert flower blooming and then fading away.
Glory to Allah the Most High.