Muslims consider illness, like other life events, as a test from God, and often respond with patience and prayers. Death is seen as part of every human’s ultimate journey to the next life. However, the Qur’an urges Muslims not to have a fatalistic attitude towards life. The Prophet Muhammad taught that maintaining a healthy body is an individual’s duty, and he urged Muslims to seek treatment when it was needed. According to one saying of the Prophet, disease is part of fate, and so is its cure. Generally, Muslims understand the preservation of life to be the supreme objective of Sharia, or Islamic law. Caring for the weak and sick is a collective, societal responsibility, and providers of care are honored.
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