THE STATE OF THE BODY OF MAN

The second of the four headings into which Theoretical Medicine is
divided deals with the theory of the State of the Body of Man.
Three states of the Body are possible-health, disease, and a condition
which is neither health nor disease, that is, convalescence and old
age.

Now, health is a physical condition in which all the functions are
healthy. Restoration to health is the best gift of God to Man. It is impos- sible to act rightly and to pay proper attention to the obedience due to
the Lord except when health is present. There is nothing similar. Let the
worshipper give thanks for his health and never be ungrateful. Said the Prophet: There are two gifts of which many men are cheated-
health and leisure. Al-Bukhari extracted this tradition.
Said the Prophet: There are worshippers of God whom he protects from death in battle and from sickness. He makes them to live in good health and to die in good health, and yet He bestows upon them the seats
of His martyrs. Said Abu Dard: 0 Prophet, if I am cured of my sickness and am thankful
for it, is it better than if I were sick and bore it patiently ? And the Prophet
replied: Verily the Prophet loves good health, just as you do.
Tradition says that al-Tirmidhi said: The Prophet said: He who wakes
up in the morning healthy in body and sound in soul and whose daily bread is assured, he is as one that possesses the world.
Folio 7 Again al-Tirmidhi quotes from Abu Harlra that he said that the Prophet said: The first question put to the worshipper on the Day of the Resur-
rection about the luxuries of the World is: Did I not make you a healthy
body? And next: Did I not satisfy you with cool water?
And again he relates that the Prophet said: O 'Abbas, petition God for
health in this World and the next. Al-Bazar reports this saying. The Prophet also said: Ask God for forgiveness and health. After
security of faith nothing better is given to a man than good health. This
is told by al-Nasa'i.
No petition is more pleasing to God than a request for good health is a
saying reported by al-Tirmidhi.
A certain Bedouin once asked the Prophet, saying: O Prophet of God,
what petition shall I make to God after I have finished the prayer ? And
he replied: Ask for good health.
Among the wise sayings of the Prophet David are the following: Health
is a hidden kingdom. And again: Sadness for one hour ages a man by one
year. And again: Health is a crown on the heads of the healthy, only seen
by the sick. And again: Health is an invisible luxury.
Some of our ancestors used to say: How many rich gifts has God
placed beneath every vein.
And indeed may God give us health in the Faith in this life and in the
next.
As for Disease, it is a state just the opposite to this. It originates from
want or misdeed or from misfortune.