Question:-
A female in our family has been diagnosed with cancer. She experiences much difficulty when undergoing chemotherapy. The chemotherapy is not actually the cure to the illness, it is more of an attempt to stall the illness from what we understand. What is the Shari’ee ruling in regards to taking treatment?
Answer:-
May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for your sister and grant her complete cure from her illnesses, and may the Almighty Allah protect us all. Ameen!
It is not obligatory upon any individual to take treatment for his/her illness, as taking treatment is a Sunnah. If any person that refuses treatment happens to pass away, then he/she will not be held accountable in the court of Almighty Allah. Based on this, if an individual feels that the pain and difficulty attached to chemotherapy and radiation is unbearable, then one is entitled to refrain from taking treatment. In conclusion, it is up to the individual to decide.
Secondly, chemotherapy is administered to kill the cancer cells within the human body. If Allah Ta’ala wills and allows for the required effect, then it could possibly serve as a cure, or serve as a stalling attempt, or if Allah wills, it would have no effect whatsoever. This simply means that the therapy being administered by the physician is totally dependent on the Will and decision of Almighty Allah. We, therefore, cannot say with certainty that it is a stalling attempt, as this is totally in the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 06 Rajab 1443 / 09 March 2022
