Supplication is a cure

Supplication is from the most beneficial types of healing, it is the enemy of illness and affliction - repressing it and treating it, preventing its occurrence, removing it or at least alleviating it. It is the weapon of the believer as is reported by al-Haakim in his 'Mustadrak' from the hadeeth of Alee bin Abee Taalib (RA) from the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that he said, "Supplication is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of the religion, and the light of the heaven and earth."
[Abu Yala]


Supplication takes one of three positions against illness:

>> It is stronger than the illness and therefore represses it.

>> It is weaker than the illness and therefore the illness overcomes it and afflicts the servant, however it is still possible that it alleviate the illness.

>> That they be of equal strength and prevent each other from happening in the servant.



Al-Hakim reports from the hadith of Aishah (radiAllahu anha) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
"Caution is of no avail against the decree but supplication benefits those things that have occurred and have not yet occurred. For indeed while the tribulation is descending the supplication meets it and they remain struggling with one another until the Day of Judgement."
[Hakim, at-Tabarani]


He also reports the hadith of ibn Umar from the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that he said,
"Supplication brings about benefit to those things that have occurred and those things that have not yet occurred. So devote yourselves to supplication O servants of Allah!"
[Mishkat al-Misbah]


He also reports the hadith of Thawban from the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that he said, "Nothing but supplication averts the decree and nothing but righteousness increases the life-span. Indeed a person is deprived of provision due to performing sins."
[Mishkat al-Misbah]