Chapter: The Disapproval of Reviling Fever

1726 – Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to visit Umm al-Saʾib—or Umm al-Musayyib—and said, “What is the matter with you, Umm al-Saʾib (or Umm al-Musayyib)? You are trembling.” She replied, “It is the fever—may Allah not bless it!” He said, “Do not revile fever, for it removes the sins of the children of Adam just as the bellows purge the dross from iron.” Narrated by Muslim.

The verb “tazfuzfīn” means that you are moving rapidly, i.e., shivering. It is pronounced with a ḍammah on the initial tāʾ, and with a doubled zāʾ and fāʾ. Another recension has it with a doubled rāʾ and two qāfs.

[Commentary]

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this section in Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn: “The Disapproval of Reviling Fever.” Fever is a state of heat in the body; it is a form of illness with various kinds. Yet it comes only by the decree of Allah, the Exalted: He ordains its occurrence and He removes it. Because it is one of Allah’s acts, it is impermissible for a person to curse it; cursing it is, in effect, cursing its Creator—glorified and exalted is He. For this reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not curse Time, for Allah is Time.” Here, too, is the ḥadīth of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him): the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon Umm al-Musayyib—or