Q: I'm not sure if you are aware of the recent epidemic of christian healers that's infecting our community like the plague. Christians seem to use the possibility of their mislead leaders healing people, claiming to be annointed by god(though they haven't a clue about who or what god is), as a defence to our statements about the authenticity of Islam and the quran. My question is what should our answer be when they challenge us boasting the capability of their leaders? How is it possible that their leaders do such things? What does the Quran say about this?
A: Shifa lies solely in the hands of Allah Ta'ala. No person can cure anyone against the will of Allah. Believing that anyone has the power of bestowing shifa besides Allah Ta'ala is haraam and commiting shirk in the sifaat (attributes) of Allah Ta'ala. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'aan regarding the dua of Hazrat Ibrahim (Alaihis Salam):
وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ ﴿الشعراء: ٨٠﴾
"When I fall ill, only He gives me shifaa"
Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned in his Mubaarak Duas while supplicating to Allah Ta'ala for shifa:
اَنْتَ الشَّافِي لَاشِفَاءَ إلَّا شِفَاءُك
O Allah you are the only curer. There is no shifa besides your shifa
As far as gaining cure through following the the doctors prescription or undergoing medical procedures, surgery, etc. then this is part of the system that Allah Ta'ala has created for one to receive cure from the side of Allah Ta'ala.
It is quite evident that there are so many people suffering with acute sicknesses in the world. There are thousands of people in different parts of the world who are blind, deaf, dumb, deformed, etc. It is obvious that these people, who claim to be spiritual healers when challenged, do not have the ability to cure all these people, restore their eyesight, hearing, etc. If this was the case that these people through their spiritual healing process could dispense shifa, then nobody would have been sick and there would not have been any need for hospitals.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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