[vanillawafer]

A person of taqwa and excellent conduct, when healthy and whole, will be thankful and eager to please God the Exalted and to use his health and strength in obeying Him. He will receive His good pleasure and be honored. People will praise him for his good works, determination and earnestness in obedience.

When sickness and poor health befall him, he will accept it, be patient, submit to God's will, be content with it, and refrain from impatience, anger, and complaining to others. He will receive God's good pleasure, solicitude, and assistance, and will be strengthened with relief, tranquility, and the like. People will praise him and say that God the Exalted allowed this illness to afflict him in order to remit his sins, increase his good deeds, and raise his rank.

An ill-behaved corrupt person, when healthy, is ungrateful. He transgresses, neglects obedience, and is eager to use his strength and energy in rebellious and sinful ways. When he becomes ill or is afflicted in any other way, he turns angry, anxious, and impatient; he is annoyed with God's decrees and exhibits other blameworthy traits.

According to this pattern, it behooves you to observe and think about such things as honor and abasement, obscurity and renown, distress and affluence, and all other conditions which may alternate in people's lives. You will know that the fear of God and excellence of behavior render any of these conditions beautiful, good, and upright, whereas corruption and evil conduct render them ugly and degrading. [Knowledge and Wisdom]

salam